RECENT NORTH VIETNAMESE ACTIVITIES(Classified)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82S00205R000200040002-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: June 18, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Relea
25X1
25X1
COPY Noy
RECENT NORTH VIETNAMESE ACTIVITIES
BETWEEN THE 19TH AND 20TH PARALLELS
18 JUNE 1968
25X1
Approved For, Releases 20044P08 : CIA 8250020 R000200040002-7
 Approved For Releas4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
18 June 1968
Recent North Vietnamese Activities
Between the 19th and 20th Parallels
Summary
25X1
25X1
Both logistics and military activities south
of the 20th Parallel increased sharply during the
past week
that the concentration o rolling stock at an
Hoa is greater
ITransport repair activities at Thanh
Hoa reflect a consolidation of maintenance effort
by abandoning redundant bypass facilities.
25X1
25X1
25X1
A MIG-21 downed a US Navy je on une.
e main runway at Bai Thuong has been completely
graded and is probably usable.
In an unprecedented action, North Vietnam re-
portedly deployed more than 20 MI-1 and MI-4 heli-
copters to the DMZ area. The purpose of this
deployment is unclear, but it must be of high
priority to risk almost the entire helicopter force.
Note: This memorandum was produced solely by CIA.
It was prepared jointly by the Office of Economic
Research and the Office of Current Intelligence
and was coordinated with the Director's Special
Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs.
25X1
App'
roved For' Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
 Approved For Release
The deployment may be related to new enemy ground
force deployments in the eastern DMZ area or to
high-priority supply deliveries in areas of local-
ized shortages. US forces reported destroying as
many as ten of the enemy helicopters in subsequent
actions.
25X1
25X1
Approved For': Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
 25X1
Approved For Release
5X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
shows that the number of rail cars in operation is
greater F_ I 25X1
bout 390 pieces of rolling stock, consisting
of both regular meter-gauge and tram-type meter-
gauge cars, were noted in the immediate area of Thanh
Hoa. compared with the previous high of 220 observed
Extensive transshipping of material
from the meter-gauge railcars into smaller tram or
lorry cars was observed in the rail yard. In addi-
tion, considerable open storage of goods was sighted
alongside the rail line, possibly indicating that
goods are quickly being moved through the area.
25X1
Apo
 Approved For Release
3. The North Vietnamese are apparently consol-
idating their maintenance effort at key crossings
along the lines of communication.
two of the seven bypasses tor
the T an Hoa Bridge have apparently been abandoned.
The bridge located just south of the 20th Parallel,
although repeatedly bombed, has never been dropped.
The two abandoned crossings are rail ferries that
are probably not needed to handle traffic. The
North Vietnamese apparently are concentrating their
maintenance effort on the remaining bypasses,
consisting of two pontoon bridges, two rail ferries,
and a combination highway ferry/floating bridge.
Air Operations
25X1
Several
engagements with US aircratt have occurred, and
one Navy F4 jet was downed by a missile from a
MIG-21 on 16 June.
5. For the first time the North Vietnamese
are reported to be using helicopters in some kind
of combat support role at the eastern end of the
DMZ (see the map). I Imore
than 20 Communist helicopters in that area on the
All of the helicopter
activity apparently was occurring north of or in
the DMZ. Some of the helicopters reportedly were
engaged in north-south supply flights; others
were conducting shuttle flights to Tiger Island
just off the coast. Allied forces reported
destroying as many as ten of the enemy helicopters
in subsequent actions.
6. The North Vietnamese have been credited
with an inventory of 17 MI-1 and MI-4 helicopters
which were believed stationed at various airfields
and dispersal areas primarily in the Hanoi/Haiphong
areas.* The MI-1 was the first modern helicopter
* The North Vietnamese inventory also includes
4 MI-6 helicopters that are not believed to have
participated in these activities.
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Apo
 Approved For Release
developed by the USSR and has a normal payload of
only 355 pounds. The MI-4 is a 1.5-ton Payload
transport/cargo helicooter_
7. This is the first time that North Vietnamese
helicopters have been known to operate so far south.
During and shortly after the Communist Tet offen-
sive, single-engine and twin-engine transports,
some of them armed with rockets and bombs, made
several sorties into the western DMZ area. Some
of these flights were presumed to have involved
movement of high-priority cargo and/or top-ranking
personnel. It is not clear what sort of operation
is now under way, but it must have a high priority
for Hanoi to risk almost its entire helicopter
force. The commitment of this force could be
related to new enemy ground force deployments in
the eastern DMZ area or to a need to make high-
priority supply deliveries in areas of localized
shortages.
25X1
Airfields
Bai Thuong
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
and two MIG-21's were seen parked in revetments at
one end of the link taxiway. It is probable,
therefore, that the North Vietnamese are no longer
using the sod-strip which parallels the main run-
way. If they decide to pave the entire main runway
I __T
vea e that the runway had been completely graded
and was probably usable. In addition, one MIG-17
25X1
25X1
App'
roved Fore Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
 Approved For Release
with concrete or asphalt, however, the North Viet-
namese probably will use the sod strip while work
is in progress.
Vinh
10. the
Vinh Airfield was still unusable. Nine craters
appeared to be under repair on the northern portion
of the runway. When work is completed, approxi-
mately 4,000 feet of landing area will be serviceable.
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved Fors Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
Dien Bien
Phu
Phong The
Lao Cai -
13? ~
NORTH
VIETNAM
Road
Railroad kmeter gauge)
_._~. Major inland waterway
Approved
~nh Hoa
ittgmm~~
- .r ~ttdflt- -
Parallels Associated With
Current Bombing Restrictions
11, Hut
PE,r
Area of Helicopter
Operations
EMARCATION LINE
 Approved For Release 2004/4'EC REFTDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
SECRET
Approved For Release 12004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7
Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/07/08 : CIA-RDP82SO0205R000200040002-7