RECENT ACTIVITIES IN NORTH VIETNAM (Classified)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82S00205R000200040004-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: July 2, 1968
• Content Type: REPORT

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DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
Intelligence Memorandum
RECENT ACTIVITIES IN NORTH VIETNAM
SOUTH OF THE 20TH PARALLEL
Top Secret
2 July 1968
Copy No. 24
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
2 July 1968
Recent Activities in North Vietnam
South of the 20th Parallel
Summary
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North Vietnam continues
to expand and increase truck parks, storage areas,
and supply depots along the main lines of communi-
cation (LOC's) south of the 20th Parallel. There
has also been a continuing effort to improve roads
and construct bypasses in numerous areas south of
the 20th Parallel. Since early June the North Viet-
namese have built two new road segments -- with a
total length of 15 miles -- into the central portion
of the DMZ. Work is continuing also on Route 1036,
the new road started in January 1968 that runs from
Dong Hoi in North Vietnam toward the western end of
the DMZ. The road is now within a few hundred yards
of the border.
I ruck sightings fell below
the high figures recorded the previous week, but
were still comparable to the weekly averages that
have been noted since 1 April 1968.
traffic moving southward
through Mu Gia Pass into Laos confirm that a high
level of traffic continues to move south of the
20th Parallel. Through 20 June an average of 20
trucks a day moved southward through Mu Gia Pass,
compared with only three a day in June of 1967.
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.
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The North Vietnamese conducted daily MIG fighter-
interceptor operations south of the 20th Parallel
On 26 June a MIG-21 was downed
I A
There is no evidence that the North Vietnamese
have started to pave the remaining unpaved portion
of the main runway at Bai Thuong.
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Logistic Activity
I orth Vietnam's logistic
network south of the 20th Parallel reveals a con-
tinued effort to expand and increase truck parks,
storage areas, and supply depots along the main
lines of communication (LOC's). Increased con-
struction activity -- buildings, some underground
storage facilities and revetted areas 25X1
at the Tien Luong Transshipment Area on Route 110
west of Quang Khe, along Route 15 between Routes 151
and 152, and along Route 72 between Phuc Thuy and
Vinh.
I I the junction
of Routes 7, 72, and and the bong Ca River,
about 30 miles northwest of Vinh, reveals a new
moderate-sized transshipment area.
show heavy watercraft activity on
the Song Ca, possibly indicating that some of the
trucks noted moving west on Route 7, which leads
to northern Laos, are transshipping their goods at
Phuc Thuy for movement south along the Song Ca or
Route 72.
3. A new water and road transshipment area
has been noted about four miles west of Vinh along
Route 15 and a branch of the Song Ca River (see
Map 1). Heavy track activity was apparent and a
large concentration of watercraft was observed
east of the area. This transshipment point can be
used in support of traffic moving south from Phuc
Thuy along the Song Ca or Route 72.
motor vehicles sighted
and destroyed fell well below the high figures
recorded the previous week, but were still comparable
to the high weekly averages noted since 1 April 1968.
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I raffic through the
u is ass confirm a a nigh level of logistic
movement continues south of the 20th Parallel. In
previous years, southbound truck traffic has always
dropped off in May with the advent of the rainy
season. This year, although less truck traffic
moved in May than in previous months in 1968,
traffic was still measurably higher than in May
of last year. Furthermore, the average number of
trucks
was almost 20 percent higher than in May. T roug
20 June an average of 20 trucks a day moved south-
bound through Mu Gia Pass compared to only three
per day in June 1967.
Road Construction
9. The North Vietnamese are continuing to
improve roads and construct bypasses in areas
south of the 19th Parallel, including near the DMZ.
In the central portion of the DMZ the North Viet-
namese have recently pushed two new road segments
totaling 15 miles. One road extends from Route 1022
(an extension of Route 102), enters the DMZ, and
terminates about 300 yards south of a tributary of
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the Ben Hai River (see Map 2). The second road
runs directly from Route 102 southwest to Route
1022. It uses a two-mile segment of 1022 and
then turns southwest for about two miles where it
terminates in the DMZ. Both roads are 10 to 12
feet wide. The first road does not yet appear to
be heavily used, but the second road apparently
is carrying a heavy volume of traffic. These new
road extensions indicate that the enemy is con-
tinuing to improve his capability to infiltrate
men and materials directly through the DMZ.
10. Near the western end of the DMZ, work is
continuing on Route 1036, the new road started in
January 1968 that runs southwest from Dong Hoi
toward Laos. The North Vietnamese apparently
intend to make Route 1036 a major infiltration
link into the Laotian Panhandle to supplement
Routes 137 and 15 further north. Work has pro-
gressed to within a few hundred yards of the
border and within 25 miles of connecting with
Route 92 in the Laotian Panhandle. There is
some evidence that Route 1036 is being surfaced
with gravel to give it a wet-weather capability.
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shows improvements to portions of Route 137, the
most important infiltration route into Laos during
wet-weather and to Route 72, which is being re-
paired and improved for possible use as an alternate
to Route 15.
Air Operations
12. The North Vietnamese conducted daily MIG
fighter-interceptor operations south of the 20th
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that the North Vietnamese have started to pave
the remaining unpaved portion of the main runway
at Bai Thuong.
13. Possible defense improvements in the Bai
Thuong area suggest the North Vietnamese plan to
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continue utilizing this facility for southern MIG
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patrols.
14. There were no new significant developments
reported regarding the North Vietnamese helicopter
situation. North Vietnamese aircraft order of
battle remains unchanged from last week's report.
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NORTH VIETNAM: Logistic Activity South of the 20th Parallel
Ninh
Binh
H
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GULF
OF
TONKIN
Road recently added
or improved
n Luong
Quang Khe
MAP 1
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NORTH VIETNAM: New Roads in DMZ Area
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Bari Sa'Ang
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4uong S
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Cheixrne
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