CLOSED ENEMY ROADS LAOS PANHANDLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01074R000100330002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: September 22, 1969
• Content Type: MISC

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
CLOSED ENEMY' ROADS
LAOS PANHANDLE
=~ Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
 _ .. Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
CONFIDENTIAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Attachment to Pd 17f3!~
22 September 1969
Page 1 of i+
REFERENCE: CLOSED ENEMY ROADS
LAOS PANHANDLE
1. SIGNIFICANCE:
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1966 ALL THE MAJOR ROADS
IlV THE ENEMY-CONTROLLED AREA OF THE LAOS PANHANDLE
HAVE BEEN RENDERED UNSERVICEABLE BY THE UNUSUALLY
HEAVY MONSOON RAINS AND THE HEAVY IlVTERDICTORY
BOMBIlVGS .
2. LOCATION: FROM DEO KEO NUA PASS (NAPE AREA) IlV THE NORTH TO
3. REMARKS:
i+. COLLATERAL:
DURIlVG THE PAST TWO YEARS THE SO-CALLED "ALL-
WEATHER" HO CHI MIlVH TRAIL WAS GENERALLY OPEN
THROUGH MU GIA AND BAN KARAI PASSES SOUTHWARD TO
INCLUDE ROUTE 922.
THE MONSOON SEASONAL RAINS WERE NOT ONLY MUCH MORE
SEVERE THIS YEAR THAN IN THE PAST FEW YEARS BUI'
THEY ALSO REACHED THEIR PEAK MUCH EARLIER THIS YEAR.
DURING THE MONTH OF JULY THIS YEAR WEATHER STATISTICS
IlVDICATE APPROXIMATE DOUBLE THE RAILFALL. FRIENDLY
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
parting period as indicated M the date of issue. For information concernirgt these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
GROUP I: EJ(C LUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND OEC LASSI FICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
CONFIDENTIAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Attachment to N 1784
22 September 1969
Page 2 of !~
GUERRILLAS OPERATING IN THE PANHANDLE AREA REPORT
NUMEROUS WASHOUT'S ALONG THE ROADS AND PRACTICALLY
NO TRUCK TRAFFIC. A PORTION OF ROUTE 23, WITH
THE ENTIRE ROADBED WASHED OUT, WAS REPORTED BEING
CULTIVATED AS A RICE FIELD.
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re?
porting period as indicated by the date of iswe. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
CONFIDENTIAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Attachment to N 1784
22 September 1969
Page 3 of 4
7. MISSION READOUT':
FLOWN DURING MID-TO-LATE AUCTUST PRO- 25X1
VIDED THE BASIS FOR THIS ANALYSIS.
THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE COMMUNIST CONTROLLED
ROADS IlV THE LAOS PANHANDLE IS VERY POOR, HOWEVER,
ROUTES 8, 239, AND 911 NORTH OF 912 HAD ONLY A
LIMITED NUMBER OF INTERDICTIONS, WHICH COULD BE
REPAIRED WITH A LIMITED AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE.
ROUTES IN EXTREMELY POOR CONDITION INCLUDE THE ROADS
TRAVERSING MU GIA PASS (12, 1201 AND 1202) , THE
SEGMENT OF 96 BETWEEN BAN BAC AND ITS INTERSECTION
WITH 964, ALL OF ROUTE 964, AND THE EASTEF,N TWO-
THIRDS OF ROUTES 912, 922, AND 165/966. THESE
ROUTES, IN ADDITION TO BOMB CRATERS AND LANDSLIDES,
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
CONFIDENTIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
 - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2
CONFIDENTIAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
Attachment to N 178k
22 September 1969
Page 4 of ~+
HAVE EX'T'ENSIVE WASHOUTS, FORDS AND FERRY
CROSSINGS IlV DISREPAIR, AND NUMEROUS TREES
BLOCKIlVG TRAFFIC OVER THE ROAD.
INSET ONE -THIS TYPICAL LANDSLIDE AREA IS
LOCATED ON ROUTE 924 NEAR BAN BAC.
INSET TWO -THE MAIN FORD AT BAN LA BOY IS
WHERE ROUTE 912 CROSSES THE NAM TA LE (RIVER).
SEVERAL POINTS ON THIS SEGMENT NEED REPAIR.
BYPASSES ARUUND THIS FORD ARE ALSO UNSERVICEABLE.
IlVSET THREE -THE CONDITION OF ROUTE 165 AND 966
BECOMES PROGRESSIVELY WORSE FROM WEST TO EAST.
THE EXAMPLE, ROUTE 165 EAST OF CHAVANE, IS TYPICAL
OF MANY PLACES ALONG THE ROAD WHICH WILL NEED
REPAIR TO BECOME SERVICEABLE.
THE MAP DEPICTS THE MAJOR COMMUNIST ROAD NET IlV
THE LAOS PANHANDLE. SCALE IS 1:1,000,000.
These notes have been prepared (or briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid onty for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date o} issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
CONFIDENTIAL
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14 :CIA-RDP83-010748000100330002-2