THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85T00875R001100130011-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: April 9, 1972
• Content Type: IM

 Approved For Release 2008/11/18: CIA-RDP85T00875R0011001300 11-0 yr, o?7 g 0/7
SECRET
No. 0780/72
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Directorate of Intelligence
9 April 1972
The Situation in South Vietnam
As of 0530 EST)
1. South Vietnamese Marines have turned back a
heavy Communist tank and infantry attack against Fire
Support Base Pedro just west of Quang Tri city. The
enemy has resumed heavy artillery attacks throughout
Military Region (MR) 1, particularly against South
Vietnamese artillery support bases west of Hue in Thua
Thien Province. A small artillery base south of Da Nang
reportedly has been overrun while heavy fighting is
underway at a nearby position. Bad weather is severely
hampering air support throughout MR-1. The Communists
evidently are making widespread use of armor in these
current attacks, and sensors indicate that even more
artillery is being deployed south of the DMZ.
2. In MR-2, a Communist rocker and sapper attack
on the Cam Ranh Bay logistical facility caused US
casualties of four killed and 20 wounded. Only minor
damage was inflicted on the facility itself, however.
Almost simultaneously enemy sappers attacked a cargo
freighter in Da Nang harbor. These attacks suggest
increased Communist emphasis on logistical support tar-
gets.
3. There was an increase in enemy shelling and
ground attacks in MRs 3 and 4, but no significant fight-
ing has been reported. On 8 April in northwestern Tay
Ninh Province, a Communist ambush inflicted heavy losses
on a South Vietnamese convoy moving southward on Route
22, including five field guns and 12 armored vehicles.
As in the northern section of the country, poor weather
is severely hampering air support operations.
4. A US B-52 was hit by a surface-to-air missile
while on a bombing mission northwest of Dong Ha, but
recovered successfully to Da Nang Airbase. Initial
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SECRET
investigation indicates' minor damage to portions of the
fuselage, but there were no injuries among the crewmen.
SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/11/18: CIA-RDP85T00875R001100130011-0