GEN. ABRAM'S APPRAISAL OF CURRENT MILITARY OPERATIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-490-3-46-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 30, 2010
• Sequence Number: 46
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/11/05: LOC-HAK-490-3-46-4
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MEMORANDUM FOR
FROM:
SUBJECT:
THE PRESIDENT
ICE NR Y A. KISSINGXR
Gen. Abraxr.,s' Appraisal of
Current Military Operations
Attached at Tab A Is an April 2 message from General Abrams giving
his personal appraisal of the current SVN operations in Cambodia and
in the Lain Son 719 area of operations. Following are the highlights:
-- This past week his been marked by renewed enemy resistance to
AR V N operations in the Chop P1anUtion area. Shifting of enerxry units to
the west, heavy fire attacks against the AR VN ,along Rt. 7, and increased
ground contact in and around Chop Indicates continued enemy concern with,
his rear service facilities in this area.
-> The recent lull in enemy activity probably reflects the need for re-
supply and re-groupment after significant ammunition expenditures and
personnel losses during initial phases of the operation. Current indications
are that the enemy will resist AR.V'N initiatives in the western areas while
avoidiing. significant contact in the eastern and southern portions of ARVN
operations.
-? The SVN have continued a deliberate tempo in their operations, and
Gen. Minh has boon told of the Importance of pressing the enemy in the
few weeks left in the dry season in order to undercut their capabilities
to interfere with the Presidential election. campaign. Con. Minh has been
given an operational plan to keep the pressure on the enemy, and if
he accepts this concept. we should see greased activity within two weeks.
_- In aaa March Z9 contact with the enerrsy. resulting in corns 225 NVN
KA our pilots report indications of green. inexperienced troops.
Operation Lam Son 719
-- Enemy activity in this area remained at a tow level; there have been
no indications of a major attack on Khe Saanh, although a continuation of
sapper attacks is anticipated.
-- In Laos the enemy is trying to restore their lines of colurxrunica :icn
to make up for lost time in the dry season campaign. Reports indicate
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that they are having difficulty clearing the roads of mines, that some
combat maneuver forces have been diverted to assist in restoring
communication lines, and that they are having difficulty caring for the
large number of wounded.
-- The bulk of SVN troops that were in Laos are resting and refitting
in the bong Ha, and Hue areas and there in a maximum, effort to replace
supplies lost during the Laotian campaign.
- The phasedo+ran of both U. S. and ARVN logistics base^ at the Sanh
was completed on April 1. The coordinated ARVN-US withdrawal of tackical
units should be completed about April 7, and while there will be enemy
harassments along Route 9, Gen. Abrams does not believe that they will
seriously interfere with the withdrawal.
-- The raid into the Laotian salient is planned for sometime between
April 6 and 10.
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 r-'~vu_-A J\b~
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TOP SECRET/SENSITIVE/EYES ONLY April 2, 1971
FOR ADM. MOORER AND ADM. MCCAIN
FROM: GEN. ABRAMS
SUBJECT: Commanders Personal Appraisal
1. (U) Reference requested my personal appraisal of progress of current
operations and a forecast for the immediate future,
Part I, Operation Toan Thang 01-71NB
2. (C) Enemy situation: renewed enemy resistance to ARVN operations in
the Chup Plantation area has highlighted activity in the Toan Thang 01-71NB
AO this week. There has been an apparent shift of elements of the 7th
NVA Division to the west to reinforce the 9th VC Division in the Chup area..
The 209th NVA regiment, 7th NVA division was identified in contact in the
vicinity of Suong on 28 March. Additionally, there are indications that elements
of the 174th NVA Regiment of the 5th VC Division have also moved west into
the Chup area. This shift of enemy units to the west, heavy attacks by fire
against ARVN ops along Route 7, west of Route 75, and increased ground contact
in and around Chup.indicates continued enemy concern with his rear service
facilities in this area. The recent lull in enemy initiated activity probably
reflects a period of resupply and regroupment necessitated by significant
ammunition expenditures and personnel losses during the initial phases of the
operation, Current indications are that the enemy will continue to resist in
strength ARVN initiatives in the western portion of the AO, while avoiding
significant contact and employing economy-of-force tactics in the eastern and
southern portions.
3. (S) Friendly situation:
A. As reported last week the operational tempo of III Corps in
Cambodia remains deliberate. It has been pointed out to General Minh that
the enemy divisions are continuing to receive -.replacements and thus they
increase in combat effectiveness. Moreover, only 6-8 weeks remain in the
dry season, and III Corps should strive for maximum enemy attrition both in
Cambodia and in MR 3 before the onset of the wet season in order to undercut
the enemy's capability to interfere with the Presidential campaign and election.
To this end General Minh has been offered an operational plan designed to
keep the pressure on the three enemy divisions in Cambodia.
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B. In the contact near Suong on 29 March which resulted in some 225
NVA KIA, our Air Cav pilots report indications of green, inexperienced
troops, The NVA were in new uniforms and pith helmets and were caught
by the Cav moving across open terrain.
C. On 30 March, General Minh met at Tay Ninh with General In Tam
and the Chief of Svay Rient Province. General Minh reports that the meeting
was amicable. They discussed Route 1, the threat to Kampong Cham and
Phnom Penh, and joint investigation of Vietnamese-Cambodian incidents.
Similar meetings will be held twice a month in the future. Ifi regard to the
second point, In Tam is prepared to place a FANK brigade of three battalions
at the junction of Routes 7 and 15 if ARVN will provide arty support and forces
for joint operations. Minh is seeking President Thieu's approval of this plan.
D. In the coming week, ARVN actions will continue to be deliberate
with little change in deployment or focus of attention. If General Minh accepts
the, concept of Operation Provide, the following week should see increased
activity.
Part II, Operation Lamson 719
4. (S) Enemy Situation: In the Lamson 719 area of operations, enemy activity
remained at a low level and consisted primarily of light attacks by fire and
light ground probes along Route 9 in Quang Tri Province. There have been
no indications of a major attack on Khe Sanh, although a continuation of
sapper attacks is anticipated. In Laos, the enemy is endeavoring to restory
the LOC in an attempt to make for time he has lost in his dry season campaign.
Reports indicate that he is having difficulty clearing the roads of mines and
no traffic has been detected moving through Ban Dong. Some combat maneuver
forces have been diverted to assist in the LOC restoration and large number
of wounded are taxing his ability to care for them.
(S) Friendly situation:
A. There has been considerable repositioning of RVNAF forces
during the week with the bulk of the troops which were in Laos returning to
Dong Ha and Hue areas for rest and refitting.: Gen. Lam has stressed
maintenance and refitting for those units out of contact and it is reported that
progress is being made.
B. Adequate stockage levels of Class I, III, and V are on hand to
support present and future combat operations. Maximum effort is being
made to replace losses incurred in Lamson 719. Exact losses are not known
at this time as classification of damaged items has not been completed.
However, float assets and attrition stocks on hand, plus stocks received in
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theater during the operation will be adequate to replace most of these losses,
but float and attrition stocks will have to be reconstituted. The phase-down
of both US and ARVN logistics bases at Khe Sanh was completed on 1 April
and the airfield facilities have been withdrawn.
C. The coordinated ARVN - US withdrawal of tactical units which
began today is expected to be completed on or about 7 April. While the enemy
will no doubt continue his harrassing operations along Route 9, I do not believe
that he can seriously interfere with the withdrawal.
D. The raid into the Laotian salient is planned for execution between
6-10 April.
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No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/11/05: LOC-HAK-490-3-46-4