DCI BRIEFING FOR 14 MAY NSC MEETING THE MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R01142A002100010012-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 6, 2004
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: May 14, 1975
• Content Type: BRIEF

Tip NSC.
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14 May 1975
DCI BRIEFING FOR
14 MAY NSC MEETING
THE MAYAGUEZ INCIDENT
Status of Khmer Communist Forces
I. Mr. President, we have some new information on
the status of Khmer Communist forces in the Kom-
pong Som - Koh Tang area.
A. The most recent reconnaissance concerning
naval craft indicates that there are 24
armed ships in the vicinity of Kompong
Som -- 13 coastal patrol boats, 10 riverine
patrol boats, and one submarine chaser.
1. In addition, there are 3 utility launch-
ing craft (LCUs) at Kompong Som, and one
LCM at Ream.
B. As for air strength, preliminary analysis
of 12 May photography showed three T-28 fight-
ers and a total of six transport aircraft at
Kompong Som airfield. There is also a sub-
stantial remaining number of some 100 T-28
aircraft left at Pochentong Airfield near
Phnom Penh when it fell.
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POSITION OF MAYAGUEZ WHEN CAPTURED
All available evidence indicates that the Mayaguez was
following the standard shipping route from Hong Kong to
Sattahip. This is a very heavily trafficked route. The
Mayaguez was intercepted by the Cambodian Communists eight
miles south/southwest of Poulo Wai. The ship master gave the
location as 0948 N and 10253 E.
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C. For air defense, the Communists have apparently
deployed antiaircraft artillery near Kompong
Som and Ream. Preliminary analysis of 13 May
photography shows that there is one 37-mm
antiaircraft position just south of Kompong
Som, and two 37-mm positions southeast of Ream.
1. These weapons are a threat to aircraft
flying within 3 nautical miles of their
location, and under 14,000 feet.
D. In ground strength, KC combat forces at Kom-
pong Som total some 2,000 troops. This force
could be quickly augmented by the remaining
14,000 troops scattered throughout southwest-
ern Cambodia.
on 14 May 400 ad-
ditional troops were to be sent to help
the "mission."
2. Photoreconnaissance of 13-14 May identi-
fied a probable 105-mm howitzer position
and a possible coastal artillery position
of unidentified caliber just south of
Ream.
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3. We have now observed one more large land-
ing craft (LCU) at Kompong Som than re-
ported in last night's briefing. This
ship could transport 800 troops. This
gives the KC the ability to move 2,400
troops simultaneously.
4. These landing craft, if unopposed, could
reach Koh Tang Island in a little over
4 hours.
Communist Tactical Moves
II. The Cambodians have apparently transported at least
some of the American crew from Koh Tang Island to
the mainland, putting them ashore at Kompong Som
port at about 11:00 last night, Washington time.
A. Our aircraft observed up to 40 people aboard
a boat heading toward the mainland, with some
believed to be Caucasian.
Cambodian outstation -- probably a boat --
was informed that it would be met by an
other boat, and was instructed to keep
the Americans "toward the enemy."
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B. Bringing at least some of the crew ashore
suggests that the Cambodians appreciate
the value of the American crew as hostages,
offering hope that they will be kept alive
by their captors to preserve their useful-
ness as bargaining chips.
C. The Americans taken ashore may have been trans
ported further inland by the Cambodians, and
at present there is no way of telling where
they may be.
the Cambodians anticipate. a possible
attack against their naval base at Ream, south
of Kompong Som, and are alerting the antiair-
craft batteries there.
III. Of the five Cambodian gunboats that were. deployed
as of last night (Washington time) around Koh
Tang Island, three have been sunk by American
aircraft.
A. At latest report, only one gunboat remained
a little over a mile south of the island.
Other Developments
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fully solve this problem politically according to
the guidelines of the organization."
A. I could relate to the Mayaguez
incident, but it seems more likely that it
is addressed to a low-level commander deal-
ing with his Vietnamese opposite number in
a local dispute over border territory.
V. Around midnight (Washington time), a US tanker en-
route to Bangkok reported that a Swedish-registered
refrigerator ship near Panjang Island, well south
of Koh Tang, had been attacked and shot at by a
Cambodian boat. At 5:00 A.M. a US reconnaissance
aircraft observed the ship. It showed no sign of
distress, and now appears on its normal course to
Bangkok. A small boat, not believed to be a gun-
boat, was sighted 3 miles away, following the ship's
same course and speed. According to press reports
from Thailand, a Panamanian freighter was detained
for about two hours in the same area today.
Thai Reactions
VI. The Thai have reacted sharply to the movement of
US Marines to U-Tapao. Prime Minister Khukrit
presented an aide memoire to the US Embassy to-
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day stating that unless the Marines are withdrawn
immediately, the "good relations and cooperation
existing between Thailand and the US would be ex-
posed to serious and damaging consequences."
A. Khukrit undoubtedly feels he will have to make
some public gesture that will take him off the
hook with the new Cambodian government, and
his own population.
C. Should public pressure build on Khukrit, he
has several options open to him:
-- to "encourage" student demonstrations
against the US,
---to order the closing of U-Tapao air base,
and
-- to speed up the timetable for the with-
drawal of all US forces in Thailand.
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 UNCLASSIFIED
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Specifications of KC Naval Craft
Utility Launching Craft (LCU) French
Speed - eight knots
Range - 1,800 n.m.
Length - 193'
Draft - 4'5" maximum
Armament - 2 - 20 mm. AA
Capacity - 800 troops
Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM6)
Speed - nine knots
Range - 130 n.m.
Length - 56'
Draft - 3', 4' aft-loaded
Capacity - 80 troops
Riverine Patrol Boat (PBR) Mark 11
Speed - 25 knots
Range - 150 n.m.
Length - 31'
Armament - three 50 cal. machin guns
one 40 mm. grenade launcher
one 60 mm. mortar in some boats
Speed
Range
Length
Armament
Craft (PCF)
25 knots
180 n.m.
51'
"Swift" Type
- one 81 mm. mortar
three 50 cal. machine guns
two 40 mm. grenade launchers
Speed
Range
Length
Armament
(PC)
15 knots
3,325 n.m.
174'
one 3.5" gun
one 40 mm. AA
four 20 mm. AA
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Khmer Communist Military Equipment and Troops
Air
Ground
Artillery
Riverine
Patrol Boats
Coastal
Patrol Boats
Submarine
Chasers
T-28 Fighters
Combat Troops
105-mm 155-mm
Total
60
17-19
1
Approx. 100
60,000-70,000
250 24
Southwest
--
--
--
--
16,000
Kompong
Som
10
13
1
3
2,000
At least
8
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