MULTIPLE RIVER CROSSINGS ROUTE 8, LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 2009
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: March 7, 1969
• Content Type: PHOTO

Approved For Release 2009/03/05: CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
MULTIPLE RIVER CROSSINGSI
ROUTE 8, LAOS
18-18N 105?4E
jk~ ' '> 'g g', a. 2 1V'*X
1
Approved For Release 2009/03/05: CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7
MISSION YTB19I,13 FEBRUARY 1969
CONFIDENTIAL''
 Approved For Release 2009/03/05: CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7
CONFIDENTIAL
REFERENCE: YT 819J
MULTIPLE RIVER CROSSINGS
ROUTE 8, LAOS
1818N 10504E
ATTACHMENT TO -M-5953
7 March 1969
PAGE 1
1. SIGNIFICANCE:
ROUTE 8 IS ONE OF THREE ACCESS ROADS INTO THE LAOTIAN PANHANDLE FROM
NORTH VIETNAM. WITH THE INCREASED IMPORTANCE OF MOVING MEN AND SUPPLIES THROUGH
LAOS, ROUTE 8 IS REGAINING ITS FORMER IMPORTANCE.
2. LOCATION:
ROUTE 8 EXTENDS FROM VINH, NORTH VIETNAM THROUGH KEO NUA PASS (NAPE) INTO
LAOS. IT CONTINUES WEST THROUGH NAPE TO LAK SAO THEN SOUTH TO ROUTE 12 NEAR
BAN NHOMMARATH KEO.
3. BACKGROUND:
ROUTE 8 HAS BEEN OPEN DURING THE CURRENT DRY SEASON OVER ITS ENTIRE
63 NM LENGTH FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1963-1964 DRY SEASON. ONLY SHORT
SEGMENTS IN LAOS EAST OF LAK SAO WERE OPEN TO LIGHT TRAFFIC DURING THE INTER-
VENING YEARS.
4. MISSION READOUT:
MISSION YT819J OF 13 FEBRUARY 1969 REVEALS THREE ROUTE 8 CROSSING POINTS
OVER THE NAM PHAO RIVER AT NAPE 1818N 10504E. TWO OF THESE RIVER CROSSINGS
AT UTM WF079227 AND WF082234 ARE CURRENTLY ACTIVE, THE THIRD AT WF080228 IS
UNSERVICEABLE DUE TO AIR STRIKES. A BULLDOZER IS OBSERVED WORKING ON THE EAST
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.
GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2009/03/05: CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7
 Approved For Release 2009/03/05: CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7
CONFIDENTIAL
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
REFERENCE : YT 819J
ATTACHMENT TO _M-5953
7 March 1969
PAGE 2
APPROACH OF THE RIVER CROSSING AT THE OLD NAPE BRIDGE SITE AT WFO8123L. A NEW
BRIDGE HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED OVER THE NAM HEU STREAM AT WF086232 REPLACING THE
ABANDONED STREAM CROSSING AT WFO85232.
5. REMARKS:
RECENT COLLATERAL SOURCES HAVE REPORTED THE MOVEMENT OF TRUCKS AND
TROOPS OVER ROUTE 8 NEAR THE LAOS/NORTH VIETNAM BORDER. IN AN EFFORT TO
CURTAIL THIS MOVEMENT, THE LAO ARMED FORCES HAVE RESORTED TO BOMBING THE ROAD
NORTH OF BAN NAPE. ONE SOURCE REPORTED THAT TWO DAYS AFTER ONE SUCH BOMBING
MISSION, TRAFFIC WAS AGAIN MOVING OVER THE ROUTE.
MAP REFERENCE: AMS SERIES L7015 SHEET 6045 IV
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
Approved For Release 2009/03/05: CIA-RDP83-01074R000300440003-7