FAR FLOTILLA; LAO-THAI COOPERATION ON MEKONG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP08C01297R000300060011-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: March 8, 1973
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08C01297R000300060011-3
t, ?
NOTE: Th. document contains iniormlition
?II?Ming it. national deten?? Otal? United
Strit?? within in. meaning or the ??Plon?Ii?
laws. Tills, IS, U.S.C., S?c. 793 and 794.
Th? trantents?ion or the revelation oft:.
cantons In any mann? unauthorised
person I. prohibit. law.
CONFID AL
.(Ciss.itistIon and Control Marking
Thi? report conlain? unprocmed information.
Rlan? and/or policies should not be evolved
or modelled ?olely on the basic of thi? report.
HAILAND 414440e7.?
L COUNTRY:
sue,gcr: FAR Flo Lao-Thai
Cooperation on
T. ISC NUMBER:
B. REPORT
*7:
9. DATEOF BAPtrh'C' 8 March 1973
'A
4. oAreoFINFORMArlow 26 February 1973
Vientiane, Laos
5. PLACE AND DATE OF ACC.:
26 February 1973
4. EVALUATION: SOURCE INFORMATION 2 ?
14. Appaovme
10. NO.OFPAGES: 4
IL REFERENCES: DIRM: 1J, 6B4
a.
IS. ORIGINATOR:
19. PREPARED B
7. SOURCE: Personal Observation; Photography;
CO FAR Flotilla
IS. SUMMARY.
(U)-IR forwards information on status of craft and operations of Lao Flotilla. It
includes information on rules of engagement for the Flotilla, and joint patrols
which are being conducted by Lao and Thai naval units.
REQUEST PHOTOS DERCGTLY FROM D
ORDERED BY Il MiD PliOTO LOG NUMBER
(C) Status of Craft:
a. Privets #010 and #011., previously in Thakhet (1724N 10448E) area, are
now at Chinaimo (1754N 10237E) HQ for repair.. RO's were informed that two
FOM-11's have taken their place,-however, numbers are not known. ..Privat
? photo, 1-G. 42
b., U.S. Army LCM's #6458 and #6078 have been received, bringing total
'number .of newer LCM46's to six.' These latter craft appeared to be in better
overall condition than the four previous craft, ?
2. (C) The new floating drydock is still under construction, with .estimated
IS. DISTRIBUTION BY ORIGINATOR:
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C/NCPACFLT (w/o,-.encl)
J-2 MACTHAI (w/o end)
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17. DOWNGRADING DAT M.
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Autoninticeliy ? .11:':,)?;;;;;?,[nderl at
two year .interv:if;
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CONF TIAL
IS. ATTACHMENT DATA,
ENCL:
(1) Five 35MM negatives for
exp 1G and 2G (U)
REPLACES DA FORM 1048. I AUG W.
OP N AV FORM 3620 (Rev 10.6a
Declassified in Part - Saniiized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08C09714600300060011-3
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CONTINUATION SHEET
CONFIDENTIAL
(Cle?al fice Ion et. Control Marking.)
REPORT NO.
PAGE
ORIGINATOR
PAGES
(Lear. Blank)
completion abaut 15 March and dedication ceremony 21 March. Completion date
was slowed by modification of the original plans. A barge-type bow will be
added to all forward sections. The modification is expected to decrease water
resistance and bank erosion. See photo 2-G.
3. (C) Rules of Engakement: RO's questioned Colonel Sinthanavong Kindavong,
CO of the FAR Flotilla, on rules of engagement for his forces, previous incidents
with Thai river forces, the international boundary along the Mekong, and related
matters. Sinthanavong stated that no rules of engagement as such have ever
been issued. No written agreement had ever been concluded with the Thais,
since this could be a violation of Lao neutrality. Sinthanavong insisted,
however, that his officers all understood. that they were not to fire at the
Thai or even to fire into Thai territory. While no written agreement existed
with the Thai, there were verbal understandings. Sinthanavong referred to an
"agreement" between the governors of Nakhon Phanom, Thailand (1726N 10446E)
and Khammouane Province, Laos (1800N 10500E) for mutual exchanges of information
and assistance.
COMMENT: Captain Dumrong Sacanandana, CO Mekong River Operations Unit (MROU),
Thailand, has also alluded to this agreement in RU's presence.
The Lao River Flotilla always keeps the Thais informed on what they are doing,
according to Colonel Sinthanavong. If Flotilla craft had information on amugglAng
or infiltration and could not apprehend in Lao territory, they would pass such
information to the MROU. Sinthanavong gave as an example an instance where
Lao police had asked the Flotilla to intercept suspected smugglers of M-16
rifles crossing to.Thailand. The Flotilla could not intercept since the craft
had crossed the middle of the river, but passed the information to the Thai
side. (No information on outcome). Sinthanavong told of an incident during
January, near Thakhet, when a flotilla craft was firing into Lao territory after'
dark. The backblast from a recoilless round had been directed near an MROU
craft, and the Thais assumed they were being fired upon. The incident was
cleared up once an explanation was given.
(C) Thai-Lao Boundary: Interestingly, Colonel Sinthanavong seems to consider
the Mekong River "international" waters. That is, both the Lao and Thai.have A
free_ access to the entire river', though neither can intrude on the other's
^_77,1-riircl territory. Sinthanavong stated that he was_briefed on this relationship 1
predecessor.___
COMMENT: This understanding is in concert with present day. usage of the_Mekong,
whereby Thai and Lao have free passage across-the-riverT-but?kt-als6?C-Onflicts_)
---i-itir---Ttileh-a-rtritnentof1926 which set the Mekong boundary at the
ldeep water channel (see Reference (a)). .
5. (C) Operations:
a. Sinthanavong discussed the recent use of the newly acquired LCM's to
ferry ammunition and barbed wire from Vientiane to Luang Prabang (1953N 10208E).
One hundred tons of ammunition and 20 tons of barbed wire has been shipped thus
far. Three LCM's carried about 35 tons each, with 15 tons of cargo on the
4th craft. Considerable .difficulty with low water had been experienced at
Keng Luang rapids (unlocated, possibly 1753N 10130E). - In an effort to move
the craft, 300 men had been used to haul the vessels forwards. At one stage
an LCM had been moved 20 centimeters in one 15 minute period. The remainder
of the trip was completed without incident.
b. Sinthadavong discussed joint patrols which his forces are condUcting
with Thai forces. In the area of Vientiane, these patrols are conducted "nightly"
and may consist of a Laotian LCVP and a Thai pontoon craft, or possibly a Lao
police "dugout" operating with a Thai police'"dugout" for stealthy operations.
The patrols are on alert for smuggling operations. Smugglers would be" fired
upon to stop them if necessary. In the Southern area;'Thakhet, patrols
tONFIDENTIAL
D D 1396 c
(Cloo?IfIcation ond Contiot Markinit.)
?
REPLACES DA FORM 1048-1 1 AUG eo
AND OA FORM 606, 1 AUG 8 WHICH
MAY OE USED UNTIL 1 JAN 60.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08C01297R00030006nn11_fl
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08C01297R000300060011-3
CONTINUATION SHEET
CONFIDENTIAL
REPORT NO.
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ORIGINATOR
frequently consisted of a Thai PBR and a Laotian FOM. Contact between units
was normally in person, since radios were not always compatible. Each side,
however, knew the others operating frequency. Lao personnel were occasionally
placed aboard Thai craft. In the area between Ban Phaeng (1758N 10414E) and Ban
Nam Kading (181930N 1035930E), it had been agreed that any person who failed to
stop for a search was considered enemy. Radio contact between Lao forces Thakhet
and Nakhon Phanom MROU HQ was maintained, and radio contact was possible
between Flotilla HQ Chinaimo and MROU craft at Sri Chiengmai (175730N 1023400E)
and Nong Khai (1753N 10245E),Thailand. This latter net had been arranged during
talks between Sinthanavong and Admiral Sa-Ngad Chaloryoo, Commanding in Chief,
Royal Thai Fleet, during Sa-Ngad's visit to the Nong.Khai area in late January.
COMMENTS: (C) The apparent increasing contacts and joint patrols between
Thai and Lao forces are encouraging to note. The "working level" officers on
each side seem to understand the need for such cooperation. The Thai, for
their part, probably see cooperation as a necessary adjunct to better intelligence
on what may be crossing the Mekong; they hardly need the meager assistance that
Flotilla craft might provide. The Lao, conversely, for prestige purposes
would like to keep some hand in control of the Mekong with their limited assets.
Colonel Sinthanavong asked 'ALUSNA if there was any possibility of acquiring
PBR's such as the Thais had, in order to give his forces additional speed.
He was informed that the cost of PBR's and their maintenance requirements were
such that the Lao would not get PBR's. When asked if a FOM or asPBR would
win in a battle between the two, Colonel Sinthanavdng smiled and acknowledged
that the FOM would obviously win due to steel hill versus fiber glass.
CONFIDENTIAL
(Lear. Blank)
n t9M.1?ICIA REPLACES DA FORM 10413.1 1 AUG 60
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08C01297R000300060011-3
Declassified in Part- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08001297R000300060011-3
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CONTINUATION SHEET
CONFIDENTIAL
.(C/.. el n.91113(1 end Conf.,/ Alat*Ing?)
REPORT NO.
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ORIGINATOR
PAGES
PHOTO TITLING LOG
PHOTOS 1G THRU 2G
ALL PHOTOS TAKEN USING LEICA M3 CAMERAUSING STANDARD 50K4 LENS
r,GOWEIDENTIAL.
(Leave Blank)
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D D 1396 c REPLACES DA FORM 1048-1 I AUG 60
AND OA FORM 606. I AUG 60 WHICH
0 00122
(Cleaaftication and Control MarkInita).
, -MAYBE USED UNTIL JAN 69.
0111121 . 102 0
Declassified in Part-Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/11/19: CIA-RDP08C01297R00030006nnii_fi