SPRATLY ISLAND GROUP MAY 1974

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78T05162A000400010031-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 31
• Publication Date: July 1, 1974
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/14: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000400010031-3
NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION CENTER
PHOTOGRAPHIC
INTERPRETATION
REPORT
SPRATLY ISLAND GROUP
MAY 1974
-TdP'SECRE-
JULY 1974
COPY NO. 122
6 PAGES
PI R-046/74
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Eight islands of the
SPRATLY ISLAND GROUP
MAY 1974
Spratly Group in the South China Sea
All of these islands are
in the central portion of
the archipelago an inc u e Itu A a Is an Northeast Cay, Southwest Cay, Thitu Island, Loaita Island,
Sand Cay, Sin Cowe Island, and Namyit Island (Figure 1). Activity on all the islands was light.
Naval craft observed in the area included three BOSTWICK-class destroyer escorts (DE), one high
endurance cutter (WHEC), one tank landing ship (LST), and two unidentified patrol craft. One DE
and the two patrol craft were under way when photographed and the other craft were at anchor.
2. The most activity was on Itu Aba Island (Figure 2). The island is 318 nautical miles (nm)
east-southeast of Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, at 10-22-42N 114-21-52E. It is 4,615 feet long
Vegetation consists mainly of trees, scrub brush, and grass. The small garrison
on the island consists of three administration buildings, six barracks, one probable officers quarters,
one messhall, one large storage building, five small storage buildings, and eight storage/support
buildings. A long finger pier extends from the south side of the island to a slip dredged from the
coral. A smaller finger pier is immediately east of the long pier. Roads extend the length and width
of the island and intersect at a monument in the center of the island. A network of trails extends
throughout the island. Personnel trenches and foxholes are around the perimeter of the island, and
six reverted possible gun positions are along the beach in the vicinity of the finger piers. At least
two of these positions were occupied; the caliber of the weapons could not be determined.
3. Two ex-US BOSTWICK-class DEs (one shown on Figure 2) and one LST-1 were at anchor
off the southern coast. Another BOSTWICK-class DE was under way approximately 1.5 nm southeast
of the island. Three small speed boats were on racks near the base of the large finger pier. Three
non-motorized ship's boats were tied next to the small finger pier. Six cargo trucks observed on
Itu Aba were the only vehicles observed on any of the eight islands.
4. Northeast Cay (Fi ure 3) is approximately 300 nm east of Cam Ranh Bay at 11-26-30N
114-20-29E. The island i 910 feet wide. Vegetation consists mainly of trees,
scrub brush, and grass. Structures on the island consist of one administration building, one large
barracks, two support buildings, and one observation tower. Roads extend the length and width of
the island and intersect at the administration building.
5. Southwest Cay (Figure 4) is approximately 300 nm east of Cam Ranh Bay at 11-26-31N
114-20-30E. The island is 2,915 feet long and 840 feet wide. Vegetation is mainly grass with a
few small scrub trees around the perimeter of the island. Facilities on the island consist of one
probable barracks, four storage/support buildings, one observation tower, and one large unidentified
tower or mast. Footings have been laid for a possible additional barracks and one additional
storage/support building. Eight small probable landing craft were on the beach.
6. Thitu Island (Figure 5) is approximately 300 nm east of Cam Ranh Bay at 11-03-15N
114-16-59E. The island is generally triangular
Vegetation consists mainly of scrub trees and grass with a few large trees. The majority of the facilities
on the island are in a clearing in the southern portion of the island; these consist of one administration
building, three barracks, one messhall, and three support buildings. Two roads extend from the cleared
area to the north side of the island, and a third road extends from the main building area to a
small clearing on the north-northwest side of the island which contains two storage buildings. Although
no naval vessels were observed in the immediate vicinity of Thitu, two unidentified patrol craft,
155 feet and 135 feet long, were under way approximately 2 nm east-southeast of the island
7. Loaita Island (Figure 6) is approximately 320 nm east-southeast of Cam Ranh Bay at
10-40-07N 114-25-20E. The island is 815 feet wide. Vegetation consists mainly
of scrub trees and grass. The only structures on the island are one large and two small sheds. A
single road extends the length of the island and numerous tracks extend from the beach to the
vicinity of the large shed.
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