CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS WILL MAKE POSSIBLE THE STRENGTHENING OF COMMUNIST FORCES IN SOUTH VIETNAM AND SOUTHERN LAOS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78S02149R000200170005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 7, 2003
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: October 25, 1965
• Content Type: IM

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Office of Research and keports
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INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS WILT, MAICE PO S BLE VIE
STRENGTBENN,G,0` COMMUNISE -PORCES IN
SOUTH V`I TI"AM_ AND. `SOUTRBRN_ ,LAOS
DIRECTORATE OF ' IN`I ELLYIGENCE
GROUP 1 111
Excluded from automatic
-downgrading,and
declassification
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
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 Approved For Release 2003/05/SEC1i'8S02149R000200170005-6
OCI No. 2906/65
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Research and Reports
25 October 1965
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS WILL MAKE POSSIBLE THE
STRENGTHENING OF_CbVMUN1_ST_VORCra_rN__
SOUTH VIETNAM AND SOUTHERN LAOS
1. Roads completed or under construction in
the Laotian panhandle during 1965 will facilitate
the movement of men and supplies to South Vietnam
and will increase the ability of the Communists to
deploy and support forces in Southern Laos. These
roads in Laos are oriented to the east and south
toward South Vietnam? (See map) Men and supplies
can now be moved from the panhandle by a combina-
tion of truck and river transportation across the
border of South Vietnam into an area 100 miles
farther south than was possible prior to late 1964
or early 1965. A new road now in the final stages
of construction, designated route 923, will elimi-
nate the necessity for transfer from truck to river
transportation and speed up movements to the south.
Another new road also under construction, desig-
nated route 911, will reduce the distance from Mu
Gia Pass to Tchepone by one-third and may provide
an all-weather alternate to sections of dry-season
routes 23 and 9. A newly constructed trail in the
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) provides a better connec-
tion between route 103 and route 9 near Tchepone
and will also facilitate the flow of men and sup-
plies through Laos towards South Vietnam.
The Transport Network Prior to 1965
2. The most important road for supplies moving
from North Vietnam to the Communist forces in the
panhandle of Laos and the Viet Cong in South Vietnam
enters Laos at Mu Gia Pass. This route continues
south on route 12 to the junction with route 23,
down route 23 to route 9, along route 9, and thence
south on route 92. Trucks move men and supplies from
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North Vietnam over this route during the dry season
(December-June). Until late 1964 or early 1965
trucks could move only 25 miles south of Ban Dong
to Muong Nong, at that time the end of route 92 and
about 13 miles from the border of South Vietnam.
3. The other land route originated at the end
of route 103 in North Vietnam and continued over a
trail making an end-run of the DMZ. It connected
with route 9 near Tchepone. Supplies for the Viet
Cong then moved over route 9, down route 92 to
Muong Nong and, thence over trails into South Vietnam.*
Additions to Transport Network in 1965
4. Analysis of aerial photographs obtained dur-
ing 1965 shows that important additions have been made
to the road and trail network in the Laotian panhandle.
Recent photographs show that a new route, designated
number 911, is under construction between Ban Som Peng
on route 23 and Ban Nabo on route 9. South of route 9
a whole new network of roads has been and is being con-
structed. This:.network begins at a point 15 miles
south of route 9 on route 92, which was an old road
leading south from route 9 to Muong Nong. From this
point a new section of route 92 has been built, curving
to the south for about 10 miles, then heading east for
about 7 miles, and. finally dropping south for another 37
miles to a vehicle turn-around at the Se Kong.
5. At a point about one mile south of the
junction of the old and new sections of route 92,
a jeepable trail, which appears on aerial photo-
graphs to be no more than 3 miles long and which
has been designated route 921, has been built in a
generally east-west direction across the new sec-
tion of route 92. About 16 miles south of the junc-
tion with old. route 92, another new road has been
built as part of the network. This is route 922,
which heads generally east to a point about 7 miles
from the border of South Vietnam. Another important
road in the new network is still under construc-
tion. This route, number 923, (not an official
designation), leaves route 92 about 32 miles south
of the junction of route 922, and snakes its way
south and east for about 35 miles to a point within
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5 miles of Chavane on route 165. Route 923, except
for the southernmost 5-mile section, appears to be
in the final stages of construction. This road is
important because it will make unnecessary both the
transfer of goods from trucks to boats, which then
move down the Se Kong, and the subsequent reload-
ing onto trucks at routes 16 and 165 and an unnum-
bered route for further shipment east and south of
the Se Kong. Route 16 winds south from Ban Phone,
touching the Se Kong in two places. Route 165,
which is the most southern road of the new network,
leaves route 16 about 12 miles south of Ban Phone,
crosses the Se Kong heading east for about 60 miles,
where it expands into a little road net. (Not all
of these roads are shown on the map.) The eastern
fingers of three of these roads extend across the
border into South Vietnam.
6. In addition to the roads discussed above,
a new trail from the end of route 103 in the DMZ
has been built and at least 10 bridges from 6 to 8
feet wide have been constructed between route 103
and the village of Ban Tchepone in the DMZ enabling
bicycles, carts, and light vehicles to be used on
the trail.
Significance of Additions to the Network
7. When route 923--now in the last stages of
construction except for the small southern section
--is completed, men and supplies can be moved dur-
ing the dry season by truck from North Vietnam
into South Vietnam. Furthermore, this truckable
route crosses the border of South Vietnam, about
100 miles south of the end of the previously
existing road and only 12 miles from South Vietna-
mese route 14.
8. The capacity of the supply route starting
at Mu Gia Pass is limited by the amount that can
come through the pass, so that construction of
route 911 will not increase the capacity of this
route. However, if route 911 is built so that it
is truckable during th6 rainy season as well as
the dry season, it will provide an all-weather road
to the Tchepone area because it will bypass the
section of route 23 that becomes impassable during
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the rainy season. Aerial photography is not avail-
able for about 17 miles of route 911, and about 12
miles of the route showni,in photography have not
been completed. It is estimated, however, that con-
struction of both these sections can be completed
in about 4 monthstif, in fact, there are gaps total-
ing 29 miles. Aerial photographs show extensive
scarring of the construction area which could mean
that earth-moving vehicles are being used. If
earth-moving vehicles are present, it would be fur-
ther evidence of the importance which the Communists
attach to the construction of this road. The con-
struction of route 911 may also make interdiction
of the supply route from North Vietnam more diffi-
cult by providing an alternate route for certain sec-
tions of routes 23 and 9. The construction of route
911 toward the south and east, and the construction
of route 923, indicate Communist emphasis on activi-
ties in the area of the South Vietnamese border. If
a drive by the Communist forces towards the west had
been planned, the previously existing roads probably
would have been sufficient.
9. At present, supplies moving south on route
92 must be transferred from truck to water transpor-
tation at the end of the road on the Se Kong and
then reloaded on trucks where the river meets routes
16 or 165. The completion of route 923 would elimi-
nate the necessity for this transfer and permit the
use of trucks from North Vietnam through Laos into
South Vietnam in the dry season.
10. The new trail built from route 103 to the
village of Ban Tchepone in the DMZ is`evidence that
the Communists are planning to use this area more
extensively than they have in the past. Aerial pho-
tographs show vehicle tracks and scarring at the end
of route 103 and bicycles heading south about 5 miles
north of the new trail. This new trail connects with
the old trail'leading to the town of Tchepone in Laos
on route 9, so that men and supplies can continue to
move toward South Vietnam over routes 9 and 92 and
connecting roads.
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SOUTHEASTERN LAOS: Selected Routes and Control
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108
Road built since 1964 1
----- Road under construction, 1965
Road existing, 1964
-- -- - :Track or trail existing, 1964
Pro-Communist forces
DEMARCATION LINE
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