VULNERABILITY OF SELECTED URBAN AREAS IN NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T01018A000900080002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 24
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 27, 2000
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 1, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP79T01018A000900080002-6
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NO F-O-R-E-I-G-N D-I-S-S-E-M
CIA/BI GS 66-20
February 1966
VULNERABILITY OF SELECTED URBAN AREAS IN NORTH VIETNAM
I. Introduction
About 10 percent of the population of North Vietnam is urban. Slightly less than
two-thirds of this urban population resides in the two largest cities, Hanoi (1961,
estimated population, 650,000) and Haiphong (1961, estimated population, 375,000).
The next 4 most populous cities, estimated as of 1961, are Thanh Hoa (80,000), Nam Dinh
(70,000), Vinh (55,000), and Dong Hoi (55,000). These six cities and two centers of
developing industry, Thai Nguyen (30,000) and Viet Tri (25,000), are the subject of this
study (see Figure 1).
Selected target installations in the cities or their environs are located on accompanying
1:50,000 maps (Plates I through VIII), and descriptive data keyed to the installations appear
on the map aprons.
Since many of the selected installations are located within relatively heavily built-up
areas, inadvertant destruction of civilian residences and/or other nontarget buildings may
occur in connection with air strikes. The degree of destruction from fire, whether spread
by high explosive bombing or incendiary bombing, is generally related to: (1) the density
of the buildings, or their "built-upness," a term used by the US Strategic Bombing Surveys
on Japan,* and (2) the combustibility of material used in the construction of the buildings.
II. Density of Buildings
The degree of "built-upness" in various areas of Hanoi and Haiphong is shown in the
Built-up Area Density maps on Plates I and II. Similar maps are unavailable for the other
six urban areas, but radar-return maps which give some indication of the location and
density of buildings have been substituted on Plates III through VIII.
On the Built-Up Area Density maps of Hanoi and Haiphong, the density is described
in terms of roof coverage in three categories: (1) densely built-up (over 40 percent roof
coverage), (2) moderately built-up (20 percent to 40 percent roof coverage), and (3) sparsely
built-up (5 percent to 20 percent roof coverage).
Some concept of the extent of damage which may occur in the different zones of
built-upness in Hanoi and Haiphong may be gained by a comparison with information in
the US Strategic Bombing Surveys. Figures 2, 3, and 4 are based on detailed measurements
in selected Japanese cities. Figure 2 shows the percentages of built-upness and areas
occupied in square miles for various functional categories. Figure 3 shows the percentages
of damage in different zones of built-upness by functional categories; Figure 4 is a graphic
complement of Figure 3. The Japanese experience may be used as a very rough guideline to
an estimate of possible damage to the residential areas of Hanoi and Haiphong. Validation
and further refinement of the estimate require detailed consideration of any significant
differences in construction materials or types of ordnance used. (Figures 5 through 8 allow
some visual comparison of dwelling density and building types in Japanese and North
Vietnamese cities.)
*A Report on Physical Damage in Japan, The US Strategic Bombing Survey, Physical
Damage Division, June 1947.
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Conbustibility of Building Materials
The US Strategic Bombing Survey after analyzing Japanese building construction
concluded that "only a few Japanese buildings were safe from fire and could effectively
serve as area fire stops." A comparison of Japanese with Vietnamese construction
indicates that the combustibility potential of Vietnamese buildings may be significantly
less.
A. Japanese Buildings
The Bombing Survey describes the typical Japanese dwelling as one or two stories
high with heavy wood sills and a wood or stone foundation without basement, 1-1/2 feet
above ground level (see Figures 9 and 10). Wood frames were 4 by 4 inches and the
rafters were often 4 by 6 inches. The roof was usually tile, set on mud-covered 1/2- to
2-inch wood sheathing over wood supports. Ceilings consisted of wide 1/4-inch wood
boards loosely suspended on 2- by 2-inch supports. The floors were 1/2-1nch boards
covered by 2-inch rice-straw "tatami" mats except in hallways where 3/4-inch boards
were used. Walls were made of bamboo laths thickly coated on both sides with natural-
cement mud, and most exterior sides were weather-protected by a wide, 1/2-inch,
unpainted lapboard. Interior partitions were either thin mud-bamboo, window frames
with glass or paper, or thin panels of wood.
B. Vietnamese Buildings
Clay of excellent quality for making brick occurs in abundance near most of the
urban areas in North Vietnam, and wood is relatively scarce. Brick is therefore probably
the most widely used building material. Masonry construction, moreover, is dominant in
at least the larger cities.* Because of this fact, it has been generalized that the danger
of conflagration in the larger Vietnamese cities is not great.** It may be surmised,
however, that the framing beams in the older houses are tinder-dry and would burn readily.
Buildings of masonry walls and tile roofs are most common in the French-built
sections, which include administrative and cultural institutions and commercial and
residential areas. The residences are typically detached, single-family dwellings situated
in separate lots along broad, tree-shaded avenues, a condition which would minimize fire
spread. Fire would be more likely to spread among the dwellings in the Chinese quarters
of Hanoi and Haiphong which, although generally of masonry, are crowded together.
In contrast to these buildings, the traditional Vietnamese dwelling is a single-family,
thatched-roofed structure of bamboo frame covered with plaster or bamboo mats (see
Figures 11 and 12). It is highly inflammable. In Hanoi and Haiphong, such buildings are
generally limited to small settlements in the outskirts. In the smaller cities, these
thatched-roof huts are likely to occur also within the city proper, where they may be
intermixed with masonry structures. Shacks made of corrugated iron and wood, as well
as junks and sampans which line the canals in the Chinese quarter of Haiphong, are living
quarters for thousands of inhabitants; these structures would be highly inflammable (see
Figure 13).
* Most of the North Vietnamese urban areas, however, are built on deltaic alluvial
soils, which will not support great weight without special engineering. Few buildings
exceed 4 or 5 stories in height.
**NIS, North Vietnam, Section 25, Urban Areas, p. 25-2.
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Masonry construction is common in the workers' housing built in recent years
in the vicinity of industrial installations such as at Thai Nguyen (see Figure 14); in
new apartments such as those on the southern limits of Hanoi (see Figure 15); and
in the major new industrial installations,* in permanent army barracks, and in some
large warehouses such as the steel...frame concrete warehouses located behind the
Haiphong wharves.
IV. Functional Divisions
Vietnamese cities are more or less divided into functional divisions which may
help to limit fire spread into residential zones, since selected targets are more likely
to be grouped in nonresidential divisions (see Functional Divisions of Built-Up Areas
on Plates I through VIII).
The distinct differences between functional divisions are most clear in Haiphong,
where canals (which, in themselves, are firebreaks) partially delineate the six distinctive
functional areas. The strip along the Cua Cam shoreline comprises the port area,
including enterprises directly concerned with port activities. The central part of the
city is composed of; (1) the commercial district and (2) the mixed residential and
commercial division (the densely populated Chinese quarter) lying east of the bend of
the Song (River) Tram Bac. South of the Chinese quarter is an almost exclusively
residential division. The eastern and western parts of the city are industrial divisions.
A large number of selected installations are located on the island which is bordered
on the south and east by the Song Tram Bac (see Plate II). The main residential divisions
are isolated from the island and would not be threatened by fire spread from it.
Hanoi is less clearly divided, although five main functional divisions are present
(see Plate I). The north-central section contains the Citadel, a military area. The
east-central and northwest sections (the latter being generally west of the Citadel) were
developed by the French. Both are chiefly residential, with some mix of governmental
and institutional buildings. The northeast and southeast sections are mainly mixed
residential-commercial areas, the northeast section, bounded on the north and west by
the railroad line, being the oldest and most densely built-up part of the city.
In Hanoi the selected installation most definitively isolated from residential divisions
is Installation No. 4, the Ministry of Defense, located in the Citadel.
The location of installations with respect to functional divisions in the smaller urban
areas can be ascertained by examination of the individual maps on Plates III through VIII.
*An article on Vietnamese architecture in the Chinese-language periodical, Chien-chu
Hsueh-pao (Journal of Construction), No. 11, 1963, pp. 24-29, describes the main
structure of new North Vietnamese industrial complexes as being made of reinforced
concrete, prefabricated or poured on the site. The roof is generally flat, of reinforced
concrete, and in some cases insulated against heat. Secondary buildings in the
industrial complexes may be of brick and wood construction and generally have tile roofs.
N-0 F-O-R-E..I-G-N D-I-S-S-E-M
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Figure 2. Percentages of built-upness and areas
occupied in square miles for certain
Japanese cities.
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Figure 3. Percentages of damage in different zones of
built-upness.
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Figure 4. Graphically illustrates the data in Figures 2
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damage in 7 different functional zones.
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Figure 5. Built-up area in Nagoya, Japan, showing fire resistant buildings
interspersed among areas formerly occupied by combustible buildings.
Figure 6. Densely built-up Chinese quarter of Hanoi.
Buildings are of masonry construction.
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Figure 7. Typical densely built-up area of small Japanese city.
Figure 8. A view of Nam Dinh showing density and construction of buildings.
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Figure 9. Japan. Combination one- and two-story mercantile structures
with dwelling occupancy on second floor. Unpainted wood siding
usually covered mud-filled walls.
Figure 10. Japan. Typical dwelling in smaller Japanese city.
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Figure 11. Vietnamese dwellings near Thanh Hoa.
The sides are of palm or bamboo mats and the
roof is thatched. Such houses are generally
on the outskirts of the larger cities but may
be intermixed with masonry structures in the
smaller urban centers.
Figure 12. Shows framework of typical thatched-roof Vietnamese dwelling
in Vinh area. According to Soviet source of picture, house was
being rebuilt after destruction by U.S. bombing.
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Figure 13. The Chinese quarter of Haiphong borders the Song (River)
Tram Bac. Many of the junks and sampans serve as homes.
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Figure 14. Thai Nguyen. Cadre workers' apartments, of
masonry construction.
Figure 15. New apartments, of masonry construction, on the southern
outskirts of Hanoi.
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-I0
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Lines (RSPL)
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SECRET
53067 2-66 CIA
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1000 500 0
'
1000 500 0 1000
Map Number
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
PLATE III
THANH HOA - SELECTED INSTALLATIONS
Map Scale 1:50,000
Installation
Petroleum Products Storage.
Two cylindrical tanks with estimated capacity of
528,000 gallons.
Railroad Station and Yards.
Facility includes passenger
6 storage buildings, and 13
station, 7 repair buildings,
support buildings.
Military Radio Communications Station.
Installation includes antenna field and transmission area
with 6 buildings.
Army Barracks South-Southeast, Tuc Tranh.
10 barracks and 3 support buildings.
Thanh Hoa Army Barracks and Supply Depot.
Major element of Thanh Hoa military complex; second only
to Vinh in importance in southern North Vietnam. Troop
capacity of 19,800 men in 94 barracks. 6 administration
buildings, 14 storage buildings, 85 support buildings.
Railroad Terminal Facilities, Ham Rong.
Installation includes terminal and 2 warehouses. Area
heavily bombed as of 21 July 1965; facilities damaged.
Thanh Hoa Port Facilities and Warehouse Area.
Installation has diminished in importance since new rail
line opened to Vinh, but still believed to be closely linked
to flow of military supplies to the south. 23 storage
buildings and 38 support buildings. As of 21 July 1965,
22 buildings destroyed or dismantled and 12 damaged.
Power Plant
Provides electric power for Thanh Hoa military complex as
well as local commercial and agricultural users. As of
6 August 1965, transformer yard destroyed and boiler house
severely damaged.
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
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Veit Thuon
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RADAR SIGNIFICANCE ANALYSIS CODE LEGEND
Bright
Medium
Weak
Bridges )1wK
EIN Radar Significant Power
Lines (RSPL)
Villages 0
Buildings MA
SECRET
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1
1000 500 0
'
1000 500 0 1000
Map Number
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
PLATE III
THANH HOA - SELECTED INSTALLATIONS
Map Scale 1:50,000
Installation
Petroleum Products Storage.
Two cylindrical tanks with estimated capacity of
528,000 gallons.
Railroad Station and Yards.
Facility includes passenger
6 storage buildings, and 13
station, 7 repair buildings,
support buildings.
Military Radio Communications Station.
Installation includes antenna field and transmission area
with 6 buildings.
Army Barracks South-Southeast, Tuc Tranh.
10 barracks and 3 support buildings.
Thanh Hoa Army Barracks and Supply Depot.
Major element of Thanh Hoa military complex; second only
to Vinh in importance in southern North Vietnam. Troop
capacity of 19,800 men in 94 barracks. 6 administration
buildings, 14 storage buildings, 85 support buildings.
Railroad Terminal Facilities, Ham Rong.
Installation includes terminal and 2 warehouses. Area
heavily bombed as of 21 July 1965; facilities damaged.
Thanh Hoa Port Facilities and Warehouse Area.
Installation has diminished in importance since new rail
line opened to Vinh, but still believed to be closely linked
to flow of military supplies to the south. 23 storage
buildings and 38 support buildings. As of 21 July 1965,
22 buildings destroyed or dismantled and 12 damaged.
Power Plant
Provides electric power for Thanh Hoa military complex as
well as local commercial and agricultural users. As of
6 August 1965, transformer yard destroyed and boiler house
severely damaged.
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
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