COMMUNIST LOGISTICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA SINCE THE CEASE-FIRE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-559-23-2-4
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: July 8, 2010
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 1, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
. Directorate of Intelligence
February I973
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
COMMUNIST LOGISTICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN INDOCHINA
SINCE THE CEASE-FIRE
INTRObUCTION
1. On 27 January a formal cease-fire was ?declared to end the war
in South Vietnam. Since that time, some significant logistics-related activities
have been undertaken by the North Vietnamese. This memorandum
summarizes the most important of these developments, and also includes
some pre-cease-fife activity which relates to the continuing Communist
resupply effort.
MORI PER
002692826
NGA, USAF, NSA,
Review Completed
2. Significant logistical support for Communist forces operating
throughout Indochina has continued during the early days following the
cease-fire, and indications are that plans. have been made to extend such
operations for at least the near term.
3. Renewed maritime shipping to North Vietnam's harbors is
expected to gain momentum in the coming weeks. At Haiphong,
minesweeping is under way, and vessels have been noted moving within
the main channel. Recently, a 4,000 deadweight ton (DWT) ship left the
harbor, and currently at least one Soviet ship has arrived at Haiphong. Along
the northern coast, the lightering of foreign merchant ships was noted along
the coast south of Hon Gay -the first such activity in that area since
the mining. Also, along the southern coast, heavy watercraft activity in
the Quang IChe area has been resumed by the North Vietnamese.
4. Overland imports into North Vietnam through 23 January were
following roughly the same pattern as in previous months. Through that
date, detected overland imports for the month stood at 26,000 tons.
Nate: This memorandum was prepared by the Office of Economic
Research.
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S. Within North Vietnam, significant progress has been made in
restoring the battered rail system. The northeast line is currently serviceable
as is the line from Hanoi to Vinh. COMINT implies that the latter line
is now being used from Thanh Haa to Vinh. Similarly the road network
throughout North Vietnam is serviceable.
6. Intercepted North Vietnamese communications from the Vinh
area show clearly that a high level of logistic activity is to be sustained
there in the near future. From 1 to 22 February, same C,600 tons of
supplies are to be delivered to Binh Tram l 1, the major Communist logistic
entity in northern Laos. Further south, vehicle activity continues to be
noted north of the DMZ. In the Laos border area, electronic sensors have
detected large numbers of ve c es en route south through t e an arai
Pass since a cease- ire, an in os an an e a Tanuary
Intercept row epone area noted a 54-vehicle convoy on the wave.
On 28 and 29 January, some 24 tanks were observed by US pilots waving
through the Muong Nong area.
7. Evidence of supply movement into South Vietnam itself has been
scarce; however, one im or a an 0 Janu
order to a ogistical element in the DMZ area to farm a "vehicle command"
e uture delivery of supplies to ouch ietnam s Military Region
im ar y, a anuary intercept revealed an 11-truck convo was
on i`~ t way ung reng and Kratie,
am ia, tote area.
International Resuppiy to North Vietnam
8. Photography revealed two small vessels towing
minesweeping gear out oun in a main channel of Haiphong harbor and
two other small craft headed inbound in the channel. On the same day
a tanker (probably the one that left the harbor's lower anchorage adjacent
to the minefield between 21 and 23 January) was seen entering the channel
.behind a tug. These activities. came on the heels of the recent undetected
departure from Haiphong of the North Vietnamese cargo ship Viet Bao.
which, at 4,000 DWT, is the largest ship to exit the harbor since the mining.
9. Photography also reflected the first observed
lightering of foreign merchant ships along the northern coast of North
Vietnam south of Hon Gay since the mining. Four cargo ships were observed
in this area near Cac Ba Island: one Cuban (the Guisa), one Chinese, and
two North Vietnamese ships, the Huu Nghi and the Ben Thuy which had
left Haiphong in late November. On ~S January, two more Chinese ships
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appeared in the area and I$ barges were observed lightering cargo
25X1
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29 January, COMINT revealed that the small Huu Nghi (60U DWT) had
loaded export cargo fvr Hang Kong.
10. In other activity, COMINT indicates that one Soviet ship -- tlie.
Dalny -- has arrived at the harbor outside the minefield at H~iiphong. and
by 3 February lightering from the ship had begun. By that date, 1,200 tans
had been unloaded and 2,100 tans remained on board.
11. Although COMINT is not yet available on Hanoi's ,overland
imports in the post-cease-fire period, reports through 23 January showed
no .significant shift in North Vietnam's import patterns. COMINT reflected
nearly 26,OD0 tons of goods arriving by overland transport in January.
12. six probable armored vehicles were sighted in 25X1
a new ve c e par c nor of the petroleum storage area at Ping-hsiang,
and, on the same date, about 150 SA-3 missile canisters were seen at a .
truck park near Dong Dang. photography of the Dong 25X1
bang line about ten miles south of the Chinese border showed a 30-car
train heading south with at least. seven and possibly eight SA-3 launchers
on board. In addition, two SA-3 launchers have been si ted at sites in
North Vietnam, one at Phuc Yen Airfield and the other 25X1
just west of Hanoi 25X1
Reconstruction of Lines of Communication in North Vietnam
13. The North Vietnamese are making significant progress in the
restoration of their rail system. The northeast rail line is now open, and
the repair emphasis has shifted southward into the Panhandle.
14. By the time of the bombing halt the North Vietnamese had
reopened the northeast line between the Chinese border and the Red River.
At that point a combination fixed span/pontoon bypass hridge was used
for rail movement into Hanoi. All railyards on the line were passable, with
at least one track serviceable through each additional
repair work has been done on the northeast line: mare through tracks have
been opened at the larger yards such as Yen Vien and Lang Dang; at the
Canal des Rapides Bridge near Hanoi, a temporary span has made the bridge
serviceable; and, at the key Doumer Bridge all destroyed spans have been
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removed and damaged piers rebuilt. Moreover' rhotugraphy
over the Yen Vien Railyard showed three prefabricated bridge spans on
flat cars -they could be intended for use at the Doumer Bridge.
1 S. O~ the Hanoi-Haiphong rail line the North Vietnamec a have
started and nearly completed reconstruction of a rail bypass bridge near
Hai Duong West and have begun repairs to rail yards near Hai Duong and
Haiphong. Initial preparations to begin the restoration of a rail bypass bridge
on the western edge of Haiphong have also been noted.
16. The north-south rail line betweeh Hanoi and Thanh Haa h:-s been
restored for through rail service; however, neither the quality nor the speed
of work that was evident before LINEBACKER Il has begin noted. The
Phu Ly Rail Bridge was reopened and near Dong Phuong
Thuong a bypass bridge has been repaired to accommodate rail traffic while
repair of the main bridge has at least temporarily been abandoned. Repair
and clearing on one approach to the Thanh Haa Rail/Highway Bridge has
also commenced.
17. South of Thanh Hoa the rail line was sufficiently repaired by
o permit through traffic to Vinh, despite significant remaining
damage at Borne rail spurs and sidings along the line and at the Vinh railyard.
This remaining damage will continue to~ limit the line's capacity.
1$. On the 75-mile-long Vinh-Cho Phong rail line, repair activity has
centered on two places: the Bai Duc Thon Valley, some 20 miles north
of the Mu Gia Pass; and an area some 35 miles northwest of Quang Khe.
These sections of the line parallel the primary north-south road system and
could be used in local shuttle operations. However, a complete restoration
of this rail segment appears to be same time into the future, as several
multi-span bridges remain to be rebuilt.
19. Since mid-January the North Vietnamese have also complemented
their restored rail lines by rebuilding and adding highway bridges in their
northern road net. Almost all major streams north of Thanh Haa have
serviceable highway bridges.
Logistic Activity in Southern North Vietnam
20. Evidence of Communist resupply activity within North Vietnam
directed toward their tactical forces in South Vietnam, Laos, and Ccimbodia
showed some inconsistencies during the early days of the cease-fire. A
recapitulation of activity in the central North Vietnam Panhandle
immediately preceding the agreement revealed that from ?3 tc~ ''6 January,
nearly 2,300 tons of supplies -including 65S tons of ordna:~c4 and mare
than 1,000 tons of unidentified cargo -were detected in Binh Tram
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18 communications moving in the general Vinh area. A sharp decline
occurred on 27 and 28 January when less than 150 tans of supplies were
detected moving. A sharp decline in activity at vehicle checkpoints north
of Vinh was also reflected in COMINT between 28 January and 1 February.
Si ificantl however 4 Februar vehicle reports had again increased:
on that day same 227 vehicles were reported rnovmg sou in ~n
ram 18 s area. And, an 3 February a Binh ram a emen repor ed
that 4S vehicles were ~"-bringing down all types of cargo,
21. In the southern Panhandle, significant Communist lagisti~:al
activity continued to be noted. Between 2b and 29 January, heavy vehicle
activity associated with the movement of artillery .groups was detected in
Binh Tram 2b communications. Included were mare than 100 vehicles
towing 24 37-mm antiaircraft weapons and two 122-mrn weapons. Mare
recent evidence of vehicle activity south of Vinh came on 30 January v hen
a North Vietnamese unit in the Nghe An/Ha Tinh Province area reported
that at least 18 vehicles had been dispatched on unspecified missions.
at Quang Khe. Five SL-1 logistical craft -each capable of carrying 200
tans of cargo -- four large 195-foot barges, and 12 oil barges were observed
inside the river port area; and two SL-8 logistical craft (400-ton cargo
capacities) were outside the river part area. Also, 15 miles northeast of
Quang - Khe at the Hon La anchorage, the q~,OQO-DWT coaster Viet Bao
was , observed. The current flurry of coastal .activity parallels the
post-ROLLING THUNDER experience in late 1968 when the North
Vietnamese quickly opened their coasts and uantities of
supplies from Haiphong to the southern river ports.
2~ ong the southern coast of North Vietnam, photography of
revealed a heavy concentration of watercraft in the Giang River
23. Intercepted communications from Binh Tram 18 an 1 February
revealed that extremel)r large cargo deliveries are scheduled far northern
Laos durin February. According to t e intf tercept, 6,600 "tons of cargo are
to be shipped to Wort ern Laos in two phases: mare than 2,500 tons from
1 to 10 February and about 4,000 tons from 11 to 22 February. Na
composition of the supplies to be delivered was provided; however, Binh
Tram 18 promised that it will "report the types of cargo later." This
. ... n ,. .. - ? - - ~--
that these deliveries are under way. By 2 February, rail cars were reported
arriving at Cho Si, carrying the cargo for dispatch to northern Laos. All
of the cargo detected to date has been ordnance.
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Logistical Activity in Laos and Cambodia
24. In the Laas Panhandle, moderate but consistent indications of
logistical activity have been observed in COMINT since the cease-fire.
Intercepted enemy communications from Binh Tram 32, operating in the
Tchepone area, indicated one 54-vehicle convoy and a number of smaller
convoys moving on 2$ January, with a large number of vehicles remaining
to be used for cargo shipment. On 2 and 3 February, intercepts from
Group 472 in the central Laos Panhandle reflected continuing activity. Of
29 vehicles subordinate to a transportation company, all were reported "very
active." In the same area, an element was noted "amassing a convoy",
possibly associated with the movement of tank groups and supplies.
Intercepted communications of 29 January indicated that work was in
progress to remove blockages created by air attacks on Route 99 south
of Tchepone so that vehicle traffic could be resumed. Intercepts also
indicated that logistic units were requesting gasoline be shipped to keep
supply vehicles moving.
2S. Immediately preceding and since the cease-fire, GOMINT has
indicated that considerable emphasis is being placed on beefing up
antiaircraft protection for Communist logistic entities operating in southern
Laas..Artillery pieces have been observed transiting .the southern North
Vietnam Panhandle and moving into Laos,' ar-d artillery units have been
detected already in place further south in the Laos Panhandle. On 26 and
29 January, there were detections of 39 new artillery pieces of unidentified
type located in the Group 472 area. It was also disclosed an 2$ January
that a 30-man artillery detachment equipped with either 12.7-mm or
14.5-mm weapons was being sent to Binh Tram 34 in order to increase
the Binh Tram's capability against law-flying reconnaissance aircraft.
26. Other sources generally corroborate the COMINT reporting of
continuing resupply activi underwa in southern Laos. Through
4 February the aveiral raffic moving into southern
Laos from North Vietnam as no c ange significantly since the start of
the -cease-fire. The mast active road has been Route 137 located just north
of Ban Karai Pass. Similarly, in the western DMZ area, sporadic southbound
traffic has been noted; including 1$ vehicles moving southbound. on Route
92B on 29 Janua .
27. Limited aerial reconnaissance of the road net in the Laos
Panhandle shows most major roads in fair to good condition and supporting
vehicle traffic .through 4 February,* On 28 and 29 January, forward air
Thexe has been little aerial reconnaissance over the Pass areas or on the feeder routes Into
South Vietnam during the period.
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contrallers reported that tanks were moving through tl~e Panhandle: six were
reported on Route 92 south of Muong Nong on 28 January and 18 on
Route 92C north of Muang Nang the following day. Other reporting by
forward air controllers on 29 January revealed seven trucks moving south
on Route 99 .east of Saravane and the spotting and subsequent destruction
by tactical aircraft of five camouflaged vehicles on Raute 964 northwest
of Chavane.
28. Same new road construction in the central Panhandle has also
been reported by forward air controllers. On 29 January, one reported
observing a new by-pass road on Route i 1.1, 4 miles southeast. of Ban
Kengkok and 25 miles south-southwest of Muong Phalane. The North
Vietnamese also have undertaken extensive trellising on Route 96B from
Chavane northward for a distance of 8 miles. This activity, a favorite means
used by the Communists to hide logistical activity, may indicate that future
activity along; that route is expected.
29. Recently available photograph revealed a new
segment of the petroleum pipeline under construction in southern Laos.
The pipeline was observed crossing the Se Kong River some 6.7 miles
northeast of San Phone. South of the river, the pipeline extended northeast
for a distance of 1.5 miles where it was obscured by dense tree canopy.
This is the furthest south the pipeline has been observed in Laos.
30. In extreme southern Laos, it appears that large amounts of fuel
and petroleum .are in storage in the Group 470 and Binh Tram 37 .areas
and will, be available for the continuing movement of cargo into South
Vietnam. A report of 23 January indicated that Group 470 was to receive
100 tons of diesel fuel on 27 January, and disposition reports of
26 January from Binh Tram 37 showed more than 550 barrels of fuel in
possession of the Binh Tram and its subordinate units.
31. Information from northeastern Cambodia has been extremely
sparse, with virtually no reporting by forward air controllers or aerial
photography available since 27 January. COMINT has, however, revealed
occasional activity: nn 30 January, 11 vehicles were detected entering Binh
Tram 53 en route to southern South Vietnam.
Logistical Developments in South Vietnam
32. Some resupply activity also has been noted within South Vietnam.
Most significantly, a 30 January message from Binh Tram 12 in Quang
ri rovince ar ered another major logistic entity near the D to orm
~ph"es?The unit was directe to eliver supplies southward along
oute nd into Quang Tri Province and the B-S Front. This activity
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fellows an apparently large supply push into MR 1 immediately receding
t e cease- ire, omrnunis ve icu ar an construction activity near Route 1
between Quang Tri and Hue was reflected in 29 and 30 January COMINT.
And, in MR 3, the transport of food and quartermaster supplies between
North Vietnamese units in the Parrot's Beak area was disclosed.
A Note on Northern Laos
33. There were only light indications of logistic activity in northern
Laos during the reporting period, but photography and COMINT showed
p parations bein made to support future logistics movements. As alrca~ly
noted, extremely large supply deliveries rom or ietnam are planned
for northern Laos during the period I to 22 February. In the Plaine des
Jarres region, the North Vietnamese 25th Engineer Battalion is still active
and was detected transporting a small amount of cargo. An intercepted
message of 28 January reported II vehicles passing an unlocated
checkpoint, and communications the following day indicated a number of
vehicles transporting rice and explosives.
34. In the eastern Plaine, photography 25X1
indicated that enemy road work was in progress on a short segment of
Route 72 to the west of Nong Het. Further north, in Sam Neua Province
the North Vietnamese lst Engineer Regiment was reportedly in the process
of constructing a "terminal" on Route b. COMINT of 29 January from.
an unidentified rear service element in the area of Route 61 revealed
instructions to the element to meet a "truck convoy" on that day. In Luang
Prabang .Province a 21 January intercept from $inh Tram 24 (operating
along the Nam Ou River) indicated that 22 barrels of petroleum products
had been shipped to an associate of the Binh Tram. The Binh Tram also
received approximately 15 tons of foodstuffs on 26 January.
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