| SEGRET an increase ovet last weekj The number of small units actions vuscing contadt with the VC rose slightly from last week (from 137 to 146). (3) There were two. company-size and one battalion-size attacks by the VC reported during the pas: week. ‘this brings the number of VC large-scale attacks for November to 14 (3 battalion and 11 company) which is only slightly above the 1963 monthly average of 12. According to COMUSMACV, VC large-scale attacks: mounted towards the end of November were generally more effective from the rommunist point of : view than those conducted immediately ~~ following the coup. Of particular significance, was. the VC departure from their normal practice of breaking off their attacks at sunrise and when confronted with equal or superior forces. Recently there were two good examples of this. In the 30 November battalion-size attack against the Bau Co Civil Guard post in Tay Ninh Province, the VC did not break off the attack when illuminated by air-dropped flares or after daylight. Ve willingness to stand and fight under unfavorable conditions was also apparent on the 24 November attack against the Hiep Hoa Special Forces training camp in Hau Nghia Province. In recent weeks, there has been a slight but noticeable increase of a tendency by the VC to conduct attacks during daylight hours. SECRET 11 sastnmeanemneren ene ed Docld:374275040 Page 41
(+) The weapon loss tatio continues to show a wide bls disparity ena continues to favor the yo. In this past week, ‘the VC lost 88 Weapons th doverhinent forces, while the latter lost 374 weapons. Thus far this year, ecvernment forces have a net loss of nearly 2,400 weapons, roughly enough to equip six VC main force battalions. This illus- — tra: ove comparison is based on a 40C-man VC bettalion and on a one-veapon per man basis. (5) The US 4ir Attache in Saigen veports that Col Ky May ee is scheduled to replace Col Mai as commander of the Viet~ - namese Air Force (VNAF).. Thé change of command reportedly © will take place 16 December with Col Mai being given. the Military attache post in Germany. ithe ressons given the attache for the change are Mai'ts lack of operations! ex- perience and his former association with the Car Lao party. This former VNAF political group was identified with the Diem regime and it has now been abolished. b. Laos/Thailand: | CINCPAC has directed Chief JUSMAG, Thailand, in coordination with the US Embassy Bangkok, to determine if the Thais would be agreeable to the release of *1«: t-28s to Laos in order to replace the two lest there since september, with the understanding that these two, and the original six provided Laos last summer, will be replaced in June 1964. SHCRER 12 Docld: 324275040 Page 42
ec. Cembcdia: | Tre US Army Attache Phnom Penh reported that on 6 December, a two-seater MIG 1s With Cambodian insignia completed ite fitst flight The flight was of about ten minutes. duration and the attache believes the pilot was a Russian. d. FACOM Strategic Mobility Exercise and Exercise QUICK RELEASE: Tentative plans for the conduct during March 1964, of a FY 64 strategic mobility exercise to Korea have been cunzelled. Rescheduling will be considered at the joint/ combined exercise scheduling conference to be held 21-24 January 1964. In the interim, CINCPAC has ween directed to. recommend a date for exercise QUICK RELEASZ, the object of which will be to test the concept of the "‘orward “Loating Depos", <A brigade task force airlifted from Hawaii to Okinaws, and utilizing equipment prestocked in three com- mercial type ships now stationed at Subic Bay, will parti- cipate in a three day Field training exercise on Usinews. Jpon termination of the exercise, the three snips will velozd and return to the Philippines. The brigade irill veturn to Hawaii by air. DoclTd: 32425040 Page 43
SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION 4 LAOTIAN FORCES Co nmrigni FRIENDLY ie or REGULARS 57,000 ‘AUTO DEFENSE “ 25,000 . KONG LE. . 7,000 HAMOUANE A a 1, 500 ;Bon Howei Sa Savannakheti PThattland Pees ess eee ee eee I REPUBLIC OF VIET—NAM I FRIENDLY I ARMED FORCES (RVNAF) 215, 789 ff J CIVIL GUARD (6) 84, 788 | | SELF DEFENSE CORPS (soc) 103, as ad \ “7. j Se Konto g JUNK FORCE . epu i 406, 790 I Pleiku | alee on ee ee on es es LEGEND Pathet Lac/ Cam No.Vietnamese Areas Viet Cong Concentration QUESTIONABLE CONTROL eos FAR/Kong Le Military Region Boundaries 11 DEC 1963 SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION Docld: 324275040 Page 44
fies, Qw KN a THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF a . OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE JOINT STAFF Washington 25, D. C. 4 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF 040800 December 1963. S NDLING REQUIRED Docld: 32425040 Page 45 Subject: Southeast Asia Situation Report (U) Attached hereto is the Southeast Asia Situation Report Number 49-63 covering the. period from 270800 November to FOR THE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS: C. M. MOUNT, Colonel, USA Chief, Pacif ivision Operations Directorate GROUP 1 EXCLUDED FROM AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING & DECLASSIFICATION NOP -RELEASABLE TO FOREIGN NATIONALS
“SECRET cJCS Dir, J=1 Dir, J-3 Dir, J-4 J-5 J-6 Dir, Dir, J- SA/MAA SA/P&B SACSA Secy, JSSC DIS Secy, JCS CSA CNO CMC CSAF AFCIN AFSMS OSD NIC AFCP DIA > WH Sit. Rm M/A to President Dir, CIA S/A Pres., NSAFF The Attorney General Ag. for Int. Dev. US Del., MSC UN Dir, NSA ANMCC State FE Arf. RR&A ham Ps] DoclId: 32425040 Page 46 DISTRIBUTION Mh WHOM HME EEN r OV EQ EPH HHO ER RENE EUAN DOW
THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF OPERATIONS DIRECTORATE JOINT STAFF Washington 25, D. C. SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION 4 December 1963 REPORT NUMBER 49-63 1. INTELLIGENCE a. Laos: (1) To date, there has-been little Communist military re- action to strong Royal Lao Army (FAR) and Neutralist thrusts. in the Vang Vieng and Kham Keut areas. The Neutralists have secured Vang Vieng town and its airfield and reportedly control Route 13 north to Ban Pha Tang and south to the Nam Lik river. The opening of Route 13 and Neutralist control of Vang Vieng airfield should make logistic support of forces in that area easier. (2) FAR and Neutralist troops took Kham Keut, near Route 8 in central Laos on 27 November. The friendly forces have halted their advance halfway to Lak Sao, a vital Pathet Lao (PL) position astride Route 8 which is one of the PL main supply routes into central Laos. FAR forces, consisting of a paratroop battalion plus guerrilla units, have reinforced the initial assault group. General Amkha, Chief of the Special Military Cabinet in Vientiane has requested fuzes for 100-1b “SECRET 3 Docld:327475040 Page 47
Nenad! “SEGRED. bombs for use against a Pathet Lao 37-mm gun position at Lak Sao. Prime Minister Souvanna and Ambassador Unger con- curred in not releasing the fuzes on the ground that the PL provocation here is remote and that bombs should be used only © in case of Viet Minh attack, heavy PL action in the Plaine des Jarres or the like. | b. Republic of Vietnam (RVN): (1) Communist military activity in the RVN slackened dur- ing the week ending 3 December but there has been no real lessening of the intensity of the war. ‘On 28 November, a Viet Cong (VC) company attacked a US Special Forces Center at Chau Lang, An Giang Province, in southwestern Vietnam. On 30 November, an estimated VC battalion attacked a fortified hamlet at Bau Co, Tay Ninh Province, which is largely in- habited by the Cao Dai quasi-religious armed sect. (2) COMUSMACV has commented on the possible emergence of a more active VC campaign against US personnel. Propaganda leaflets now being distributed throughout the RVN stress the anti-American theme. COMUSMACV expects the VC to expand this campaign with attacks against Special Forces installations, sabotage, and acts of terrorism to include assassinations. It is probable that the seven American military prisoners now in the hands of the VC will be displayed in an attempt to lower American prestige. SECRET a Docld: 324275040 Page 46
SECRED (3) COMUSMACV has received additional evidence of Communist Bloc support to the VC. Vietnamese forces captured two VC 50-caliber antiaircraft machine guns, one AA speed sight, two mounts, and one hand-held lead and range estimation device. The machine guns were US but the other equipment was similar to that of Soviet manufacture and used by the Chinese Communist Army. The use of the 50-caliber machine guns with the other equipment provides an effective weapons system against low- flying aircraft and helicopters. (4) -A Vietnamese military delegation, headed by Major Generals Minh, Chief of State, and Tran Van Don, Minister of Defense, plans to visit Bangkok on 9-12 December for talks with the Thailand military. c. Cambodia: (1) Prince Sihanouk is already hinting that certain types of aid should continue and that perhaps some "new formula" could be found for a resumption of US assistance. He appeared to be thinking of a plan under which there would be no large US missions in Cambodia. (2) Also, in the opening session of talks to implement the termination of US aid, the chief Cambodian negotiator took the somewhat startling position that his government did not want the immediate termination of aid but merely to negotiate the subject. He further argued that Cambodia was entitled to Docld: 324275040 Page 49
{ . TY | cx SECRET have certain important aid projects completed, The US Ambassador comments that a major Cambodian tactic - apparently dictated by Sihanouk - will be to obtain a continuation of some aid projects without appearing to ask for such a con- tinuation. (3) Meanwhile, both France and the Bloc appear to be drag- ging their feet on the question of providing new aid to Cam- bodia while Sihanouk appears to be increasingly frantic in ‘his efforts to convene a new international conference to. "euarantee" Cambodia's borders. . | (4) The US Air Attache Saigon reports that three Russian MIG aircraft have been uncrated at Phnom Penh. One of the aircraft has been run up and reportedly will be flown on 5 December. = d. Indonesia/Malaysia: : (1) Decisions made at a 23 November Malaysian Defense Council meeting included the appointment of British Major General Walker as Director of Operations in Sarawak and Sabah, the transfer of operations headquarters from Brunei to. Labuan, and the retention of the intelligence center at Kuching, Sarawak. Additionally, the Malaysian defense commit- ment in Sarawak and Sabah will be increased to three battalions by 15 February 1964, which will then total three infantry v a € SECRED. | 6 Docld: 324275040 Page 450
Neve 4 Seay SECRED battalions, two reconnaissance squadrons, and 1-1/2 engineer squadrons. As Director of Operations, General Walker will command all Commonwealth and Malaysian armed forces and police in operations against the guerrillas. | (2) In western Borneo, four P-51s and three B-25s at Pontianak were observed on 21 November being armed with rockets and 100-1b bombs, respectively. The P-51s had four rockets under each wing; each B-25 had eight rockets under each wing, a 50 caliber machine gun in the tail, twin .50 caliber machine guns and a 20-mm cannon in the nose, and twin .50 caliber machine guns on each side. Also on 21 November, 400- 500 paratroopers were observed in trucks proceeding north from Pontianak; their destination was said to be north of Sambas, near the Sarawak border. (3) The first reported infiltration of Sarawak by sea was revealed in the interrogation of six Indonesians who were captured by Sarawak security forces on 27 November. These were members of an original group of 14 Indonesians and three Chinese who had landed at three points presumably along the west coast of Sarawak to give local sympathizers weapons training and then return overland to Indonesian Borneo. Appre- hension of the six at Simanggang who had completed their mission resulted in the arrest of 9 locals in western Sarawak. SECRET 7 Docld: 324275040 Page 51
sel! ‘SEGRE? va) —- )( According to{ British] intelligence sources, there is greatly A inereased Indonesian patrol activity along the eastern and western Sarawak border areas; the number and scope of incur- sions is therefore expected to increase, particularly on the 8 December anniversary of the abortive Brunei rebellion. (4) There is continuing evidence that saboteur agents are being trained in the Riau Islands for infiltration into Singapore and Malaya to carry out subversive as well as sabotage activities. (5) Foreign Minister Subandrio recently told thefAustralian } Ambassador in Djakarta that Indonesia could not accept Malay- sia "as a fact of life" even if it took three or more years to prove it. He further stated that he recognized the danger of military incidents and realized that, if it came to war cal with the British, Indonesia would lose. In his view, however, this would end British influence in Southeast Asia, which was Indonesia's ultimate objective. (6) President Sukarno's trip to Manila appears to be in- definitely postponed, due to a sudden decision by President Macapagal to visit Africa, but may still occur during this month. A recent unofficial report states that Armed Forces Chief General Nasution will go to Manila soon for talks with Macapagal. SECE | | 8 Docld: 324275040 Page 52
SECREP e. Burma: Removal of Brigadier Clift, head of the Burmese Air Force, on 27 November, completes the "cleaning" top defense posts by Ne Win, of the three The closing of a part of Rangoon University and the release of a number of anti-Fascist Peoples League leaders point up Ne Win's determination to weaken and eliminate Communist opposition. m OPERATIONS a. Republic of Vietnam (RVN): (1) A comparison of the Viet Cong (ve) and RVNAF activities for the period 20-27 November and the previous period of 13-20 November follows: Viet Cong: Incidents Armed Attacks Casualties (KIA) Defections POWs Weapons Lost RVN: Initiated Actions: Bn or Larger Small Unit: Contact No Contacts Total Actions SECREL. Docld: 32425040 Page 53 13-20 Nov 795 149 639* (458) 0 124* 20-27 Nov 666 106 (746) 64 48 85 ** Change ~129 ~ 43 +290 +288 + 33 -# 12 - 39 + 14 - 29 2 - 17
= 13-20 Nov 20-27 Nov Chanute - Casuaities Cais 606** +55 (KIA) (163) (156 ~ Veapons Lost 4o7* 312%* - 95 * Cusua Lies avd venpon losses are for pericd 12-18 Novamhber. ** Casuaiti ar 63 ang weapon losses are for period 19-25 Novenber. (2) TC a etivity declined still further from the level of the week following the coup, however it is still at a high level compared with weekly activity during the previous ten months of the 3 year. — While VC initiated attacks declined in rumber, they increased in intensity. This trend is reflected’ by an overwheiming attack on the Hiep Hoa Special Forces camp in the IIT1l Corps area and the damage inflicted to 20 aircraft in one day in the IV Corps area. In addition to RVN losses, these incidents resulted in two US personnel KIA and four US persennel captured. Further evidence of this intensification of activity is indicated by the sharn rise in VC casualties. (3) RVNAF ground operatiens employing forces of three rifle scmpany equivalent or larger rose to 62. This is well above the weekly average of 53 for the preceding 12 week period. i Rattalion days cf seperation rose from 356 te 429. As cf 26 Nevember, O4 of the 130 infantry battalions were conduct- ing or suppocting cffensive operations; 35 other battalions 7 were available for cperations on a limited basis, and the re- moining 31 were engaged in training, security and other activities. 10° Docld: 3274275040 Page 54
(4) The 33d spabiaa Zone (Lam Dong, Binh thar ana Binh Tuy Provinets) had’ been redesignated Binh Lam Special Zane. The Capital a1 tary District is réported as a separate military comtland under II1 Corps. Reports are rendered to, and erders eranate from the III Corps Tactical Zone Commander. (5) ven aétivity decreased slightly this week. River force employment showed the most significant decline as fewer boats were called upon to provide combat support. (6) The planned reduction in the US military strength in the RVN ty 1,000 started .on schedule 3 December when the first increments of 300 departed Saigon. The remaining 700 will have departed Saigon by the end of December. Appropriate press releases have stressed that the reduction at this time is a vote of confidence in the GVN and an indication of the progress accomplished in “the training of Vietnamese military personnel. The returnees, consist mainly of personnel who have worked themselves out of a job. b. Japan: . CINCPAC's request for a 90 day extension of the TAC F-100 squadron on rotation at Itazuke, Japan, has been approved. This Squadron is covering certain SIOP targets for the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing which is undergoing conversion to F~105s. The F-10900 squadron is new scheduled to return to CONUS in va \ March 1964. ~SEGREE il Docld: 324275040 Page 55
c. Soviet Missile Firing: (1) The Soviets have announced that missile firings into two areas of the Pacific will be conducted between 2 December 1963 and 25 January 1964, The two areas are generally the same as those arnounced for previous missile firings. The southern area is south of Johnson Island, 6,500 nautical miles from the myuratan range head, and the northern area is east of Japan, 4,800 nautical miles from the range head. The three Soviet missile range instrumentation Ships have been on staticn in the southern impact area sinee 24 November and have been engaged in practice re-entry procedures. (2) The new Soviet defensive missile displayed in the 7 November Moscow parade has been officially nicknamed "GRIFFON" by the American, British and Canadian Missile Committee. d. Laos: (1) CINCPAC reports that the MAP supported training of FAR and Neutralist units at Camp Erawan in Thailand is progressing satisfactorily. Since the training started on 9 September, the following units have completed prescribed courses of instruction and returned to Laos: 2 FAR Inf Companies i 2 FAR Arty Batteries 2 FAR 8l-mm Mortar Sections SECRET 12 Doclda: 324275040 Page 56
fo ' ' V. Now 1 FAR Heavy Weapon Platoon 1 Neutralist 4,2 in. Mortar Platoon As of 1 December, the following units were undergoing training: 2 FAR Inf Companies , 2 FAR 4,2 in. Mortar Platoons 1 FAR Arty Battery 1 FAR 81-mm Mortar Section 1 Neutralist Arty Battery 1 Neutralist 8l-mm Mortar Section (2) Training in Thailand of 6 Lao pilots and 8 mechanics to operate and maintain 3 U-17A commenced on 1 November and will last for 30 days. (3) The US Ambassador in Vientiane has reported that Colonel Ma, the RLAF commander, has informed the US AID Requirements Office representative at Savannakhet that he (Col. Ma) has authorized the Royal Thai Air Force to conduct P-86 recon- naissance flights over Laos. The Ambassador is attempting to discourage these flights on the grounds that they might prove embarrassing to Souvanna. 3. LOGISTICS a. Thailand: Negotiations have been completed between the British and the Royal Thai Governments for construction of a military logistics airfield at Mukdahan. Public announcement of this decision will be made at Bangkok and London. The Australian and New Zealand Governments have been invited to associate “BEGRE?T . 13 DoclId: 32425040 Page 57
poses ead SECRET themselves with this project. Tentative plan and schedule is to use the period December-March for improving the Ubon- Mukdahan road and building a construction eamp. Work is to begin on the airfield in April utilizing about two companies of Royal Engineers, b. Cambodia: Numerous problems are arising in regard to the cessa~ tion of the Cambodia Military Assistance Program. Disposition of materiel, unloaded in Cambodia but not formally turned over to the country, is presenting the hardest problems which must be settled by individual case negotiations. SECRET 14 DoclId: 32425040 Page 53
SOUTHEAST ASIA SITUATION SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION LAOTIAN FORCES FRIEND| Communist Naa tS ON IENDLY . “) FAR, REGULARS — . AUTO DEFENSE KONG LE oo |AMOUANE ‘4 nN . . i *. TO "North Viet-Nam 4 “yy at ne ‘Baa Howei Sai Thailand Pease seses sees See ee ; ; REPUBLIC OF VIET—NAM I Mi i FRIENDLY 1 | ARMED FORCES (RVNAF) 217,403 y CIVIL GUARD (CG) 79,500 § SELF DEFENSE CORPS (SDC) 100,588 —f PUNK F FORCE Lam ~ ang 4 i) sand r 400,691 § eee ee = os on oe Pa Sk AN IT LEGEND Cam Pathet Lao/ No.Vietnamese Areas Viet Coag Concentration QUESTIONABLE CONTROL MENEMY (VIET: CONG): AIN FORCE. + ewe FAR/Kong Le Militory : 4 , LOCAL GUERRILLAS os 80 “000 oa ‘4 Region Boundaries - [screams n= at . i 4 DEC 1963 SECRET NO FOREIGN DISSEMINATION Docld: 324275040 Page 59