COMMUNIST MILITARY AID DELIVERIES TO NORTH VIETNAM

Created: 11/1/1968

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Intelligence Memorandum

Communist Military Aid Deliveries to North Vietnam

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Foreword

This memorandum presents an analysis of the value and volume of Soviet and Chinese Communist military deliveries to North Vietnam. Although data are presented on cumulative deliverieshe analysis is focused on deliveriesthe first half The memorandum was prepared jointly by the Central Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.

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COMMUNIST MILITARY ATP DELIVERIES TO NORTH VIETNAM

Summary

The continued receipt of military aid deliveries from its Communist allies has been essential to the military defense of North Vietnam and the conduct of the war in South Vietnam. 4 the cumulative value of Communist military aid deliveries, valued at Soviet foreign trade prices, is estimated to be aboutillion.* During the first halfhe value of military aid to North Vietnam isat5 million, somewhat below the level for the same period The estimated drop in the value of military aid reflects the lowerfor ammunition and surface-to-air missiles that resulted from the US bombing standdown in the northern portion of the country. Despite thisthe continued receipt of additional jet fighters and equipment for missile-firing battalions during the first six months8 emphasized the willingness of the Communist countries to continue to underwrite North Vietnamese and Viet Cong demands for armaments.

The USSR is the major supplier of military aid, providing about three-fourths of the total; Communist China provides most of the remainder, with small

amounts from Eastern European countries and.

Korea. Military aid from Eastern Europe increased

in the first half8 but still ismall

part of the total. The USSR continues to supply

ammunition and most of North Vietnam's air defense

equipment; Communist China's aid is principally in

ammunition and infantry weapons.

* Soviet foreign trade prices are the list prices charged for military hardware and ammunition by the USSR under its aid agreements with non-Communiat oountries. Values calculated at equivalent US

costs, intended to reflect the cost of the

materiel if it were produced in the United

generally are higher than the foreign trade Values inre expressed in both typee of prices, but values in the text are given in foreign trade prices-

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Besides the quantifiable imports of military equipment, Chinese, Soviet, and North Koreanpersonnel have been stationed in North Vietnam to assist in training, maintenance, and construction activities} and North Vietnamese have gone to Communist China, the USSR, andfor military training. Most of the Communist countries have supplied to Northteady flow of the military-related goods necessary for continuing the war.

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Introduction

equipment and ammunition fromcountries have been key elements inwar-making capabilities.. Imports ofmaterielwith more thanercent ofhaving come in sinceorth Vietnamese army and Viet Congunits fighting in South Vietnam with somelatest Communist conventional weapons. air defense system has beenwith new jet fighters, antiaircraftand the Sovieturface-to-air Although details of military aidnot available, it is apparent that thedonors of such aid are willing toCommunist forces in North and South Vietnamquantities and types of weapons requested,exceptions. All military aid is estimatedbeen in the form of grants.

Communist Military Aid Deliveries to North Vietnam

military aid to North Vietnamthe first halfalued in foreignis estimated at5 million, about

ercent below the estimated deliveries during the same period The cumulative value ofmilitary aid deliveries to North Vietnam throughs8 billion, as shown in the following tabulation:

Million US $

Jan-Jun

North

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The estimated mix of military imports, into North Vietnam changed during the first half8 because of the restriction of bombing against the heavily defended targets in the north. Imports of some items of air defense materiel during the first few months8 probably continued at the same rate asut were reduced as stockpiles were developed. For example, imports of surface-to-air missiles at the beginning of the year areater monththe average number expended against US aircraft during the last half However, Rolling Thunder sorties were limited by adverse weather during the first quarter, and onlyAM's per month were fired. With thearch restrictions on US bombing, SAMdropped to less thaner month, and imports undoubtedly were reduced. Imports of antiaircraft artillery ammunition probably were reducedimilar pattern during the first half of the year. These reductions in military imports were partly offset by the import from the USSR of eightet aircraft during the second quarter and offor ten surface-to-air missile battalions by the end of June. Imports of some other items in North Vietnam's military inventory are believed to have been reduced.

The Soviet Union continued to be the principal supplier of military aid, providing almost four-fifths of the total value of deliveries to North Vietnamthe first halfs it did. Communist China supplied slightly less than one-fifth, whereas the combined shares provided by Eastern European countries and North Korea amounted to onlyercent of the total. Military aid from the USSR during the first half8 consisted primarily of ammunition and sophisticated air defense equipment such as surface-to-air missile battalions and advancedighter aircraft. Communist China provided additional ammunition and most of the small arms and other infantry weapons. Military aid from the Eastern European countries and North Korea consisted ofequipment and comparatively small amounts of Estimated military aid deliveries from the USSR and Communist China, by quantity and value5 throughre shown innd 2.

5. Imports of ammuriition mado up more than one-half of the total value of military aid7 and the first six months The value ofdelivorod to North Vietnam by the USSR andChina is estimated at0 million during the first halfS percent reduction from the preceding half year. Surface-to-air missiles and equipment for missile battalions made up about one-fourth of the total value ofaid in the first half of both years. Other ground weapons and air combat and defense equipment/ including radar/ infantry weapons, and artillery/ made up most of the remainder- The combined value of military vehicles and naval craft was lessercent of the total in both periods *

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addition to the quantified militarya considerable amount of other military aidmilitary-related equipment has beenpersonnel from the USSR/ CommunistNorth Korea are assisting the0 Chinese support troopsnumber is believed to be decreasinghaveconstruction, repair, and air defense inprimarily on rail lines and airfields in military personnel also havein training North Vietnamese troops. of Soviet military technicians now inis believed to be somewhat below thethat were present inhen theoperational control of the newly introduced Soviet military personnel also haveNorth Vietnamese jet fighter pilots andtechnical assistance forand logistic support activities. mall contingent of flightcombat patrols in North Vietnam. personnel have also been trained inCommunist China, and Czechoslovakia.

aid agreementsegotiatedcountries during the periodwere generally declared to be foreconomic and national defense potential ofDetails of the agreements are lacking,public statements indicate thatNorth Korea, Bulgaria, Poland, the USSR,Rumania agreed to provide grants of During the period May through July of

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this year, Bulgaria, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia signed supplementary military aid agreements for the remaindernd all nine Communist aid donorsthe eight mentioned above plus East Germanysigned agreements for military aid

8. The level and the composition of Communist military aid to North Vietnam during the last half8 probably will not be changed appreciably. With the current bombing standdown, replacement needs for surface-to-air missiles and imports of antiaircraft artillery ammunition will remain7 Levels. Further additions to North Vietnam's inventories of MIG aircraft and radar have already been seen since However, current defenses are deployed in depth around North Vietnam's major industrial and population centers as well as for defense ofical routes in the Panhandle, and the value of these imports during the remainder of the year may continue to decline.

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Original document.

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