MACV Command History. 1965

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page		i
Letter of Promulgation		ii
Distribution		iii
Table of Contents		iv
Republic of Vietnam (Map)		ix
CONTENTS:
	Chapter I - THE YEAR OF DECISION	1
	Introduction	1
	The Situation	1
	The Viet Cong Challenge	4
	VC Operations During the Year	4
	VC Tactics and Techniques	9
	Infiltration	11
	Estimate of Enemy Courses of Action	14
	GVN Instability	16
	Political Problems	16
	Economic Problems	20
	The Montagnard Problem	22
	US Press and the Home Front	23
	Decisions	26
	Footnotes	313
	Chapter II - THE BUILDUP	28
	Introduction	28
	US Forces	28
	US Marine Corps	28
	US Army	37
	US Air Force	46
	US Navy	54
	RVN Forces	57
	General	57
	ARVN and Paramilitary Forces	60
	VNAF	64
	VNN	67
	VNMC	70
	Free World Military Forces	71
	The US Advisory Program	74
	USMACV Advisory Program Expansion	74
	US Army Advisory Program	75
	Army-Marine Field Advisory Elements	75
	Subsector Advisory Program	76
	Special Forces Advisory Program	77
	Interaction - US Buildup & Advisory Program	80
	US Encadrement	81
	Infusion Program	82
	US Air Force Advisory Program	82
	US Navy Advisor Program	86
	Evaluation of VNN	88
	US Marine Corps Advisory Program	89
	Command and Control	90
	USMACV Headquarters	91
	Deputy COMUSMACV	92
	Joint Service Representation	93
	Training Directorate	94
	POLWAR Advisory Directorate	94
	Director of Army MAP Logistics	94
	Free World Military Assistance Office	94
	Combat Operations Center	95
	MAP Directorate	95
	Command Relationships	96
	US Army Vietnam	96
	US Army Field Forces and Advisory HQ	97
	US Air Force	99
	US Navy/Marines/Coast Guard	99
	Combined Command Arrangements	100
	COMUSMACTHAI	102
	Communications	103
	Inter-Agency Relationships	103
	Expanding the Base	103
	1st Logistical Command	104
	Logistical Support System	106
	Supply and Maintenance	109
	Class I	109
	Class II & IV	110
	Class III	111
	Class V	114
	Shortages	114
	(Logistic Troop Support	117
	Port Congestion	118
	Lines of Communication	120
	Base Development	123
	Military Assistance Program	128
	RVN Defense Budget	132
	Comptroller Advisory Efforts	133
	Logistics Staff Changes	134
	Footnotes	315
	Chapter III - THE STRATEGY	137
	Introduction	137
	RVNAF Plan AB-139	137
	COMUSMACV Concept of Operations	141
	Phase I	144
	Phase II	146
	Phase III	148
	Special Forces Concepts	148
	Naval Support of Phase I & II	149
	Combat and Logistical Air Support	151
	Rural Construction/Pacification	152
	Psychological Operations	153
	RVNAF Plan AB 140/US-RVNAF Plan AB 141	155
	Contingency Plans	156
	Footnotes	334
	Chapter IV - THE EMPLOYMENT	161
	Introduction	161
	Types of Operations	161
	US Marine Operations	162
	US Army Operations	166
	US Navy and VNN Operations	172
	Market Time	172
	RVNAF Amphibious Operations	175
	Naval Gunfire Operations	176
	7th Fleet Air Support	179
	US Air Force and VNAF Operations	180
	In-Country Operations	180
	Control of Air Firepower	187
	B-52 Strikes	190
	Rolling Thunder	199
	Yankee Team/Barrel Roll/Steel Tiger/Tiger Hound	208
	ARVN Operations	217
	VNMC Operations	227
	Other Operational Activities	228
	Pacification Progress	229
	Extension of Hop Tac Concept	231
	Economic Warfare	248
	Psychological Operations	252
	Integration of US PsyOps Activities,	253
	USMACV Troop Indoctrination in Civic Action	255
	USMACV Civic Action Program	255
	Footnotes	336
	Chapter V - THE OUTCOME	257
	Buildup	257
	Reactions	259
	Accomplishments and Problems	261
	The Future	264
	Footnotes	346

TABLES
I-1	Viet Cong Incidents, 1965	267
I-2	VC/NVA Personnel Strengths in RVN	268
II-1	Monthly Strengths-US Forces-1965	269
II-2	RVNAF Desertion - 1965	270
II-3	RVNAF Losses - 1965	271
II-4	RVN Forces Month End Strengths - 1965	272
II-5	Buildup, Free World, 1965	273
II-6	MACV Personnel Strengths	274
II-7	Key Personnel Listing - 31 Dec 65	276
III-1	Missions of RVNAF	278
III-2	Contingency Plans - 1 Jan 65	279
III-3	Contingency Plans - 1 Jan 66	280
V-1	(Official Visitors to RVN Processed by MACV	281
L-1	Monthly Chieu Hoi Returnees, 1965	462

FIGURES
I-1	VC Attacks, Battalion & Company Size	282
I-2	VC and RVN Personnel KIA	283
I-3	VC Attacks by Corps Area	284
I-4	VC Incidents of Terrorism by Corps Area	285
I-5	VC Incidents of Sabotage by Corps Area	286
I-6	VC Incidents of Propaganda by Corps Area	287
I-7	VC Anti-Aircraft Incidents by Corps Area	288
I-8	VC Base Areas	289
II-1	Buildup of US Forces, 1965	290
II-2	US/FWMAF Deployments, 31 Dec 65	291
II-3	RVNAF Regular Force Organization	292
II-4	RVNAF Strength Buildup by Month-1965, Regular Forces	293
II-5	RVNAF Strength Buildup by Month-1965, Regional Forces	294
II-6	RVNAF Strength Buildup by Month-1965, Popular Forces	295
II-7	RVNAF Strength Buildup by Month-1965, CIDG	296
II-8	RVNAF Strength Buildup by Month-1965, National Police	297
II-9	USMACV Advisory Structure	298
II-10	Headquarters MACV Organization Chart	299
II-11	USMACV Command Relationships	300
II-12	US Logistical Concept	301
II-13	POL Consumption - 1965	302
II-14	Railroad Status, 31 Dec 65	303
II-15	Major Highways	304
II-16	C-130 Capable Airfields	305
II-17	In-Country Cargo Movement	306
II-18	Construction Locations	307
II-19	Port Construction Status - 1965	308
IV-1	1965 - Aircraft Monthly Losses to Combat	309
IV-2	GVN-US Organization for Rural Construction	310
IV-3	1965 Hop Tac Goals	311
IV-4	Joint US Public Affairs Office (JUSPAO)	312
C-1	Long Lines System, December 1965	400
C-2	Talk Quick System	401

FOOTNOTES
	Chapter I	313
	Chapter II	315
	Chapter III	334
	Chapter IV	336
	Chapter V	346

ANNEXES
A.	The Montagnard Problem	347
B.	Free World Military Assistance	353
C.	Communications	377
D.	Inter-Agency Relationships	402
E.	Port Status	409
F.	Base Development	415
G.	J5 Studies	421
H.	Physical Security of US Personnel and Installations	424
I.	Prisoners of War	429
J.	Morale and Welfare	435
K.	New Weapons and Tactics	439
L.	Political/Psychological Warfare	448
M.	Intelligence Activities	465
N.	Special Operations (published separately)	468
Glossary		469
1965 Chronology		478

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