TOP 13 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 6 9 SEC-R- V I E T N A M C O N T I N G E N C YP L A N N I N G Concept of Operations U S m i l i t a r y forces will conduct operations against N o r t h V i e t n a m i n o r d e r t o d e m o n s t r a t e U S r e s o l v e t o apply w h a t e v e r force i s necessary t o achieve basic U S objectives i n Southeast Asia Such operations will be designed t o achieve m a x i m u m political military a n dpsychological shock while reducing N o r t h V i e t n a m ' s over-all w a r - m a k i n g a n deconomic capacity t ot h eextent feasible The c a m p a i g n w i l l b e conducted i na s e r i e s o f s e p a r a t e a n d d i s t i n c t actions each signalling a nincreasing o r escalating level of m i l i t a r y intensity Domestic andinternational pressures a n dthepossibilities of Soviet o r C o m m u n i s t Chinese reaction will be i m p o r t a n t factors but w i l l n o t n e c e s s a r i l y r u l e o u t b o l d o r i m a g i n a t i v e a c t i o n s d i r e c t e d toward achievement o f thep r i m a r y objective In undertaking actions t o achieve these objectives m i l i t a r y forces will be employed i nperiodic short butintensive military operations o f 48-72 hours each during a period of approximately six m o n t h s C o n t i n u o u s m i l i t a r y actions such a s a r m e d r e c o n n a i s sance over N o r t h V i e t n a m o r naval blockade o f Haiphong a r e n o t envisioned except t o substantially m a i n t a i n t h e effects achieved b y the p r e v i o u s o p e r a t i o n s Subsequent t o each phase of tMs campaign N o r t h V i e t n a m e s e military anddiplomatic responses will be evaluated before initiating the n e x t m a j o r m i l i t a r y a c t i o n The initial campaign of m i l i t a r y action against N o r t h V i e t n a m w i l l be c o m m e n c e d o n o r d e r a n dn o l a t e r than 1 N o v e m b e r i n order to t a k e m a x i m u m a d v a n t a g e o f t h e t r a n s i t i o n p e r i o d b e t w e e n t h e Northwest andNortheast monsoon seasons Thereafter operations DECLASSIFIED E 0 1 3 5 2 6 S e c t i o n 3 5 Bv NARA Date ' ifc Jjipp-SEGRET -- SENSJUV-E-- probably will be conducted with reduced visibility because of deteriorating weather conditions Initial actions will include but not b e l i m i t e d t o t h e m i n i n g o f H a i p h o n g H o n G a i a n d C a m P h a and a m a j o r a n t i - w a r c a m p a i g n t o r e d u c e the e n e m y a b i l i t y t o r e s i s t further military actions against N V N I n addition and to the m a x i m u m extent possible enemy supply operations i n support o f V C N V A activities i n S V N will be degraded Thereafter subsequent operations will include consideration ofthe following m i l i t a r y actions a s well a s others which m a y b e applicable Possible Washington Decision Points Possible Action 1 Mine N V N ports complete duration closure 1 Conduct m a j o r air strikes against N V N air order o fbattle imposing collateral damage aspracticable against N V N airfields 1 Conduct selective a n t i - S A M A A A operations s o u t h o f 19 d e g r e e s N 1 Attack military supplies degrees N 1 Conduct ground sweep i n D M Z south of Ben and long s o u t h o f 19 Hai River 2 Re seed N V N minefields 2 Conduct m a j o r air strike against Haiphong 2 port complex Remove B-52 attack restrictions o ncertain supply concentrations sanctuaries i n Laos 2 OP-S C GRE-T--S-ENSI -W Attack m i l i t a r y supplies and L O C s i n North Vietnam 2 Possible Wasbington Decision Points Possible Action 2 Conduct ground sweep across the Ben H a i R i v e r w i t h i n the l i m i t s of the D M Z 2 Quarantine or mine Sihanoukville with permissive channel 2 or 3 P a r t i a l d e s t r u c t i o n of R e d R i v e r dikes or d u r i n g p e r i o d of o p t i m u m flooding 3 Conduct m a j o r air strikes against high value targets i n T h a n h Hoa and Vinh 3 Conduct ground sweep through the D M Z into N V N employing reinforced A R V N division supported by U S air 3 Cross border operations brigade into Laos and or Cambodia 3 or 4 C o m p l e t e b r e a c h i n g of dike 4 Conduct m a j o r air strike against high value target systems electric power war supporting industry transportation support facilities military complexes P O L and a i r defense '' 4 size system C l e a n n u c l e a r i n t e r d i c t i o n of t h r e e N V N - L a o s passes N u c l e a r i n t e r d i c t i o n of t w o N V N - C P R railroads 0 Amphibious landing near Vinh draw N V A forces and generate killing zone TOP SECRET--S-ENSiTiVE-                     National Security Archive    Suite 701  Gelman Library  The George Washington University    2130 H Street  NW  Washington  D C  20037    Phone  202 994‐7000  Fax  202 994‐7005  nsarchiv@gwu edu