Office of the Historian

251. Telegram From the Commander, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (Westmoreland) to the Commander in Chief, Pacific (Sharp)1

Saigon, September 16, 1966, 0518Z.

160518Z. For Admiral Sharp, info General Wheeler, from General Westmoreland. Subject: Tiger Hound.

1.
As result my increasing concern with the enemy’s capability to build-up in Laotian Panhandle again this dry season as he did during last northeast monsoon period, I directed my staff to develop a plan to block, deny, spoil, and disrupt the infiltration of enemy personnel and supplies through this area into SVN. I will send you by separate message an outline of my general concept to be known as “SLAM”—(seek-locate-annihilate-monitor).
2.
A major goal of our plan will be to achieve better integration and more concerted use of resources available to the several agencies operating in subject area. For example, we sometimes find that an air operation must be restricted because road watchers have been established (without prior coordination) in proximity of a priority interdiction point selected by Tiger Hound task force. There is real need for close advance coordination of Cricket expansion with Tiger Hound. To be effective, Tiger Hound needs more free strike zones rather than more restricted areas.
3.
At my request, Ambassador Sullivan, Ambassador Martin and I met in Udorn on 14 Sep to start the ball rolling. Gen Momyer accompanied me; Ambassador Sullivan brought his Army and Air Attaches and a representative of CAS/Vientiane. We started with background briefings on intelligence situation (J2/MACV) and on Tally Ho/route package one (Gen Momyer), emphasizing interrelation these two areas with Tiger Hound and Steel Tiger north. A briefing on the MACV SLAM concept and an update on CAS/Vientiane operations followed.
4.
CAS/V outlined current Cricket assets including present and projected locations. Program underway to expand assets in southern portion of Panhandle. Coordination is working well in Barrell Roll area; major goal is to get similar combined efforts underway in Tiger Hound. A major problem has been getting compatible communications. It is anticipated that ground teams will be equipped with HT–2 radios by end of month for communication with FACs. CAS/V is working up an overall package to develop a multi-sensor intelligence collection capability, [less than 1 line of source text not declassified].
5.
Substance of major items discussed:
A.
MACV Concept. There was general agreement with the concept. Amb Sullivan emphasized his endorsement of necessity to assume that enemy will meet or exceed his efforts during last dry season. Amb Martin emphasized his endorsement of basic premise that we should start now to intensify operations in Laos to spoil the enemy build-up. In this connection, Amb Sullivan stressed the importance of striking hard between now and mid-November in route package one. If enemy is to build-up in Laos, he will have to assemble construction personnel and equipment in this area during that period; the enemy should present a more lucrative target there than after entering Laos and dispersing. This is part of the MACV concept outlined to them. We currently are giving priority to Tally Ho and route package one with emphasis on flexibility to shift weight of effort whenever necessary among Tiger Hound, Steel Tiger North, Tally Ho, and route package one.
B.
Arc Light. I outlined the importance of Arc Light to the SLAM concept and discussed desirability of expeditious concurrence and support for Arc Light strikes from AmEmb Vientiane. Ambassador Sullivan indicated general agreement with strikes in the border areas between Laos and SVN and between Laos and NVN. He stated he was willing to request Souvanna Phouma’s concurrence regarding specific areas about which there is hard intelligence; however, State in Washington must approve this and, so far, had opposed his doing so. Considerable discussion developed concerning Arc Light strikes in DMZ and NVN; the thrust of the comments from Ambassadors Sullivan and Martin was that, while they recognized the sensitiveness of this issue, they considered it less sensitive than what we are doing in Laos. I informed them of my position in favor of Arc Light strikes in the DMZ and suggested the Ambassadors get their points across to Washington. The question of B42 bases closer to target areas to improve reaction time also was raised. I pointed out the advantages of bases in the Philippines and Thailand in terms of improved reaction time; Ambassador Martin made a rather strong favorable pitch for Sittahip, Thailand, as a B52 base.
C.
Coordination of Operations. I stressed the seriousness of the threat which an enemy build-up in Tiger Hound area poses to my west flank and the importance of having maximum practicable freedom to conduct effective military operations. A particular issue emerging from ensuing discussion was the positioning of ground elements by CAS without prior coordination with MACV, thereby imposing restrictions on US air operations, e.g., road-watch positions located at selected interdiction points (SIPs). Amb Sullivan agreed that mutual coordination was necessary. It was decided to hold a staff-level conference in Saigon during the week of 19 Sep to work out this and similar problems (Amb Sullivan will initiate a cable to recommend specific dates).
D.
Exchange of Intelligence. We raised problems of getting information obtained by road watchers into MACV intelligence system quickly and completely. It was recognized that CAS/Vientiane passes intelligence to MACV through CAS/Saigon in accordance with basic CAS policies, but this is a slow procedure. We proposed a full-time liaison officer from J2/MACV be accepted under such cover as Amb Sullivan desires in order to expedite the direct exchange of intelligence between AmEmb Vientiane and J2/MACV. There was some discussion of an alternate plan to station a J2/MACV liaison officer at Udorn; nothing specific was decided. This matter will be discussed further at Saigon coordination conference.
E.
Shining Brass. Chief SOG/MACV briefly discussed plans for increasing size and capabilities of Shining Brass assets. Amb Sullivan again raised the comparative sensitiveness of Laos and the DMZ; he seemed to favor putting Shining Brass assets in the DMZ. I pointed out the importance of getting prompt concurrence from AmEmb Vientiane on Shining Brass missions and discussed extension of the Shining Brass special operating area opposite Quang Tri Province from 5 KM to 20 KM. This is required on an urgent basis because of the current threat to Quang Tri Province and the enemy capability to slip around the DMZ and strike into the province from the west. I consider it enemy attempt to mount a “Dien Bien Phu” type operation against, for example, Khe Sanh. Province is part of my overall plan aggressively to seek information and to nip in the bud any enemy attempts to strike from that area into Quang Tri Province. Ambassadors Sullivan and Martin both expressed similar concern and supported my analysis, particularly in view of the enemy’s need to achieve some dramatic success in period just before US elections. Nevertheless, Ambassador Sullivan stated that, because of his earlier approval of Shining Brass mission with which Washington did not agree, he now had to forward all Shining Brass requests to State Department for their consideration.
F.
Free Strike Zones. There was general discussion on reducing restrictions on air operations in Tiger Hound. No decisions were reached. This matter will be reopened at proposed Saigon conference during week of 19 Sep.
6.
It is imperative that we take action now to reduced further enemy build-up in the Panhandle rather than wait until build-up has occurred.
7.
I consider this Udorn meeting to be a good start on better integration of operations in the Laotian Panhandle. Anticipate more concrete progress at Saigon conference week of 19 Sep. Will keep you informed.
  1. Source: Johnson Library, National Security File, Country File, Vietnam, Vol. 58, Cables, 9/1–18/66. Top Secret; Immediate; Limdis. Repeated to JCS for Wheeler.↩