Weekly Summary

Approved for Release: 2023/03/28 C03154550
“SE6-R~EIL
Although there was little di-
rect confrontation with Communist
combat forces during the opening
stages of the allied sweep opera-
tions, ground fighting picked up
as the week progressed and the op-
erations were enlarged. Cumulative
casualties as of 7 May show more
than 3,000 Communists killed in
contrast to South Vietnamese losses
of 162 killed and 840 wounded. Amer-
ican casualties totaled 37 killed
and 79 wounded. Additionally,
enemy losses included the seizure
of more than 4,000 weapons and
1,000 tons of rice.
Inside South Vietnam, increased
enemy activity in IV Corps last
weekend may have signaled the be-
ginning of the anticipated "second
phase" of the Communists spring cam-
paign. The enemy effort gained mo-
mentum early in the week with some
strong rocket and mortar attacks
against US facilities, but they were
not as intense as those in the early
April upsurge. The pattern of prep-
arations for this phase suggests
Mortars, recoilless rifles, SKS carbines. antiaircraft
guns. and light machine guns captured by ARVN
units in Parr0t’s Beak area.
that there will be less coordina-
tion than the previous month, with
attacks taking place as each unit
completes its local preparations.
In some areas, moreover, enemy of-
fensive plans may have been thrown
off schedule or altered as a result
of the allied cross—border opera-
tions or other pre—emptive actions.
Higher levels of enemy action
will probably continue well into
May. Plans for renewed hostilities
by enemy forces in the central
coastal provinces, to get under way
on 7-8 May, were revealed in a re-
cently captured document.
Throughout much of the country
the enemy's local force units could
step up the tempo of shellings and
small—scale attacks on very short
notice. In addition, first—line
combat units are in a position to
threaten certain allied bases and
urban centers, especially in north-
ern Quang Tri Province just south
of the Demilitarized Zone, in cen-
tral Thua Thien Province, and in
the coastal lowlands of Quang Nam
and Quang Tin provinces. In II
Corps, Communist forces are mostly
concentrated near allied Special
Forces camps in the international
tri—border area. Although many of
the enemy main forces in III Corps
are preoccupied with allied opera-
tions, they could launch attacks
designed to divert attention away
from the allied operations in east-
ern Cambodia. Most of the major
enemy units in the delta provinces
have avoided contact with South Viet-
namese forces and apparently are
not ready for large—scale ground
operations in the immediate future.
Page 3 WEEKLY SUMMARY 8 May 70
Approved for Release: 2023/03/28 C03154550