Military Intelligence in Vietnam
Based on an article
by Cecil B Smyth, Jr and other sources
The intelligence effort in Vietnam was a very complex affair. Not only was the intelligence community concerned with the military, paramilitary, logistical and political organizations of the enemy within South Vietnam but also with the location of enemy forces, logistical supplies, base areas, sanctuaries, trails, roads and rivers located within Cambodia and Laos as well as North Vietnam. Also of concern was air space, the South China Sea and the extensive waterways within the Mekong Delta which were avenues of approach for logistical support and reinforcements for the enemy. The intelligence organization and requests for resources had to consider the need to collect, evaluate and produce intelligence on all of these areas. Also needed to know was the quantity and quality of war materials being supplied by China and the Soviet Union and her satellites and the manpower the enemy could send to South Vietnam and the will of North Vietnamese leaders and soldiers to persist.
Two branches of the U.S. Army provided the men and material to accomplish this gigantic task, the Army Security Agency and the Military Intelligence Corps. Army Security Agency (ASA) unit missions in Vietnam were highly classified and they operated under the cover of Radio Research (RR). Their primary function was to monitor North Vietnamese radio traffic which included communications with other communist countries. Other functions included safeguarding the Army’s signal system and utilizing electronic and intelligence capabilities to obtain information for tactical and strategic purposes. Electronic intelligence included radio direction finding.
The MACV intelligence organizations, after several reorganizations, evolved as follows: MACV J-2 exercised general staff supervision over all Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps intelligence activities. MACV J-2 was also responsible for advising the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces (RVNAF).
Since the war in Vietnam was predominantly concerned with combined efforts to defeat the enemy on the ground the U.S. Army military intelligence organization had the major impact. The Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, G-2 U.S. Army Vietnam, supported tactical operations of the Army.
Here briefly is a summary of how the military intelligence apparatus in Vietnam grew in strength from 320 in 1965 to over 3000 in 1967.
500th Intelligence Group
The U.S. Army intelligence force available in July 1965 included:
704th Intelligence Corps Detachment.
Detachment I of the 500th Intelligence Corps Group, 218 intelligence advisers who were thinly spread among South Vietnamese corps, division, sectors, and special zones.
The 704th was a small counterintelligence detachment of forty-six men. It was the counterpart organization to the Republic of Vietnam Military Security Service. It was also engaged in limited counterespionage, countersabotage, and countersubversion activities.
Detachment I of the 500th Intelligence Group had fifty-six officers and enlisted men. This detachment had a dual role of advising and assisting the South Vietnamese in intelligence collection and engaging in limited collection activities.
Those two detachments were a far cry from what the intelligence force structure should be according to established doctrine.
By June 1967 U.S. Army Intelligence units under the operational control of Military Assistance Command J-2 had grown in strength from 102 to 2,466, advisers from 218 to 622. An additional 615 personnel were on request to complete the organization considered essential.
The 525th Military Intelligence Group
The 525th Military Intelligence Group was under the command of the Commanding General, U.S. Army, Vietnam. The commanding officer of the 525th Military Intelligence Group exercised command over a signal company, an aviation detachment, and the 135th Military Intelligence Group (Counterintelligence), which absorbed the mission and assets of its predecessor, the 704th Intelligence Corps Detachment. The 135th was organized into six regions, was dispersed throughout South Vietnam, and was located in most places along with the Vietnamese Military Security Service. The 149th Military Intelligence Group (Collection) absorbed the mission and assets of its predecessor, Detachment I of the 500th Intelligence Group; the 1st Military Intelligence Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Support), which had the mission of interpreting, reproducing, and delivering Air Force imagery flown in support of ground tactical commanders; and the 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, which provided the personnel and support for the combined centers.
In 1965 U.S. intelligence advisory sections with South Vietnamese corps and divisions were inadequately manned and unable to process the increased flow of intelligence information into U.S channels; they also had difficulty providing requisite support to Vietnamese corps and division G-2’s. To alleviate this problem the U.S. advisory sections with Vietnamese corps and divisions were reorganized as military intelligence detachments with greatly increased manning. In addition, manning levels of special zone and sector advisory teams were increased. The 1967 adviser element reflected an authorized manning level of 622 as compared with the previous level of 218.
Since the Americans and South Vietnamese were fighting together on the same battlefield against a common enemy, both needed the same intelligence on the enemy, weather and terrain. Thus, the combined intelligence concept was born. Four combined centers were established, Interrogation, Document Exploitation, Material Exploitation and Intelligence.
The Combined Military Interrogation Center (CMI) was established in Saigon. Here Americans and Vietnamese worked together to obtain tactical and strategic information from captives and returnees. CMIC stationed collection teams with each corps and "GO" teams, consisting of U.S. and Vietnamese interrogators were always available to support combat units.
The Combined Document Exploitation Center (CDEC) was located near Tan Son Nhut air base with the mission of supporting allied military operations by receiving and exploiting captured enemy documents, coordinating the overall joint document exploitation effort and providing field support teams, translation and document storage and retrieval services. Authorized strength was over 300. The Combined Material Exploitation Center (CMEC) was charged with collecting and exploitating captured material of all types. This required examination, identification, analysis and evaluation of the items and dissemenation of the intelligence obtained. CMEC determined the characteristics, capabilities and limitations of enemy material and equipment so that adequate countermeasures could be devised.
The Combined Intelligence Center, Vietnam (CICV) produced intelligence as quickly as possible. It began with a Target Research and Analysis Center which was charged with developing targets for SAC B-52’s, added a detachment from the 319th Ml Bn and in November 1965 the 519th Ml Bn began to arrive in Vietnam to provide personnel, not only to CIVO, but also CDEC, OMIC and CMEC. The CICV continued to grow and gain in expertise and efficiency. They occupied a new building in January 1967 which was reputedly the largest fully air- conditioned single story structure in Southeast Asia. It eventually housed over 500 U.S. intelligence personnel of all services and more than 100 Vietnamese intelligence personnel working around the clock to provide intelligence support to all combat forces in the Republic of Vietnam.
The following U.S. Army Ml companies supported CICV:
45th an imagery interpretation unit located in Saigon, 184th a collection unit and the 185 th an imagery interpretation unit, both located at Tan Son Nhut.
One of the fundamental elements of the intelligence organization in Vietnam was the advisory system. In the early days Ml advisors were located with MACV advisor teams. Later they were also assigned to CORDS teams. Sector and subsector intelligence was very important in the identification and elimination of the Viet Cong Infrastructure (VCI). The sector intelligence advisor was a busy man. He was the commander of the sector military detachment which directed the U.S. military intelligence effort in the subsectors, advised and assisted his Vietnamese counterparts and coordinated with Free World Military Assistance Forces and other intelligence agencies. His particular concern was collection of infrastructure and order of battle data. He made recommendations on intelligence objectives of operations within his sector. His raport with his counterpart was the key to his success.
Of equal importance to intelligence generated by the advisory system was the intelligence from combat operations. U.S., Vietnamese and allied units made contact with the enemy and evacuated prisoners, documents and material. The information obtained was quickly passed up the intelligence chain, analyzed, converted into combat intelligence and disseminated to interested commanders.
To handle the many requests for specific combat intelligence from combat units the intelligence collection requirements were incorporated into the computer facilities of J-2. Utilizing four files, the system contained an inventory of valid collection requirements, approved essential elements of information (EEI) and other intelligence requirements, orders, requests and collection tasking. Input was evaluated from specified collectors and the files served as a registry of all intelligence report numbers issued within MACV. Known as the Collection Management System, it provided systematic coverage of the intelligence cycle, a data base reflecting the requirements, the reports that resulted and an evaluation of the information contained therein.
525th Military Intelligence GROUP
The 1st Ml Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Suppport) (MIBARS), headquarters at Tan Son Nhut, with a company in each corps, provided aerial reconnaissance and surveillance for Army forces in Vietnam. The 1st MIBARS flew Mohawk OV-1 aircraft with side-looking airborne radar sensors (SLARS). Tactical aerial reconnaissance missions were closely coordinated with the USAF and because of the 1st’s close relationship with ground units, the personnel of the battalion, contributed immeasurably to developing a truly joint effort in photo intelligence. They were one of few Army units to be awarded a USAF Presidential Unit Citation. They also received two Army Meritorious Unit Citations. The 131st Ml Company, located at Phu Bai in I Corps, also flew aerial survillance missions.
The importance of ground reconnassiance cannot be over emphasized. Ground reconnaissance not only can provide timely and accurate information on all aspects of the enemy and his area of operations but also can report on where the enemy and his influences do not exist.
The 1st Australian Task Force performed professional and effective reconnaissance. Also Long Range Recon Patrols (LRRPs) were employed at almost every echelon of command in Vietnam. These teams were good sources of intelligence for tactical commanders. Most patrol actions were planned, coordinated and executed at sector or divisional level. Some division and brigade LRRPs were on orders by MACV and the field forces. The Marines had their Force Recon unit in I Corps and the U.S. Army employed patrols from the 5th Special Forces Group, MACV Studies and Observation Group (SOG) Recon Teams and LRRP units from the 75th Infantry (Rangers) all over Vietnam and a few other locations. The 5th Group established the MACV Recondo School at Nha Trang.
To process the vast amount of intelligence that was being obtained by units of the 5th Group and MACVSOG, two augmentation units were formed, the (???) Special Operations Detachment and an unnumbered Ml Detachment composed of 110 men and organized into five teams containing counterintelligence, interrogation, analytical and administrative specialists. One team was at group headquarters and one team was assigned to each of the group’s four companies.
Counterintelligence
In September 1966 the 135th Ml Group arrived in Vietnam and assumed responsibility for executing the MACV counterintelligence mission. The Group worked closely with the Vietnamese Military Security Service. Areas in which they
were concerned with were enemy propaganda, security orientation of all newly arrived personnel, security inspections, liaison visits and counterintelligence physical security evaluation. Also of highest importance was an installation security program to prevent sabotage, the security of military information and communications security
Military Intelligence Units in Vietnam
135th Military Intelligence Group (Counterintelligence)
Arrived Vietnam: 1 September 1966
Departed Vietnam: 25 September 1969
Previous Station: Fort Bragg
Authorized Strength: HHC 114 (1968)
The 135th Military Intelligence Group (Counterintelligence) was colocated with the South Vietnamese Security Service in Saigon and later Ton Son Nhut. The group performed specialized longrange. counterintelligence special operations and interrogation functions It provided MACV wtth centralized and specializedinterrogation in support of counterespionage countersabotage and countersubversion operations Additionally. it conducted counterintelligence operations to prevent, detect or neutralize hostile espionage activities at their base of operations. The group was composed of personnel with special skills and foreign language abilities in support of the joint command. Its personnel couid aiso engage in effective coordinated defense of the units installation.
149th Military Intelligence Group (Collection)
Arrived Vietnam: 18 November 1966
Departed Vietnam: 25 September 1969
Previous Station: Fort Bragg
Authorized Strength: HHC — 189 (1968)
The mission of the 149th Military Intelligence Group (Collection) was as command control and support for assigned military intelligence units: provide interrogation and document translation support: plan. conduct and/or support intelligence collection operations: infiltrate trained personnel into specified areas and extract by air, land or sea: provide selective examination. evaluation and classification of captured enemy materiel: provide specialized long-range counterinteiligence special ooerations and specialized interrogation in support of counterespionage countersabotage and countersubversion missions: advise and assist the South Vietnamese in intelligence collection: provide liaison with other commands and agencies as required and provide military intelligence staff advice and planning assistance. The group was located at Tan Son Nhut.
525th Military Intelligence Group (Command Support)
Arrived Vietnam: 28 November 1965
Departed Vietnam: 3 March 1973
Previous Station: Fort Bragg
Authorized Strength (1966) (1968) (1971)
HHC 47 47 175
The 525th Military Intelligence Group Command Support provided command. minus operational controi. for all units of the group. and limited administrative and logistic support of organic and attached units. It augmented the joint command statf and the office of the assistant chief of staff. security, plans and operations of MACV and the intelligence directorates of the area support groups In essence. the group rendered overall control and personnel support for all U.S. Army intelligence-related activities in Vietnam The group was located at Tan Son Nhut.
1st Military Intelligence Battalion(Air Reconnaissance Support)
Arrived Vietnam: 23 December 1965
Departed Vietnam: 19 April 1971
Previous Station: Fort Bragg
Authorized Strength 1966 1968 1971
Battalion 279 319 139
The mission of the 1st Military intelligence Battalion (Air Reconnaissance Support) was to process, interpret, annotate, reproduce and deliver imagery obtained from tactical air force reconnaissance elements: provide air reconnaissance liaison officers: provide deployed operations parallel to any dispersion of the tactical air force reconnaissance wing; and disseminate all intelligence information obtained through imagery information and visual sightings by the tactical air force reconnaissance elements. lt was located at Saigon.
519th Military Intelligence Battalion (Consolidated)
Arrived Vietnam: 25 October 1965
Departed Vietnam:18 October 1972
Previous Station: Fort Bragg
Authorized Strength 1966 1968 1971
Battalion 1.695 1.910 214
The 519th Military intelligence Battalion (Consolidated) was directly responsible for the U.S. Army Combined Intelligence Center, Vietnam: the Combined Document Exploitation Center. Vietnam: the Combined Military Interrogation Center. Vietnam: and the Combined Materiel Exploitation Center. Vietnam. It was located in Saigon.
1st Military Intelligence Battalion, (Provisional)
20 Nov. 67—March 72
Established to control field collection efforts out of Da Nang under the 525th Military intelligence Group.
2d Military Intelligence Battalion, (Provisional)
1 Dec. 67—12 March 72
Established to control military intelligence efforts out of Nha Trang under the 525th Military Intelligence Group.
3d Military Intelligence Battalion, (Provisional)
1 Dec. 67—March 72
Established to control field collection efforts out of Bien Hoa under the 525th Military intelligence Group.
4th Military Intelligence Battalion,(Provisional)
1 Dec. 67—March 72
Established to control military intelligence efforts from Can Tho under the 525th Military intelligence Group.
5th Military Intelligence Battalion, (Provisional)
1 Dec. 67—Feb. 72
Established to control military intelligence operations from Saigon under the 525th Military lntelligence Group.
6th Military Intelligence Battalion.(Provisional)
1 Dec. 67—15 Jan. 69
Established to control military intelligence efforts out of Tan Son Nhut.
US. Army Combat Intelligence Battalion, Vietnam
1 April 68—24 Sept. 69
Ml Units and Elements Supported
|
Ml Unit |
Unit Supported |
|
1st Company |
1st Infantry Division |
|
4th Company |
4th Infantry Division |
|
9th Company |
9th Infantry Division |
|
25th Company |
25th Infantry Division |
|
101st Company |
101st Airborne Division |
|
191st Company |
1st Cavalry Division |
|
635th Company |
23d (Americal) Division |
|
1st Bn (Provisional) * and 571st Det |
XXIV Corps |
|
2nd Bn (Provisional) and 572d Det |
II Field Force |
|
3d Bn (Provisional) and 573d Det |
I Field Force |
|
4th Bn (Provisional) and 574th Det |
Delta Command |
|
5th Bn (Provisional) and 575th Det |
Capital Military Assistance Command and Rung Sat Special Zone |
|
* The provisional battalions and detachments were under thecommand of the 525th Ml Group. |
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Lineage and Honors
HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT
525th MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BRIGADE
Constituted 21 June 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 218th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment Activated 1 July 1944 at Fort DuPont, Delaware Inactivated 15 October 1945 at Camp Campbell, Kentucky Redesignated 17 September 1947 as the 249th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment and allotted to the Organized Reserves Activated 6 October 1947 at New York, New York (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps)
Inactivated 31 December 1950 at New York, New York Redesignated 18 April 1952 as the 218th Counter Intelligence Corps Detachment; concurrently withdrawn from the Organized Reserve Corps a And allotted to the Regular Army Activated 30 April 1952 at Fort Holabird, Maryland Reorganized and redesignated 25 January 1958 as the 218th Military Intelligence Detachment Inactivated 15 September 1978 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Consolidated 16 June 1979 with the 525th Military Intelligence Group (see ANNEX) and consolidated unit redesignated as Headquarters and Operations Company,
525th Military Intelligence Group; concurrently activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Reorganized and redesignated 16 April 1982 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 525th Military Intelligence Group Reorganized and redesignated 16 August 1985 as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 525th Military Intelligence Brigade
ANNEX
Constituted 18 April 1946 in the Army of the United States as the 525th Interrogation Team Activated 1 May 1946 in Germany Inactivated 6 November 1946 in Germany Redesignated 6 February 1948 as the 525th Headquarters Intelligence Detachment Activated 21 February 1948 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina Allotted 5 May 1949 to the Regular Army Reorganized and redesignated 23 May 1949 as Headquarters, 525th Military Intelligence Platoon Reorganized and redesignated 4 August 1949 as the 525th Military Intelligence Service Company Reorganized and redesignated 1 December as the 525th Military Intelligence Service Group Reorganized and redesignated 31 December 1953 as the 525th Military Intelligence Group
Reorganized and redesignated 25 September 1969 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 525th Military Intelligence Group Inactivated 6 March 1973 at Oakland, California Redesignated 1 July 1974 as the 525th Military Intelligence Group and activated at the Presidio of San Francisco, California Inactivated 1 January 1978 at the Presidio of San Francisco, California
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
World War II
Rhineland
Ardennes-Alsace
Central Europe
Vietnam
Defense
Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase VII
Consolidation I
Consolidation II
Cease-Fire
Armed Forces Expeditions
Dominican Republic
Panama
Southwest Asia
Defense of Saudi Arabia
Liberation and Defense of Kuwait
DECORATIONS
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971-1973
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
Lineage and Honors
519th MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION
Constituted 1 October 1948 in the Regular Army as the 519th Headquarters Intelligence Detachment Activated 15 October 1948 at Fort Riley, Kansas Reorganized and redesignated 10 May 1949 as Headquarters, 519th Military Intelligence Platoon Reorganized and redesignated 11 August 1949 as the
519th Military Intelligence Service Platoon Reorganized and redesignated 21 November 1951 as the 519 th Military Intelligence Service Battalion Reorganized and redesignated 31 December 1953 as the 519 th Military Intelligence Battalion
Reorganized and redesignated 25 January 1958 asHeadquarters and HeadquartersCompany, 519th Military Intelligence Battalion 523d Military Intelligence Company[see ANNEX] reorganized and redesignated 15 July 1959 as Company A
ANNEX
Constituted 25 September 1950 in the Regular Army as the 523d MilitaryIntelligence Service Platoon Activated 10 October 1950 at Fort Riley, Kansas Reorganized and redesignated 1 September 1952 as the 523d Military Intelligence Service Company Reorganized and redesignated 28 March 1954 asthe 523d Military Intelligence Company Inactivated 15 November 1954 in Korea
Activated 25 January 1958 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT
Vietnam
Defense
Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase II
Counteroffensive, Phase III
Tet Counteroffensive
Counteroffensive, Phase IV
Counteroffensive, Phase V
Counteroffensive, Phase VI
Tet 69/Counteroffensive
Summer-Fall 1969
Winter-Spring 1970
Sanctuary Counteroffensive Counteroffensive,
Phase VII Consolidation I
Consolidation II
Cease-Fire
Armed Forces Expeditions
Panama
Southwest Asia Defense of Saudi Arabia Liberation
and Defense of Kuwait Company
A additionally entitled to:
Korean War
First UN Counteroffensive
CCF Spring Offensive
UN Summer-Fall Offensive
Second Korean Winter
Korea, Summer-Fall 1952
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953
DECORATIONS
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1971-1972
Company A additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army),
Streamer embroidered KOREA
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation,
Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1952
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation,
Streamer embroidered KOREA 1952-1953
Company C additionally entitled to:
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army)
Streamer embroidered VIETNAM a1966-1967