Number: 08/21/BTL/SD5BB
Lai Khe XT.765.385

Reference: Operation order TT.09/B/5
Map of Vietnam, scale: 1/100,000
Sheets # 6231 - 6232 - 6331 - 6332

I.- General Situation

The operational area is the area belonging to Loc Ninh District/Binh Long Province - limited to the North by the Vietnam-Cambodia border - to the East by Song Be, to the South by Suoi Cat. The terrain is quite complex, 45% consist of woods of trees intertwined with bamboos creating obstacles to troops movement, 35% consist of rubber plantation. Populated and fruit growing areas occupy 25%.

Taking advantage of the closeness of the area to the border and of Song Be corridor, the VC have established in this area several base camps, in particular from Base Camp 350, the VC infiltrated frequently deep to Highway 14A, ambushed isolated convoys, detonated mines and stopped vehicles to collect tax.

II.- Information Obtained:

Summary of information gathered from prisoners and documents:

- According to testimony from VC Medical/Aspirant Lieutenant Le Ba Phat of D368th Battalion, defected in 7/70, D368th Battalion had established many base camps in this area, such as Staging Camp (TBD.XU.840010), spare parts and maintenance warehouse and information service station (TBD.XU.861045).

- According to a highly reliable source, at TBD.XU.915031 VC has just established a new base camp comprising 25 bunkers which can fit in 250 men, this could be a new VC base camp. In the reconnaissance operation on 12/18/1970, the 5th Recon Company discovered 10 bunkers at (TBD.XU.912025) see map.

- In South East of Loc Ninh, according to signals picked up by sensors, a VC regiment sized unit (E6?) has infiltrated inside VN: on 12/22 at XU.837234, on 12/23 at XU.793110, on 12/24 at XU.792113, on 12/25 at XU.762076.

In addition, other information as following: