,I, I

,,,,./.----.

'.

.~

rOP SECRET - ceMIN I

MEMORANDUM FOR MR. BUNDY

10 August 1964

I

---..-'

SUBJECT: Chronology of Events on De s ota Patrol and IncidentsInvolving the Maddox and Turney Joy

Attached is a memorandum for record developed by Colonel Steakl'ey'speople, pulling together the timing of 34A actions and the incidents inthe Gulf of Tonkin. With respect to the latter, the intercepts from theDRV, as well as the key messages from our own forces, have beenincluded.

The evidence in these messages rnake s the hostile i nterit of the DRVduring the 2-4 Augu s t period unmistakable. Following the attack on the2d of August, the DR V again began to concentrate their forces and totrack the US vessels. 011; 4 August, two Swatow boats were told toprepare for operations that night. The Maddox had this information,and when the ships approached on hostile tracks, the action began.

1 understand that S0IT!-e additional COMlNT sifting still i~ underway.If these investigations turn up anything new or different--and I learn ofit--I will pass it on to you.

wv.y SMITH

LYNDON dAINES JOHNSON LJBRI~R'

J,I~

1ri"1

.411).

o

'.

\"

;,

·_...-:.--,---- -------

, .

-J.--.;..-------------T-;--'-------

)

"

_.,~ ..J __....._

,

:~ -~J..~"') ~

' I ".·~:':~d.··1-, ~.. ~""..'.......

.. I f"!--" .. ' . \.,

i-'~:YI' .~.&00,.":""'-- ...... l-, t. ,.,;. lot • .t. -l~"

,'··r i 18' -:u: I ,-\...... :. ..

.... ..)

'; lI

-"

10 August i964.. ,,- -..-,

•

j ..:

!III

.- DRV and eSIeOM reaction to the CRAIG p~trol,

noted below, had been quite limdted:

a. On 28 Febrllary, a Kronstadt - .cla':3s patrol craft inter­cepted and ~aced the CRAIG for a short ,period,;

b. On 29 February, one unidentified aircraft remained36 miles from. the CRAIG for about two hour-a,

. c. On IlJ1arch, Ha1phongalerted the I{1a,ster or a DRVship, "The ship appearing 1s the eneuw. OUr Navy 1s present­lypursu1ng and tracking,,"

, .

d. On 2 rt'Jarch, Pek1ng issued 280th serious warning.

. - ·CINCPAC '.:3 15 July proposa), was approved as"req.uastcdby the Sta.te Depat"tment, 'Deputy Sec.retElr'J oraDeferase,::alld ..ttttt c8p.e.c.1a.J.. Aoois tant to the President.

, - F1rst Incident (2 August)

a. Intercept of North Vietnamese communications·(COt4INT, Atch, #1) 01'1 1 August indioated that the MADDOXwas' be1ngtracked 'byDR,.V naval e,lements •. IXlr1ng the sameday, the DRV Southern. Fleet· Base at BEN THUY radioed an .: V'··).un1dent1f1ed·surface craft that a decision had· been rnade~ to (U~ghtthe enell"q tonight. U At 1244H the ne;.:.t da.'the· DJiV >:,::'Northern Fleet base at· Port Wallut w v s ~~

lOat T-lL;2, "Received· Orders 146 .. 1 2 DID use 'r.to, go to~s ~htn~ l'Y,!th ene~ following 0 launch tQ .... ,< ..._~ attacl~ waa apparently imminent at 1412H~hen a~ un1de~t1-

t1ed Shore" stat:!:on 'oroer-ed the T-146 ~rJ'A"'..... f!.·...C4UI(~ttilHMSON LIBRAR\. turn bacK to pa IIh. ot the enemy • • • • ~!f'}{t\1'61'.''1 i'l! . ,.

~;- ..

CY .2 ot ~._..cys

_10989

.-.--:"" ;. ....- .'" '1!

'/\,

'..",.,

1607Hthe MADOOX report..d,;b.~Q8,·attacked by three NorthVietnamese craft and, tha"i:;i twas openf.ng fire.

b. ,Subsequent DRV COMINT substantiated reports fromthe lifADOOX that an attaclc had, in fact, occurred. em,TINTreflections indicated that the attack had been carried

,out by DRV Torpedo Flotilla 135 comprised of T-333, T-336and T..339. ·DRV communications' revealed that the T--339~as sunk while the T-336 sustained heavy damages; the T-333apparently escaped with only m1nor damages.

- Second Incident (4 August)

a. On 4 August" DRtl nCllval communications (COMINT"Atch #l) aga1n ind1catedpreparations were underway for,another attack that night. The ,T-142 and T-146 (SwatO~1boats) were ordered to prepare for tlm11tary Operations. II

The T-333, ,~1ch was involved 1n the previous incident"~ '..:~ f,Me.' was ordered tp. obtain oil to Participate in the second

,J.,:~").;,~~,~,0 '~.'.H'" attack. That night the MADOOX joined by the USS TURNER{}~..;'8" JOY, reported surface and r air contacts on their radar'

sc~eens. The surface contacts were later identified as-r:.: hostile, and at 2240H the Mi~DDOX opened fire. SUbseguent l

:.~I:.'~ "' reports trom the destroyers 1nd1ca1;edthat possibly t\'10:1 fort·.. "~~ , fT boats had been sunk. '!'his was later confirmed b a, '.J__ \.1·....';..",..~ 7:'~':'/'~' me.ss e s a in' We acr ice wo comrades but a ].'p'J~, .. e an reco e ° a ons , e same message

repo e a wo enemy panes een shot at and atleast one damaged. .61tter rePOrt stated that "an enaNvessel perhaps "l'lounded.' .

.b. Debrj"ef1ng of the pilots" prov1dingair coverage

over the MADDOX and TURNER JOY1 revealed that during theincident they observed gun flashes on the surf'ace of the'

, . t~'" I p\ (l'4 water and bursting light AA at tpe1r approx1mate t11ght~"\. tr:vft ." ,..".altitude.It is ros§1g1e thtt thInlY PT boats m±stt0l{,.". "' ..... ' 7)1 m the illumination, tares being dropped by the a1rcrat a\!lAI"o-,$· Hita o'ntne plane $ • ...

. - In response to Joint Chiefs of Staft instructions"a modified DESOTO Patrol 1'laS resumed on 7 August and completedon 8· AU£Ust. The northern point for this modif'ied track was1841N. No DRV hostile reaction to the patl"'Ol was indj,catedduring 7 - 8 August. period. CINCPAC wao author1zedto wit~­dra;lth-a d:estrQ~'el""c froln the area due to Typhoon nIDA "~. . . .no\-!evar he vas abl~ tocoT:1plete. "themod1fied patrol on 8August prior to withdrawing.

·-CINCPAC, bY' h18 message 080155Z" requestedpenn1ss1on to conduct another full scale DESOTO Patrol 1nto.the Gulf of Tonkin during the period 12 - 11· AUgust. Thepatrol was considered necessary in view of the recentattacks l the £orced retj,rement from the Gulf due to T,yphoonlDA6 .a nd that the intelligence obje.ct1ves for the areanorth of20oN latt1tude ,had not been fulfilled. The patt'olnae been d.isapproved at this time but will be consideredat. later date •.

"

I1

.t YNDON JAINES JOHNSON lIBRAR~

'i'OP SEOFlE'f ~IliAR

2

.,

'fOP SEOFf:&'1' a!l~R

place but the attacks w~p'-;.~~t~gated by the DRV usingSwato·~·;s .and motor torpedo boats.

- Exa.m1nation of t racks of the' MADDOX/TURNERJOY and the units of OPLAN 34A indicates that there wasno mutual interference. Additionall~"1 the MADDOX/TUfu\JERJOY were not in the 34A operations area when the two shipswere attacked~

k...L~~:a~.·..~..' .~PH D. STEAKLEYColonel" USAF '.Chier" Joint Reconnaissance

Center .Operations Directorate

•.4 AttCl.chments

J. Chronology of Events Derived. ~rom message· traffic

2. Chart showing f1rst 1nc1de~t

3.. Chart showing second· incident4 Chart showing MADDO~rfURNER JOY

tracks

\

Prepared by.:

Cdr H.E. Fitzwater" USNJoint R~conna1ssance Center" J-3Extension: OX~-7356

corrlYNDON a3A1NES JOHHSON L1BRAR

'fOP SEORET B!l~)\rr 3

s

- ._--....,.---_... ."

USS r-4!'.DDOX De,parted Keeluns" Taillan

ATTAcmmNT 1

r~1P.~5t" ..0l· EVE~fi'S

SHIPS/PTF POSITION REr~s

Sighted 2 P'r type crai'tthat passed ahead south­erly head1ng "NASTY CLAS~"Two core sighted 15 t11n~

later one "SaIJG class II

other Sf,pearedto beSoviet 'p;..6 c1ass ll

• CPA3 011e8.

17-01N108':"29E

MADDOX

DATBIT:r-1E. :CHOTEL)

28 July

300830

30i~05 PTFs2.13..S,,6 Underway~. . (T'I\V'.P M4J 'd~ DAUAN'Q

1 .', lUA VI' t-n,.~ 34-04 tol d t );.' ;,J.J. .. r-0"" 301440 PTFs 2.. 3..5,,6 . 16-20N .. •t!0..ctui"'o.' 1oB-20E"r'~ ,:....... , d..

2,,3,'5..6w (.': 301610 PTFs 17-00N. :.-OJ

1oB-20E,

302110 P'l'Fs 2,3~5 .• 6 18.-110. 107-10

302315 PTFs 2 .. 3,,5~6 19-00106-16

310002

310037

PTF3,,6

PTFs'2,,5

HON ME

. HOI'l NIEU

PTF 2ceededNIEU.to HON

•

d 5 then pro­~cttQ HON

s 3 ~d 6 dirac

: nced bOr.1bard­NIEU.

310730 'PTF 2

310955 PTF 6 DANANG

311045 PTF 5 DJUlAHG

·311055 PTF 3 DANANG

311120 PTF 2 DANAHG

311300 . HADDOX 17-05IJ107-18E

i

, PTFs dOfarted trOD area.

PTFs de~arted trolJ area'·

Rcturne~to ~.ase alon~aane rOf~'as approach

Returnet to base via19-00N,106-.i6E the11ce'direct 0 Danang

S~i~:r:-o~\.' an cng1nocasual. '

. '

. I

AJ,"1"1vcdl at baseI

Arrived I at base

HON ME

HON arsu

PTFs 3,6

PIlFs 3,,6

PTFs 2,,5

-

310048

310110

TOP SEeM! BIUAR 1

.. ,• r-.

'. '

'i'or SECRET W'Tfrft

\ ..

D·...r,'1.... /lJ'Ir~'!'C'

~J..~-=.:.~

(HOTEL)

011600

'011801

012000

012222 .

020021

Q20152

020255

SHIPS/PTF

·I1ADDOX

It1ADDOX

DERIVED FRailbO~·1I1JT soL":*5Es

DERIVED FROr.1coranr SOURCES '

DERIVED FROMcor.1Jj~SotmbES

'POSITION'_----.~

J.8·-04 .9N106...~l.8E

19-00}lloS-5J.t.3E

-,

REriIARKS

A message was 1ntercc,9tedbeing paosed from NavaJ..Hqs at· BEN TROY to sur­face vessel'hull #371which was interpreted asan apparent plan: coordinetion of naval/artilleryeleoonts fire missionson nautieal charts tosupportDRV naval ~atrols.

It was interpreted asbe1nga :poas'ib1e reactj,on.to recent "enetly incurs.1on1n DRV waters~

•110 junks fishing crai'tsighted.' USS MADDOX .sont : "Contemplate .serious reaction my rnove­r.1entsin vicinity Pt.Cha+-l1e in near future.Rece1ved informationindicating possiblehostile actions":

Message ~nterceptcd,

informing vessel T-llt2"Turn on equipcent.Enemy going in course of52 degrees. Located .9NM frorJ HON I'm bearing .134 It • .

Vessel T-146 sent "Ener.1Y ,,,-~,located at 9Nto% trotl I" \/

HON ME 'bearing 1480 11•

BEN TROY sent a Dessa~e'

to T-255 not~ng that ithad been IIdeoided to fj.f5h t ,/the ener.lytonight when ,,_'you receive directj,ng

. orders.". 'r-255 was quorie:it sbehad received tithe

'onemy's consecui1vechal'l3e froc 52:

Observation post on RONllIE and Swato\'l Class PGNT-ll.l6 were intorccd that01 1800 positionof·e~er.1Yvesael was 11 NM SE ofHON flIEbcar1ng 168.

2

. ~

. DATE,(rI£.1E SHIPS/PTF POSI!J.ill! REMA¥S

.020400

020448

MADDOX 1<)-05.11'1l05-5~2

DERIVED FROM Swatow Class PGM· T-377corUN'r SO'GfiUES reported lithe unit.was'

launched at 0230G mldwas w~t1ng northeast

. of' RON NGU. .

MADDOX MADDOX sent: 'tHavetercj,nated orbit. Pro­ceed1ni dueEaat fxootJ •Pt • lie at ten knotsuntil daylight. Heavy.concentrat~on of' junksto Northll

•..

M.'\DDOX ~. MADDOX reported: "001'1d1­t10nsWlchang~d. U1110ssotherw1se direoted no'proceeding to Pt. DF.LTA.

021100

021230

MADDO~

MADDOX

1 -47N.1 -aBE

"Sighted approx1rlately·75 junks. Will deviatefrOC1 track as necessaryto avoid passing .through,,"

MADDOX r.eported· "s1ghted3 PTcraft J.O c11cs.North ot HON ME Island .onaSoutherly heading- ~. speed 20K. CP~1Ni-i.Evalua:tedas P-4 s ."

T-142 to PortWall~~~lrcce1ved orders - 1116~-l42.,DID (l. group o1as1:ngJUna high speed tc gotogether with encoyfollowing to launchtOl<pGdoCG. "

';Pop 880HE9? DINltR 3

.COpy··.... 'LYNDON dAINES JOHNSON LIBRAR'

MADDOX: ":Being attacked" ~.by 3 DRV PT craft:.. .I a":'l ;)opcl~il1Q fire \,;1th 5 1:1c11b~tt~ry. f.ir ~upport fro~

TIeo BTA 15 r.:1:..~ut0C."

PT boats closed to 9000'yards ~ l·ffiDDOX tu't'nec1'tocourse' 1500 . and t iJ:"~~J 3t'larl11ng shots 'w1';h 5 'I

guns. Spoed 27 knot~.Torpedo boats continuedto .closeItal{~m under­ccve.mucue 1":t:-:1.Although rece1v:1.I'lg nuner­ous bits and ncar nisses"2- ,boac:~ -e1t>s'(¥d- t:e _d."O~i.! •

p.3r.ffiR.~

Bctl'leCn 02iS1t7 ·thru022230 1 DBSOTO Patrol wa~under continuoussurveillance by DRV nava2e1ecents. Severalreferences to :repuls1.l1gthe enemy were note,d.TX'ack data reveals that T'three vesecls.. the T..l!l2,l r t.

T-J.46 and the '1'-135 close: ~:L'." . I to!

and instituted the actior;~l .011 the MADDOX. . . 'P~J

I-~/.-

Froc MADDOX: "3 torpedo I:...;:boats nearing 011 bea.ring Tf

2680 range 11.5 NM olos!r hat 50 Kts. 1t ~-:l.; ,

.froe att to forward.

r'ltDDOX reported: "S1['.ht­in~. 2 poss. Swatow classNorth of HON ME 011 Si:"lth ...:crly heading. Speed ~1C .. 'All appeared to be head­1ng tQr v1e1.nity of EON r.

&i unidentified sourcestation poas1b1y SAr-1, SOH1943' 30NIl05-55E orderedthe T- 10116 to "leave theT-135 and turn back tothe enemy and a.ttacl<.::

MADDOX" III arJ bej.ng.approached by Hi speedcraft'W1.th apparentintention of torpedo •attack. I intend to openfire it necessary in selfdefense". .

4

19-41.5Nl06-35.6E

19-47N106"';.31.1E

r·1ADDOX

r-1ADDOX

MADDOX

DERtvED FRO~I

corm-iT SOtmeES

DERIVED FR0l1~Oi·!LNT SOtmCES

'fOP 8SGiGtp··~"H.~ .

'021607

021547

.021608

021412

DAnjTIr!;3 SHIPS/PTF(HOT2L)

021315 ~·!..4.DDOX

TOP gF.GRB'P BIlHdFI

02l~O...

, ;--

.021Goe (Cont l d)

.'liOe S~eR5_l' :D;i{ltil

REMArKS

1'1:-;1..::hin:! g~n fire f:,0:'1PT resulted in one hit.After boats turned (~~·ray

r~DOX' tUFncdto pur~ua

~,til TIeO aircraftarrived. ltlADDOX directedaircraft to' attack.

Message fron eTa 71.5 toCOrlf7THFLT said ~

u).. lilADDOX 25KclaiPsbei.ngpursued by 3hignspeed 45Kt surface craft A

2. Orig prov1d1ri~ 4 F-8Ecover armed with ZuniB.nd. amco.3. Instructed not to ope~

f1reunles8 MADDOX or·,aircraft fired upon."

Third torpedo boat ha:dpulled allJost abe?.lJ" andat time Qf rece1.v1nsd.1.rcct hit" dropped'torpedo in \fa-tar. \'lasnot.obse:rv~d to run (;~orJ'.

T-146 instru.cted' T··142(6157) o;rde:r;o'135 '''1)0not oake ·war during da:v'­(Fr~tend to go to theRhorethen re;Ul'n toHON ME ".)

Froe MADDOX:· "PT craftco~leted torpedQ attackand .rot:Lred. Ship3usta:tned no dar.1aG(:.

·Ships guns dacag0d on~ •.Aircraf't fron TIeO now 0

attaok:1.ns oneor~'\t. Iat'l rotiring to th eSoutheast lJ

• .

I")S~TION'_.~._--

MADDOX

I'1ADDOX

DERW~ FIlOMcoIYiIb1·· @11WES

NADDOX

o2~622

021629

021621

021608

D!'7E!TlfS SHIPS/PTF(ROTELl

• •

021630 04 F-8s arrlved overMAnDCand· ·01'1 ,:"~~U~fJt by l·1A.t'>DOXattacked 3 ~otor PTboat~

Boats proc~"ed1ng a~raY' athiZh speed in Northe~lydi~eotion. 2 PT boatswr:'~'e approX1r.1ately. 10ci)..as North 'ot ti!ADDOXand 1 about 15 f.i11c3.

th.e'. N.j: !W···· '.........•.D.·................•.. o:r . .PTs wit, . '. . 0 ·'o1.tson' the £, S '. One

ly~I...*tlBRAf.4 _ •

5.

l

..

DA'I;Z:!TIHE SHIPS/?TF. ldOTEL;-

021030 (Cont 1d)

POSITION

•

REr~ARKS

Anoth0.r Zuni run and qstrafing attacks were ~ado.

Zuni did not" hit ta:i:"getbut h:t.ts \-lere observed ~~"l

'the stratlhg runs. 2 P=::;3not observed to slow do~a•.Second 2 F-8s attackedSoutherly.' single, 'PT boat.,Rockets were expended onfirst run but no hitsobserved. Eacha1r9ra!"t"nacc two strafing .runs,,'oneaircraft against the North­erly pair. Jlits wereobserved on all otrafiht:;runs and single PT boat '-Teareported dead in water andburning near stel"n.

•021641 MADDOX. MADDOX sent: lifT cl"aftconplcted torpedo attackand retired. Shipsusta.1ned nodarnage. Shipsguns dar"a.aed one. Aircrafttro~ ,TIC0 now attacking 1cr·aft. I ac retiring toSoutheast".

021659

021700 D:ERl'IJED E1!QE.gOMIN~ s!'MW£:s

cm·f7THFLT se~t: liTo HADDOX:Retire from area Ul1ti~

situat10n elear3 and ~the:advised. Do not pursueattacking cratt. Fire .asnecessary1n self' defense.Report situation".

The T-lq2 and l46turneaback to !ION ME Islands.At 022230H, ~essag~s ~orc

sent to the T-146 tellingher to neat the T-lli2andT-135 at HON r~ I~l~dl the~go iaoediately to 1941N10637E. Atter arr,."il1gthey should investigate thearea fO:r? a :r:-ad:1u8 ot ION}!ror a DRV vv9sel which ~'7as

wounded and lost bocause ofeneoy a.1~:t'af.'t fire orbecause 'o.f engine trouble .or out ot fuel. Mtnr find­L~g it they were diractedto tOl'T' 5.t back;

..

LYNDON ,lAINES JOHNSON LlBRAR

C0M71t~{FLT to TIeO: "Dir~cJ~

your ~\IW picket (TURNER JOY)toc:t.osc ~1ADDOX b~st spced ,. ,

aJ..r' support•.'.' ..............•...~.......... ­taining own. .' 'raH •

. " -

021707

'for BEOHm' lHlh\ia 6

\.

-.

_ 0

POSITION REMAnKS

·.. p2l'(15

021942

P315~(7I • ,

I

I •I

i

~31610

P31616

1°31645

031704

.PTFs 2.;6

PTFs 1.. 2.. 5,6

DERIV'ED .Filar,POI\W-r-:c· SmES

1921.5NJ06~6E

DANANG

DANANG

1620N10820E

I-1ADDOX retiring at bestsneed to rendc7.vou::J tTlthT~qNER JOi thcnca TICO.An~1.c1pato z-endozvoun .o.pproxirJate1Y 022000H.

DRVVOGocl ~~142 paancdthe fQ:'.lowing recap £1"00its ships log for 2 Aug:"1525 - Saw the 135 attac. l(

the eneoy". ."1630 - Ucreordered'toturn around and returnto concentrate and toc0r.Jt1un1cate ·w1th 1651$.•

MADPOX reports: II A.i.rradar now operat1ve.n.tected DrobJ\1Jle skin­head radu bea-ring 330T

. at 031420 indicatingpossible surt,aco survei1~­

ance of r:JY' ncvenenb" •

t~1aerway troe ba~e.

Underwayfrocbase.

All PTFs1ncoJ:'l1'atlY.- ,

The T-142 sant th~ follow­ing l:1essagc to an un1dent­1f1cdstat1on: 11At 11l20G{1520H) HON !'tIE repol'"ted2. enemy sh1psbear1ng 01700 range 25rU4 course O.

II S

cOn1cnced return to base.

~1ADDO;: :'Op:::,1;A: "KoDRV·n111tarycratts1g.'1.t.ecl. eTG 77.5provided continuous airsupport throughout patr~.

The T-l!l~ reportc the1845H position of theDeSOTO destroyern Z1::120Nl'i ':Ji'r HON PIE 11

DRV .nez...onant cargo THOnG1'1HAT :r:'!nssed urgent T.1cssas,;.to V1($t N!HIS ~IAr'H

r.1or~.t:tJ.le trnncoort :Jcrvi.c..e"0316~5 at 0 dlstD.l1cCOf18NM'froc VAL SOV SONJth~rc is 1 prep aircrnrt303-- £'1'00 tha dircc~1on•

..... .the3h1P~.. ··o .•. ter .that to" ··ly·· .1nthed1re ..· .. . '£ he shil

lYN011N~I JOHNSON ltBRARMi' 2 -pn'e;;"'l~' a3n"~J #,r17QON

lo820E

D:::RIVED FROI>i· ..ceRtH'!' B6tlR~

031845

031818

10317'27

1

i031758"

7

~:;~;~ .'-.~ ,. .'.

;~~i'r~{

032110 PIJ..'F 2 D.lU\i.A!IG

032222 PTFs 1..5.. 6 lVS8N1071lE

032320 .. MADDOX' 1845N.. 107161£

DAr"' E' !m'TI ?"'"----f.~~~

JJiOTEL)

032000

032352

0321100

,032400

QJ.IOO02

,'040020

,0lI0025

040100

SHI~3/PTF

r·uw:i:'OX

PTF 6

PTF 1

PTF 5

p'!'?,6

PTP 6

P'TPs 1 ..5

P " " ~I- -"\Nv ...,.'-+_=.~

1921.2N1c647.9E

l752N10627E

1757.30N106g0.20E

1758.o0N10630.00E

I';JJl nDOX ~ ~""'~S" "I 1i~·t""',..,...~..... ... l.. ~,.,..;."'. • _" L,."I,. • .&."",

to~roceed Southea~t toJ.8J:2N 10730E thence Nor'cr,topos1t1(')i1 111531'1 10733Et~ence Neat to Point D~L~

arriving ~1d cocoencingline patrol 'to Point

.CHARLIE at 041300. II ,

Returned to b~se.

PTFs cornrnenced,1ndepender.tapproach to targets.

~~~X reporte~ "Holdsurface contact Ol2Trange 3g.50l1es.Con-

.tact hasIJare.lleled r;r.joovecent inoluding ZIGZAG for Pf.'.~t hour.Tmt~R JO! holds ECMc~ntact evaluated as Skir.He&.d ~ad2rort eane bear­:'-ne:. Strongly stJ..Spectshadow by block· patrollPT .craft. n

COr.1T.1anccd :f1::-e on,milltarycocplex J.ocatedat South baDk of RONRiver.

COr.ll':1enced f'i.re on VINHSON radar s:1te.

comnenced :f"1re on V'11~HSv~'l 1"3.1ar 51t e ,

C~a~~d f1reand departedtrtC4"'J area.

Ptti.:'Sued by cner~y crai't.

Cc~~sedf1re~ departedtla'.)t:1 a't"E'a~ and cormencedreturl"f.o base along.appz-oach J"'QUte.

~utdiatan~ed pursuingc:':':L:tt; and conmencedretl.lt'n to base along8.PPY'oach route.

040625 Pl',~' 6 DANANG"

040650 ptT'1=i" 5 DAN~~G' _..040715 P'J:F 1 DANAN~

~1300 11AD,DOX

at ba.s~.

•=t.}-, h~iI""t~.... . .wa.9, •

Will rO~a1n North1910N per ret. A.

t

8

i

J

j' "

I ." ~ r-.\

D.A,TE!Tt-!'!l!: §Hg>§1PT:F.JHO,~rE~l

041300 (Cont r ct ) 1 r.teI)d tl/'ithdraw to EastEd: all1',30. Air supportin't:he J?:t"ea. .No oign1f"­ic~~t si3ht1ng!datcction.Suspect shadow continuedSouth after ray turn Nor.t~B.t O~OlOO. ',Last .cont.acfP,t 040JI'OO l"a.nge 78 Diles I

; ,

1 'iI,I :

j

1I1t 'I '

I1 j1 :

I

i1

III

041650

041701.

Oil1110

MADDOX

D.F.eRri/RO· ~.'0..'1 'c,of'lDfil' S .'. S

D3RD~D FRO;>iCO:·Ei\j~ SOUrlCES

19!.l7N10619E,

'-

MADU(}X 3eooa: "Vicinityof Pt. DELTA,patroll1.ng

. to 1910N. ~pect

shadot'r 1$r.311esto theEast. Contact has para11..eled r;ry movements tor thepast ~¢ur hours. Unableto have cont1nuous OVer­h9M lo~ CAP troe theTIeO ,due to, d,1stanoc. U•.

Xnaseri.13S o~ oessag.esreleased by '.1.'-142 to li.L\IPOll) on q, 'Aug, sized upthe after attack' reportot thA'attack on the'lU,DDOX It ..

'rr1e 3 )I'!,Ss .~'1h1.ch 1--lereangaged l '1'-3331 T-336and the·'l'-339' comprisedwhat is believed to beH'm Sq 135. Dacqe resuJ.t1n our report1s ast"llows: ''rem 333 "1:1.th 3holes; p05tl1ble 111'eboat damaae; lube oilpr~sBlu"e .:ts low; aUX,-1:1.11aI'Y .engine damage I

a.:tter pipe d.amage·suspected.

Flea· 339: Sunk R~roportedby T-333.Iil'fB-336: iieav11y dar.:laged\-l1th nanyholes. O~

o11'linesdacaged andpossible ·oil contaoina:':t10n. Tank gun barreldal~aeed; 2 Den 1'10U!1ded.(1~10 1~ was towed toposs.1bly VAN NOA.) II

I\AI PHOllGhud1.l'.i' on::.::c.Suo,to~r' Olo.cc PGI·! T-l~60011"1 Bf\C5 ~1\l!G thero arcti'lO obJoct1vco, ·Cl1~:-.Jy

,..' .. ",f-

d.:ctrorcr;l 10cflt1'0l1:.Tir.!~ 1~1l5H poeition.1935;;23U"10619.3Ch:.

9

"r:THFLT sent to MADDOX:I At first l~t 5' Au!

.pr-oceed to interceptoriginal track betweenPt. CHARLIE, and DELTAat; 1910N • Repainonthis track during day­li~;t hOUrs. FUrther 'instructions to tollow".

'1!QP ggOHB':P I)INi'.R- .... -

I

Ij

Ij'I,I;

t 'II

DATEjT~IE

(H0114.:Ll

041940

042136

()ll224 0

SHIPsjPTF

DERIVED FROr·1C6MiNT SOlffiCES

, MADDOX

I{!ADDOX

Pf):=;ITION_ ......--

lSlO.1l-ll0700E

10

REM1\IUCS

HAl PH01..U 1ni'ornod vasse:;T-14.2 ,(Swat OW. Class) to ,neke ready for f,1il1taryopc~ations for the nightof 4 ..\q~. The sister shiT'T-146 has' also receiveds ir.l11ar ordero.COr~NT: Messageindicated that allefforts 1.'lerebeing nadeto ~nclude ~T-333 Lntb1soperatiohas soonas additional oil can beobta1ned tor that vessel •

. (I-fl"B T-333 ,participatedin original attack.)

FJ:'oQ MADDOX: "Rece1ved.1nforcat1on ind10atipgatt'ack by PGN/p-4. (pr, ar ~L\(,' b~Pro;)e~d1ng Southeast at J..{t)hbest speed tI • C~.l! II.;

. (t-.::,M.·rN< (.~c-­

" /... r:>

rrco reports: Ifr.wIDQlCreports two unidentifieds~~tacevc$sels (Skunks)and three unidentif1edairnratt (Bogies)."

M.Q..DilQX reports:"Un1dont1.f:l.edaircrattdisappeared £ror.l radarscreen. Unident1t1e4s~raoe contacts 'notclosing th1s't1De ..Da1nta1n1ngd1stance of27 Diles.

TleO'rep,orts: ttTwoori~1na1 ~(S openedto 40 eiles. T'.aree newSku11..1<s coneac'ted at 13Diles. Cl~ed to 11 cilesevaluated as hostile.CAP/STRIKE/PHOTO over­hca4 under control of

r~ADDOX·r~£{)PY' '. ' ,nCocoenoed 'f'!t!D§uon

lYmlMt-l'me_SON'lIBRAR

MADDOX reports: lrpT tronWestcpnt1nued attaQkingrun. MADDOX opened £1re.PT launched torpedou •

IJ!ADDOX reports: "Amunder attack aga1n. f1

\ .

•

REr1ARKS

NADDOX reports: "TwoSl<unks on beam closedto 10 c11ea" ~ South at1.16 niles closing at .relative speed of 70'knots."

MADDOX reports.: . tI Ar:1 undercontinuous torpedo attac~.

.MADDOX reports: "Havethus far successfullyavoided at least s~torpedoes. Small craftoontinUing attacks.

. Believe one BUnk byTURNER JOY. At leasttwo remain".

Swatow Class PGN T-142reportcd··.to MY DUO (l952.45N l0557E) u\'Te shot attwo eneny airplanes andat least. one was d~aged'l'We sacrificed two c~~ad€(possibly t;.:o boats) butall are brave andrecogn1zeour' obl:i.gat1onsAlso reported to sarne

I hl\v(.·· station that Iran enenyi"~·'). • .. ··-aircraft ,.,a.s observedIY\'~· ,~".., I cf :raIling into the sea.4" ~"I1I:! i~ '.:Ut'. Enooy ve~sel perhaps.rh·.....; 0,·,11 i wounded.

• (..... !

().J. I' J

1817Nl0132E

. POSITION

l-1ADDOX

MADDOX

MADDOX

..MADDOX

I .

DATE/TliliE SHIPS/PTF.(HOTEL)

oJ.l2248 HADDOX

042350

O1l2252

""TOP ~EeRE'i' MNAH·

1I

1I

r.I .... • ' .. J'I

IIIi '1 !I

I !I ;I ~

1 !

I !1 :I I!

'rop. aee~r DillJ5't

coer-. :LYNDON dAfNES JOHNSON lIBRAR

11