Intelligence Fit for Purpose French Intelligence in Indochina 1950-54

1. Intelligence Fit for Purpose French Intelligence in Indochina 1950-54 Alexander Zervoudakis MOD (UK)

2. To start with… • Please delete at least for 20mins your views of the French….in Indochina… • Acronyms : • CEFEO: French Expeditionary Force Far East • EMIFT: Joint and Land Forces HQ • ZOT: Tonkin Operational Zone

3. Sources and Bibliography • French Military Archives are rich in Intelligence related material • Classified documents can be consulted • Understanding of structures important • Secondary sources extremely poor • Cyclical reporting – journalistic accounts

4. High Commissioner Intelligence Structures Strategic/Operational Level CinCCEFEO

5. CinC (GENECHEF) Intelligence Structures

6. HUMINT • SDECE (SR) • Sûreté • Vietnamese Sûreté • Securite Militaire (CI ) • SDECE (CI) • SRO • SR de l’Etat du Vietnam (Vietnamese Intelligence)

7. CinC (GENECHEF) Intelligence Structures

8. CinC (GENECHEF) Intelligence Structures

9. HOA HOANG THAM -1951 BAC KAN LANG SON TUYEN QUANG YEN BAY THAI NGUYEN DINH LAP X NHANAM KEP 312 LUC NAM LOGISTICS BUILT UP SON LA PHU LANG THONG Vinh Yen Phuc Yen Bac Ninh Hongay Canal des Rapides HANOI Quang Yen VM TROOPS MOVE IN BAVI HAIDUONG Hadong HAIPHONG Hung Yen HOA BINH Canal des Bambous HOANG HOA THAM. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1951 VM DECEPTION & CEFEO INTELLIGENCE INDICATIONS Phuly VM DECEPTION LOGISTICS MOVEMENTS 5th FRONT Nam Dinh Phu Nho Quan LOGS Ninh Binh

10. HOA HOANG THAM -1951 BAC KAN LOGS LANG SON TUYEN QUANG LOGS YEN BAY RECRUITS 308 DIV LOGS THAI NGUYEN To KEP DINH LAP X NHANAM KEP I I 312 LUC NAM 426 INT LOGISTICS BUILT UP LOGS SON LA PHU LANG THONG Vinh Yen Phuc Yen Bac Ninh Hongay Canal des Rapides HANOI Quang Yen VM TROOPS MOVE IN BAVI HAIDUONG Hadong HAIPHONG Hung Yen HOA BINH Canal des Bambous HOANG HOA THAM. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1951 VM DECEPTION & CEFEO INTELLIGENCE INDICATIONS Phuly VM DECEPTION LOGISTICS MOVEMENTS 5th FRONT Nam Dinh Phu Nho Quan LOGS Ninh Binh AIR RECCE (30km BELT ALONG THE DELTA'S BORDERS) AND NIGHT AIR RECCE, ARE NOT SHOWN.

11. HOA HOANG THAM -1951 BAC KAN LOGS LANG SON TUYEN QUANG LOGS YEN BAY RECRUITS 308 DIV LOGS Mao Khe, Mar 1951 THAI NGUYEN To KEP DINH LAP X NHANAM KEP I I 312 LUC NAM 426 INT LOGISTICS BUILT UP LOGS SON LA PHU LANG THONG Vinh Yen Phuc Yen Bac Ninh Hongay Canal des Rapides HANOI Quang Yen VM TROOPS MOVE IN BAVI DESERTERS 174 REGT REPORT HAIDUONG Hadong HAIPHONG Hung Yen HOA BINH Canal des Bambous HOANG HOA THAM. FEBRUARY/MARCH 1951 VM DECEPTION & CEFEO INTELLIGENCE INDICATIONS Phuly VM DECEPTION LOGISTICS MOVEMENTS 5th FRONT Nam Dinh Phu Nho Quan LOGS Ninh Binh AIR RECCE (30km BELT ALONG THE DELTA'S BORDERS) AND NIGHT AIR RECCE, ARE NOT SHOWN.

12. RC4 Sept – Oct 50 • 2 Bureau: VM is evolving and strengthening • 2 Bureau: VM strategic intentions correctly assessed • Cin C & 3 Bureau(Ops): VM lethal but “rebels” • VM are HLL (Hors la Loi- Outlaws) Manual 1950 RC4 -1950

13. Pho Lu - Feb 50 • 2Bureau : • 308th Div • 5000 VM • Organic artillery

14. Intelligence failures? • RC4 – Intelligence assessments disregarded • Dien Bien Phu – French Govt. changed course without taking into account intelligence or the CinC

15. Conclusion • CEFEO Intelligence structures and output were fit for purpose • Intelligence does not win wars on its own • Governments and Generals disregard it at their peril