Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
SECRET
seven reduced strength Infantry Divisions; five separate Infantry Battalions; one Airborne Brigade (five Battalions); four Armored Regiments; eight non-divisional Artillery Battalions; sixty-five Ranger Companies; and sub-minimal logistic support units.
b. The VN Navy and Marines consisted of a small Navy Headquarters and Shore Establishment, a small Sea Force of about 27 vessels, a small River Force, and three Marine Battalions. The major units of the small VN Air Force were one Transport Group (C-47), one Fighter Squadron (AD-6) one Special Air Mission Squadron, two Liaison Squadrons (L-19), one Helicopter Squadron (H-19/H-34) and essential base and maintenance elements.
c. Under the 20,000 force increase recommended and subsequently approved under the counter-insurgency plan, the RVNAF gained the following additional major elements: three separate Infantry Regiments; twenty-one Ranger Companies; one Military Intelligence Battalion; one Engineer Combat Battalion; one Navy Shallow Draft Boat Group; one Marine Battalion; one Airforce Helicopter Squadron; and selected logistic support units and augmentation to help correct the critical imbalance previously existing in the RVNAF.
d. The three Infantry Regiments were activated on 10 May 1961. Activation of the twenty-one Ranger Companies began on 1 May 1961. A recent RVNAF estimate indicates that the 170,000 force level should be reached prior to the end of CY 1961.
e. The developing situation in Laos has, however, indicated an urgent requirement for a further increase in the RVNAF force structure. There exists a requirement for an additional force increase of approximately 108,000 over a
SECRET
