Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part IV. A. 1.djvu/34

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Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011


TOP SECRET – Sensitive

TOTAL GROUND FORCES

Plan 4 (SEA) Plan 6 (VN-L-C)
NATION Div RCT Bn Div RCT/BDE Bn
Thailand 3 4 2 3
Pakistan 1 1 1
United Kingdom 1 1
Australia 1 1
New Zealand 1 1
France 1 1
Philippines 1 1
South Vietnam 4 1 4 1 3
Total Non-U.S. 11 6 2 9 5 5
CINCPAC Est. Rqmt 15 8 12[1] 7[1] 5[1]
Shortage 4 1-1/3 3 2
(1) Laos Planning

A modification of Plan #5 existed under the temporary title of "Plan 5-plus," drafted by the JCS in September 1961 as a proposed contingency plan for intervention in Laos. In this concept, 25,400 troops would be sent into Laos. The force would consist of the following:64

Country In Laos Support and Reserves
U.S. 5,500 11,000
Thailand 11,400 3,300
Commonwealth (UK, Australia, NZ) 4,100 3,500
Pakistan 1,400 4,700
Philippines 200
GVN 2,700

These troops would augment the Royal Laos forces of 38,500 in the Regular Army, 11,000 Meos, and 29,800 other defense forces. In this modification of Plan 5, it was assumed that the Royal Laotian Government would appeal to SEATO for assistance. This would initiate an airlift of SEATO forces into key points along the Mekong River at Vientiane, Paksane, Thakkek, Savannakhet, and Pakse. These forces would support the Royal Laotian troops against communist forces in the areas of northern Laos bordering on Thailand and from all of the Laotian panhandle. At the same time, Thai forces would operate around Luang Prabang and GVN troops would operate along the GVN–Laos border.65

A-29
TOP SECRET – Sensitive


  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Includes a two division reserve held outside the theater of operations and two RCT-size airborne units held in SVN.