This kind of comes from a pair of earlier threads regarding the Arc Light One mission as originally intended and a hypothetical involving whether we'd have been better off simply burning down every city in North Vietnam and mining Haiphong (the answer by the way is 'no').
It seems that during the course of the latter thread the actual list of targets proposed for the JCS to deal with Vietnam was proposed. It was a fairly level-headed idea which was surprisingly subdued compared to what I had expected, and actually seemed aimed at the objectives the administration wanted, being that of forcing the North Vietnamese to the negotiating table.
The idea started out as an alternative towards using the Army to block and cut the Ho Chi Minh trail via ground-unit maneuvers into the Laotian panhandle by using aerial-operations. The JCS set-up a joint working group to this effect and from early 1964 to May 22nd, they'd whittled down 451 targets to 99 which were submitted to CINCPAC and then further whittled down to 94 targets by August 24th.
Targets with the annotation {B} indicated those recommended by the JCS for the first 60-72 hours for this plan (Option B) with an additional 5 targets in Laos to be struck in 24-36 hours after which other targets were to be hit; targets with the annotation {R} indicated those recommended by the JCS for the first 8 weeks of Operation Rolling Thunder
The plan was to execute the mission in 4 phase
Things had started to escalate from the end of 1964 into the first two months of 1965: Starting in February there were pair of events such as an attack on Camp Holloway (February 7th, 1965) and a hotel-bombing at Qui Nhon (February 10th) which led to the initial steps of the mission being implemented: On February 11th, 30 x B-52F's were sent over from CONUS (at least some were from Mather AFB) to Andersen AFB.
The intention was that they'd basically land there, with the crews being given a couple of hours of down-time while the aircraft are loaded up with ordnance, which as I understand consisted of...
The aircraft were to takeoff from Andersen AFB, refuel with KC-135's over the South China sea, fly to Tiger Island (aka Cồn Cỏ district which is an island 27 km east of Mũi Lay and part of the Quảng Trị province) off the DMZ, drop to 500 ft ASL and ride along the coast of North Vietnam with a northwest turn to overfly Hanoi at 500' ASL (200-300' AGL) en route to Phuc Yen, at which point they'd pop up to 1500' AGL and drop on Phuc Yen; then they'd make a wide left turn while descending back to 500' either ASL/AGL as demanded and exit NVN south of Thanh Hoa and climb back to 45000' on the return leg to Andersen AFB.
The aircraft were expected to pass over Hanoi around 22:00 and all bombs off in a two minute window over Phuc Yen. There were plans to follow this up with 68 fighter-bombers attacking Cat-Bi and Gia Lam in the morning, followed by a revisit of Phuc Yen presumably at night.
The mission was cancelled just before it was to take hold: I'm curious what would have happened had it just been allowed to proceed?
BTW: The following might have an interest in the matter
Dimlee,
fubar57,
Graeme,
GrauGeist,
GTX,
M
MIflyer,
S
Shortround6, Thomas P,
Thumpalumpacus,
T
tyrodtom,
X
XBe02Drvr
It seems that during the course of the latter thread the actual list of targets proposed for the JCS to deal with Vietnam was proposed. It was a fairly level-headed idea which was surprisingly subdued compared to what I had expected, and actually seemed aimed at the objectives the administration wanted, being that of forcing the North Vietnamese to the negotiating table.
The idea started out as an alternative towards using the Army to block and cut the Ho Chi Minh trail via ground-unit maneuvers into the Laotian panhandle by using aerial-operations. The JCS set-up a joint working group to this effect and from early 1964 to May 22nd, they'd whittled down 451 targets to 99 which were submitted to CINCPAC and then further whittled down to 94 targets by August 24th.
01. Na San Airfield
02. Dien Bien Phu airfield
03. Hanoi/Gia Lam airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield plus POL storage {B}
04. Dong Hoi airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield (airfield closest to South Vietnam) {R}
05. Vinh Airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield {R}
06. Phuc Yen airfield: Jet-capable airfield {R}
07. Hanoi/Bac Mai Airfield: Limited jet-capable
08. Haiphong/Cat Bi airfield: Jet capable airfield plus POL storage {B}
09. Haiphong/Kien An airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield plus POL storage
10. Ninh Binh railroad/highway bridge
11. Hai Duong railroad/highway bridge
12. Hanoi railroad/highway bridge (Red River)
13. Hanoi railroad/highway bridge (canal)
14. Thanh Hoa railroad/highway bridge
15. Viet Tri railroad/highway bridge (Route 2: Hanoi–Lao Cai–Kunming, China)
16. Dap Cau railroad/highway bridge (Covered route form Hanoi to Chinese border)
17. Haiphong highway bridge: (Covered Route 10: Haiphong to NE DRV & China)
18. Lang Son railroad/highway bridge
19. Yen Vien railway marshalling yard
20. Hanoi railroad repair shops (Gia Lam area)
21. Hanoi railway marshalling yard/shops
22. Xuan Mai barracks: South/Southwest
23. Xuan Mai barracks (North/Northwest) and HQ
24. Chanh Hoa barracks (Southeast) and division HQ {R}
25. Son La barracks/supply depot & Military Region HQ: Northwest
26. Dien Bien Phu barracks
27. Note: Part of the Dien Bien Phu barracks group, but doesn't appear in sources
28. Ban Xom Lom barracks
29. Quang Suoi barracks: Northeast
30. Hanoi military HQ: North Vietnam air-defense HQ
31. Ha Dong barracks/supply depot
32. Vu Con barracks and supply-depot {R}
33. Dong Hoi barracks: Probable division headquarters (West/Northwest) {R}
34. Vinh Yen barracks/training area: North
35. Son Tay barracks (Southwest) and supply depot
36. Vit Thu Lu barracks/storage area (Guerilla Staging Area) {B}{R}
37. Moc Chau barracks
38. Vinh barracks and HQ: Military Region IV
39. Chap Le barracks: Northwest {R}
40. Phu Qui ammunition depot: Southwest
41. Phu Van ammunition depot: Major Depot (East) {R}
42. Phu Van POL storage and ammunition depot: Northeast {R}
43. Qui Hau ammunition depot: West
44. Yen Bai ordinance depot
45. Haiphong/Kien An ammunition depot: Southwest
46. Ban Phieng Hay ammunition depot
47. Yen Song ordinance/ammunition depot
48. Haiphong POL storage: Largest POL storage facility in North Vietnam {B}
49. Hanoi POL storage {B}
50. Vinh POL storage
51. Nguyen Khe/Thach Loi POL storage [+]
52. Vinh supply depot: East {R}
53. Phu Van supply depot: Southeast {R}
54. Thien Linh Dong: South
55. Vinh Son supply depot: Southwest/Southeast {R}
56. Phu Qui barracks/supply depot
57. Hanoi Ministry of National Defense/MZ HQ
58. Hanoi supply depot barracks: South
59. Hanoi supply depot barracks: North
60. Thai Nguyen supply depot: North
61. Xom Chang barracks: South
62. Van Dien supply depot/barracks
63. Thuan Chau barracks/supply depot
64. Xom Bang ammunition depot (Supports Pathet Lao in Laotian panhandle) {R}
65. Note: Part of the Xom Bang ammunition depot group, but doesn't appear in sources
66. Hanoi international RADCOM transmitter
67. Hanoi international RADCOM receiver
68. Cam Pha Port: Mine-laying/bombing target
69. Hon Gai Port: Mine-laying/bombing target
70. Haiphong Port: Mine-laying/bombing target
71. Ben Thuy port facilities/transshipment center (mine-laying/bombing-target) {R}
72. Port Wallut naval base (mine-laying/bombing target)
73. Hanoi port facilities: Red-River (mine-laying/bombing-target)
74. Quang Khe Port approaches (mine-laying area)
75. Viet Tri chemical plant: Involved in the manufacture of explosives
76. Thai Nguyen iron and steel complex
77. Hanoi machine tool and engineering equipment plant
78. Haiphong phosphatic fertilizer plant: Involved in the manufacture of explosives
79. Bac Giang chemical fertilizer plant: Involved in the manufacture of explosives
80. Haiphong West thermal power plant
81. Hanoi thermal power plant
82. Uong Bi thermal power plant
83./84. Road/Rail Route 1: Hamrong to Hanoi
85./86. Road/Rail Route 1: Vinh to Hamrong
87./88. Road/Rail Route 5: Hanoi to Haiphong
89. Route 7: Laos/North Vietnam Border
90. Route 8: Nape, Laos to Roa Qua (Main supply route to Central Laos)
91. Route 12: Laos/North Vietnam Border to Xom Ma Na (Main supply route into southern Laos and South Vietnam)
92. Route 19
93. Route 6
94. Route alternate to Route 6
02. Dien Bien Phu airfield
03. Hanoi/Gia Lam airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield plus POL storage {B}
04. Dong Hoi airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield (airfield closest to South Vietnam) {R}
05. Vinh Airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield {R}
06. Phuc Yen airfield: Jet-capable airfield {R}
07. Hanoi/Bac Mai Airfield: Limited jet-capable
08. Haiphong/Cat Bi airfield: Jet capable airfield plus POL storage {B}
09. Haiphong/Kien An airfield: Limited jet-capable airfield plus POL storage
10. Ninh Binh railroad/highway bridge
11. Hai Duong railroad/highway bridge
12. Hanoi railroad/highway bridge (Red River)
13. Hanoi railroad/highway bridge (canal)
14. Thanh Hoa railroad/highway bridge
15. Viet Tri railroad/highway bridge (Route 2: Hanoi–Lao Cai–Kunming, China)
16. Dap Cau railroad/highway bridge (Covered route form Hanoi to Chinese border)
17. Haiphong highway bridge: (Covered Route 10: Haiphong to NE DRV & China)
18. Lang Son railroad/highway bridge
19. Yen Vien railway marshalling yard
20. Hanoi railroad repair shops (Gia Lam area)
21. Hanoi railway marshalling yard/shops
22. Xuan Mai barracks: South/Southwest
23. Xuan Mai barracks (North/Northwest) and HQ
24. Chanh Hoa barracks (Southeast) and division HQ {R}
25. Son La barracks/supply depot & Military Region HQ: Northwest
26. Dien Bien Phu barracks
27. Note: Part of the Dien Bien Phu barracks group, but doesn't appear in sources
28. Ban Xom Lom barracks
29. Quang Suoi barracks: Northeast
30. Hanoi military HQ: North Vietnam air-defense HQ
31. Ha Dong barracks/supply depot
32. Vu Con barracks and supply-depot {R}
33. Dong Hoi barracks: Probable division headquarters (West/Northwest) {R}
34. Vinh Yen barracks/training area: North
35. Son Tay barracks (Southwest) and supply depot
36. Vit Thu Lu barracks/storage area (Guerilla Staging Area) {B}{R}
37. Moc Chau barracks
38. Vinh barracks and HQ: Military Region IV
39. Chap Le barracks: Northwest {R}
40. Phu Qui ammunition depot: Southwest
41. Phu Van ammunition depot: Major Depot (East) {R}
42. Phu Van POL storage and ammunition depot: Northeast {R}
43. Qui Hau ammunition depot: West
44. Yen Bai ordinance depot
45. Haiphong/Kien An ammunition depot: Southwest
46. Ban Phieng Hay ammunition depot
47. Yen Song ordinance/ammunition depot
48. Haiphong POL storage: Largest POL storage facility in North Vietnam {B}
49. Hanoi POL storage {B}
50. Vinh POL storage
51. Nguyen Khe/Thach Loi POL storage [+]
52. Vinh supply depot: East {R}
53. Phu Van supply depot: Southeast {R}
54. Thien Linh Dong: South
55. Vinh Son supply depot: Southwest/Southeast {R}
56. Phu Qui barracks/supply depot
57. Hanoi Ministry of National Defense/MZ HQ
58. Hanoi supply depot barracks: South
59. Hanoi supply depot barracks: North
60. Thai Nguyen supply depot: North
61. Xom Chang barracks: South
62. Van Dien supply depot/barracks
63. Thuan Chau barracks/supply depot
64. Xom Bang ammunition depot (Supports Pathet Lao in Laotian panhandle) {R}
65. Note: Part of the Xom Bang ammunition depot group, but doesn't appear in sources
66. Hanoi international RADCOM transmitter
67. Hanoi international RADCOM receiver
68. Cam Pha Port: Mine-laying/bombing target
69. Hon Gai Port: Mine-laying/bombing target
70. Haiphong Port: Mine-laying/bombing target
71. Ben Thuy port facilities/transshipment center (mine-laying/bombing-target) {R}
72. Port Wallut naval base (mine-laying/bombing target)
73. Hanoi port facilities: Red-River (mine-laying/bombing-target)
74. Quang Khe Port approaches (mine-laying area)
75. Viet Tri chemical plant: Involved in the manufacture of explosives
76. Thai Nguyen iron and steel complex
77. Hanoi machine tool and engineering equipment plant
78. Haiphong phosphatic fertilizer plant: Involved in the manufacture of explosives
79. Bac Giang chemical fertilizer plant: Involved in the manufacture of explosives
80. Haiphong West thermal power plant
81. Hanoi thermal power plant
82. Uong Bi thermal power plant
83./84. Road/Rail Route 1: Hamrong to Hanoi
85./86. Road/Rail Route 1: Vinh to Hamrong
87./88. Road/Rail Route 5: Hanoi to Haiphong
89. Route 7: Laos/North Vietnam Border
90. Route 8: Nape, Laos to Roa Qua (Main supply route to Central Laos)
91. Route 12: Laos/North Vietnam Border to Xom Ma Na (Main supply route into southern Laos and South Vietnam)
92. Route 19
93. Route 6
94. Route alternate to Route 6
Targets with the annotation {B} indicated those recommended by the JCS for the first 60-72 hours for this plan (Option B) with an additional 5 targets in Laos to be struck in 24-36 hours after which other targets were to be hit; targets with the annotation {R} indicated those recommended by the JCS for the first 8 weeks of Operation Rolling Thunder
The plan was to execute the mission in 4 phase
- Phase I
- Approximately 3 Weeks Duration
- Continuous attacks upon lines of communications and military installations south of the 20th parallel
- Phase II
- Approximately 6 weeks duration
- Attacks aimed at isolating the DRV by destroying rail-links to China
- Phase III
- Approximately 2 weeks duration
- Attacks aimed at isolating the DRV by mining port approaches and destroying port facilities, supply centers, and ammunition storage in the Hanoi-Haiphong area
- Phase IV
- Approximately 2 weeks duration
- Destruction of all remaining targets on the list including industrial facilities
- Re-attack of additional targets which hadn't been put out of action or repaired would apparently commence here
Things had started to escalate from the end of 1964 into the first two months of 1965: Starting in February there were pair of events such as an attack on Camp Holloway (February 7th, 1965) and a hotel-bombing at Qui Nhon (February 10th) which led to the initial steps of the mission being implemented: On February 11th, 30 x B-52F's were sent over from CONUS (at least some were from Mather AFB) to Andersen AFB.
The intention was that they'd basically land there, with the crews being given a couple of hours of down-time while the aircraft are loaded up with ordnance, which as I understand consisted of...
- Either 27 x 750 lb. or 27 x 1000 lb. bombs internally
- Maj. Harten who wrote "Arc Light One" and "Midair", said 27 x 1000 lb.
- Most sources list 27 x 750 lb. being the normal conventional loadout for the B-52F
- 24 x 750 lb. external on the underwing pylons
The aircraft were to takeoff from Andersen AFB, refuel with KC-135's over the South China sea, fly to Tiger Island (aka Cồn Cỏ district which is an island 27 km east of Mũi Lay and part of the Quảng Trị province) off the DMZ, drop to 500 ft ASL and ride along the coast of North Vietnam with a northwest turn to overfly Hanoi at 500' ASL (200-300' AGL) en route to Phuc Yen, at which point they'd pop up to 1500' AGL and drop on Phuc Yen; then they'd make a wide left turn while descending back to 500' either ASL/AGL as demanded and exit NVN south of Thanh Hoa and climb back to 45000' on the return leg to Andersen AFB.
The aircraft were expected to pass over Hanoi around 22:00 and all bombs off in a two minute window over Phuc Yen. There were plans to follow this up with 68 fighter-bombers attacking Cat-Bi and Gia Lam in the morning, followed by a revisit of Phuc Yen presumably at night.
The mission was cancelled just before it was to take hold: I'm curious what would have happened had it just been allowed to proceed?
BTW: The following might have an interest in the matter
Dimlee,
fubar57,
Graeme,
GrauGeist,
GTX,
M
MIflyer,
S
Shortround6, Thomas P,
Thumpalumpacus,
T
tyrodtom,
X
XBe02Drvr
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