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

"Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3 NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011 TOP SECRET – Sensitive


 * (1)

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:


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 * width="33%"|
 * width="33%"|
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 * 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
 * }
 * Philippines
 * 200
 * GVN
 * 2,700
 * }
 * 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. Rh