This document is one of several readiness reports of activity by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) after the Gulf of Tonkin Incident, in which the DRV attacked US Naval vessels on Aug. 2nd, 1964.

Message is as follows:

2/G11/VHN/R05-64 RPT 2/G11/VHN/R05-64 ST 220
Followup NR four to 2/G11/VHN/R01-64 Spot Report
DRV search for missing vessel T135
At 1705Z 02 August, DRV vessel T142 requested vessel
T146 to …at 1350 go out to find the 135”. And asked
“..has the 135 returned yet and where are ((1GRG)) in
order to go finf[sic].”]
Comment: Vessel T135 is probably the same vessel that
The USS Maddox reported as dead in the watsr[sic] and
Burning following its attack on the Desoto ship

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident prompted the US Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave President Johnson authority to use military force to defend allies in the area and ultimately lead to the beginning of the Vietnam War.

[edit on 4/12/2008 by Hal9000]