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

This message was about a ship “SWATOW PGM T-142” was unable to rendezvous with two other ships to protect them, and they should send another ship. Because the communication occurred on Aug. 5th, this could have been in preparation of another attack, but another possibility is that these were the ships damaged in the air strike that needed help. It is hard to tell.

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.