To defend Muong Soui, Kong Le’s forces needed an artillery unit. But unfortunately he had none, and General Phoumi did not want to share the limited number of RLA artillerymen with his former rival. Therefore, the United States, with Souvanna Phouma’s concurrence, approached the RTG for an artillery battery as well as supporting personnel and equipment. Bangkok warmly welcomed the request, and by early July 201 RTA artillery personnel including a 30-man mine laying unit and
30 security guards with howitzers arrived in Muong Soui. The scheme to despatch Thai artillerymen to support the neutralist forces was then christened Project 008, and the Thai artillery battery was code-named Sierra Romeo (SR).