Cat Lo Naval Base

Cat Lo Naval Base is a former United States Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVNN) base approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) northeast of Vũng Tàu in southern Vietnam that was used during the Vietnam War.[1]

Cat Lo Naval Base
Cat Lo, 26 September 1967
Cat Lo Naval Base
Coordinates10.4125°N 107.127°E / 10.4125; 107.127 (Cat Lo Naval Base)
TypeNavy
Site history
Built1966
In use1966–1975
Battles/warsVietnam War
Garrison information
OccupantsDivision 13, Coast Guard Squadron One

History
Navy PACV hovercraft returning to Cat Lo c.1966

In October 1965, the U.S. Navy selected Cat Lo as the base for Swift Boat Squadron 1, Division 103 with 14 Swift Boats to be based there with berthing, messing and basic repair facilities.[2] Dredging to build the base facilities eventually took 3 years and it housed over 600 personnel.[2]:71 Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 302 Detachment C was based at Cat Lo during the base construction.

On 22 February 1966, the newly established Division 13, Coast Guard Squadron One began operations from Cat Lo.[3]

In early 1966 PBRs of River Divisions 53 and 54 began operations from Cat Lo.[2]:103 PACV Division 107 operating the experimental Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle also operated out of Cat Lo during their first deployment to the Vietnam War.[4]

It was home to a radio transmitter that broadcast AFN.[5]

The base was handed over to the RVNN in 1971.

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-95. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Sherwood, John (2015). War in the Shallows: U.S. Navy and Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam 1965-8. Naval History and Heritage Command. p. 284. ISBN 9780945274773.
  3. Scotti, Paul (2000). Coast Guard Action in Vietnam: Stories of Those Who Served. Hellgate Press. p. 67. ISBN 9781555715281.
  4. "Cat Lo U.S. Naval Combat and Logistics Base 1965-1971". The Mobile Riverine Force Association. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  5. https://web.archive.org/web/20180208235406/http://www.intervalsignals.net/sounds/vtn-z-afvn_1970.mp3
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