La Vang Base

La Vang Base (also known as La Vang Combat Base or Firebase La Vang) is a former Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base near Quảng Trị, Vietnam.

La Vang Base
La Vang Base, 1967
La Vang Base
Coordinates16.73°N 107.188°E / 16.73; 107.188 (La Vang Base)
TypeArmy
Site history
Built1966
In use1966–1972
Battles/warsBattle of Quang Tri (1968)
Second Battle of Quảng Trị
Garrison information
Garrison1st Regiment, 1st Division (South Vietnam)

History
La Vang Airfield parking area, March 1968

The base was located in La Vang, 2km south of Quảng Trị beside Highway 1.[1]

The base was used by the ARVN 1st Regiment, 1st Division.[2]

Cessna O-1 Bird Dog observation and Forward Air Control aircraft of the 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron used the airfield at La Vang as a forward operating base, with 4 aircraft usually operating there by 1968.[3]

On 20 January 1968 the 3rd Marine Regiment established their command post at the base as they took over responsibility for Operation Osceola. Other US units at the base were the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, a 105mm artillery battery of the 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, a provisional 155mm artillery battery and M42 Dusters of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 44th Artillery. As part of Operation Jeb Stuart the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division was to assume responsibility for the 3rd Marine Regiment area and take over the La Vang Base. On 27 January the 3rd Marines moved from La Vang to Quảng Trị Combat Base.[4]

On 31 January 1968 during the Tet Offensive, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) K6 Battalion attempted to attack the base as part of the assault on Quảng Trị, however they ran into two ARVN Airborne companies forestalling the attack. By dawn the ARVN at La Vang were able to start moving north to engage the PAVN forces in and around Quảng Trị despite sporadic mortar and rocket fire and sapper attacks on the base.[5][6]

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5–285. ISBN 9781555716257.
  2. Millie, David (2013). Team 19 in Vietnam: An Australian Soldier at War. University Press of Kentucky. p. 329. ISBN 9780813143286.
  3. "Visual Reconnaissance in I Corps" (PDF). Project CHECO, Headquarters Pacific Air Force. 30 September 1968. p. 7. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  4. Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. pp. 118–9. ISBN 0160491258.
  5. Rawson, Andrew (2013). Battle Story Tet Offensive 1968. The History Press. p. 16. ISBN 9780752492506.
  6. Pearson, Willard (1975). Vietnam Studies The War in the Northern Provinces 1966–1968. United States Army Center of Military History. p. 51.
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