Firebase Delta
| Firebase Delta | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 14°31′44″N 107°47′46″E / 14.529°N 107.796°E |
| Type | Army Base |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1967 |
| In use | 1967-72 |
| Battles/wars |  Vietnam War Battle of Kontum |
| Garrison information | |
| Occupants | Vietnamese Rangers |
Firebase Delta is a former Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase northwest of Kontum in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.
History[edit]
The base was established approximately 25 km northwest of Kontum.[1]
At the start of the Easter Offensive the base was defended by one company of ARVN Airborne and one of Rangers. On 31 March 1972 a CH-47 of the 180th Assault Support Helicopter Company on a resupply mission to the base was shot down, the crew survived and made it to the base.[2] On the morning of 3 April as U.S. forces were attempting to evacuate the CH-47 crew the base came under attack by the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 52nd Regiment, the assault was repulsed using intensive tactical air strikes and the PAVN suffered 353 killed.[2]: 86
On 21 April the PAVN launched an assault by 3 tanks supported by infantry and by the evening had succeeded in overrunning the base.[3]
Current use[edit]
The base has reverted to jungle.
References[edit]
- ^ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 142. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- ^ a b McKenna, Thomas (2011). Kontum: The Battle to Save South Vietnam. University Press of Kentucky. p. 85. ISBN 9780813134017.
- ^ "U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Command History 1972, Annex K. Kontum, 1973. MACV" (PDF). p. K-6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2015.