Firebase Delta Explained

Firebase Delta
Type:Army Base
Built:1967
Used:1967-72
Occupants:Vietnamese Rangers
Battles:
Vietnam War
Battle of Kontum

Firebase Delta is a former Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase northwest of Kontum in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

History

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]

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

The base has reverted to jungle.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Kelley, Michael. Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. 2002. 978-1555716257. 142.
  2. Book: McKenna, Thomas. Kontum: The Battle to Save South Vietnam. University Press of Kentucky. 2011. 9780813134017. 85.
  3. Web site: U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, Command History 1972, Annex K. Kontum, 1973. MACV. K-6. 28 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303170722/http://www.virtual.vietnam.ttu.edu/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?GHvdsrMcNUbgpFLh7.PAaAJGjLaql6zyM0ISRqz.ZgGULq230shPPA8tnMzMQDBYepRlUkJsHXZTdICEjs9CoKm5yRT7hy%40F2jRyub3Usy4iKY2Td2qBYg%2F1070703002b.pdf. 3 March 2016. dead.