Tonle Cham Camp Explained

Tonle Cham Camp
Type:Army
Built:1967
Used:1967-74
Battles:
Vietnam War
Tonle Cham Airfield
Elevation-F:33
R1-Length-F:3000
R1-Surface:laterite

Tonle Cham Camp (also known as Tonle Cham Special Forces Camp or Tong Le Chon Special Force camp) is a former U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base southwest of An Lộc in southern Vietnam.

History

The 5th Special Forces Group Detachment A-334[1] first established a base here in 1967 to monitor communist infiltration from base areas in the Fishhook (Cambodia).The base was located beside the Saigon River on Route 248 8 km southeast of the Fishhook and approximately 14 km southwest of An Lộc.[2]

On 28 November 1968 Lockheed C-130B Hercules #61-2644 of the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron was damaged beyond repair after its nose gear failed while landing at Tonle Cham[3]

Following the Battle of An Lộc the base was transferred to the 92nd Ranger Battalion in late 1972.[2]

On 25 March 1973, less than 2 months after the Paris Peace Accords went into effect, the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) began a siege of the camp.[4] The Rangers held out for more than a year before they abandoned the base to the PAVN on 12 April 1974.[5]

Current use

The base has been turned over to farmland and housing.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Stanton, Shelby. Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. 2003. 9780811700719. 246.
  2. Book: Kelley, Michael. Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. 2002. 978-1555716257. 517.
  3. Web site: Lockheed C-130B Hercules 61-2644 Tonle Cham Airfield. Aviation Safety Network. 24 November 2014.
  4. Web site: Central Intelligence Bulletin 21 March 1973. Central Intelligence Agency. 24 November 2014.
  5. Web site: Central Intelligence Bulletin 13 April 1974. Central Intelligence Agency. 24 November 2014.