Firebase Bastogne

Firebase Bastogne
Coordinates 16°21′20″N 107°26′55″E / 16.35556°N 107.44861°E / 16.35556; 107.44861 (Firebase Bastogne)
Type Army
Site information
Condition Abandoned
Site history
Built 1968
In use 1968-75
Battles/wars
Vietnam War
Easter Offensive
Garrison information
Occupants 101st Airborne Division

Firebase Bastogne was a U.S. Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) firebase, located along Highway 547 halfway between the city of Huế and the A Sầu Valley, a feeder route from the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Creation and Early Years

Bastogne was originally constructed in late March 1968 by the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Carentan and was named after the Battle of Bastogne where the 101st Airborne and other U.S. units held the town of Bastogne against 7 German divisions during World War II. The base was then used to support Operation Delaware, following which it was closed, but was reopened in August 1969 by the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry.[1] Bastogne had three artillery batteries: 105, 155, and heavies (175 and 8 inch two of each in one battery). It also had 2 M42 Duster (from D Battery 1/44th Artillery), 2 quad 50's and 1 searchlight.

Easter Offensive and abandonment

Firebase Bastogne, like most other support bases in Thừa Thiên Province, came under intense fire during the Easter Offensive of 1972. On April 28, Bastogne fell to People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) forces while bases nearby, including Firebase Birmingham just 6km east, continued to repel the offensive.[2] A force of over 4,000 ARVN soldiers of the 1st Division launched a counterattack due to the strategic importance of Firebase Bastogne as it was approximately 32km southwest of Huế and within shelling distance.[3] The base was recaptured by May 15, however heavy shelling forced the ARVN troops to ultimately abandon Firebase Bastogne on July 28, 1972.[4]

Notes

  1. ↑ Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. pp. 5–44. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. ↑ Bowman, The Vietnam War: An Almanac, p. 308.
  3. ↑ Bowman, The Vietnam War: An Almanac, p. 311.
  4. ↑ Bowman, The Vietnam War: An Almanac, p. 318.

References

  • Bowman, John S. (1985). The Vietnam War: An Almanac. New York: World Almanac Publications. ISBN 0-911818-85-5. OCLC 14098994.
  • Summers Jr., Harry G. (1985). The Vietnam War Almanac. New York: Random House. ISBN 0-7394-4290-2. OCLC 9730994.
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