Blackhorse Base Camp
Blackhorse Base Camp (also known as LZ Blackhorse or simply Xuân Lộc) is a former U.S. Army base and current People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) base near the town of Xuân Lộc in Đồng Nai Province in southern Vietnam.
Blackhorse Base Camp (Blackhorse Airfield)[1]: 5–60 (Evans Army Airfield)[1]: 5–174 | |||||||
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Xuân Lộc, Đồng Nai Province in Vietnam | |||||||
Blackhorse Base Camp Shown within Vietnam | |||||||
Coordinates | 10.827°N 107.229°E | ||||||
Type | Army Base | ||||||
Site information | |||||||
Operator | Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) United States Army (U.S. Army) People's Army of Vietnam | ||||||
Condition | Abandoned | ||||||
Site history | |||||||
Built | 1966 | ||||||
In use | 1966- | ||||||
Battles/wars | Vietnam War | ||||||
Garrison information | |||||||
Garrison | 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment 199th Light Infantry Brigade 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division | ||||||
Airfield information | |||||||
Elevation | 820 feet (250 m) AMSL | ||||||
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History
Blackhorse was established in late October 1966 as the base camp for the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR). The camp was located on the main highway, QL-2 (now QL-56) 13 km southwest of Xuân Lộc and 28 km north of Nui Dat. The camp took its name from the black horse shoulder sleeve insignia of the 11th ACR.[1]
The 11th ACR had its headquarters at Blackhorse from March 1967 until January 1969.[2]
Other units stationed at Blackhorse included:
- 57th Medical Detachment (Helicopter Ambulance) (UH-1H Iroquois)[3]
- 7th Surgical Hospital (August 1966 – October 1969)[2]: 214
- 135th Assault Helicopter Company with RAN (Dec, 67- Nov 68)[4]
- 2nd Battalion, 35th Artillery (Mid 1966 – April 1970)[2]: 104
- 1st Battalion, 83rd Artillery (October 1966 – March 1968)[2]: 107
- 199th Light Infantry Brigade (September 1969 – July 1970) comprising:
- 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry (August 1970 – April 1971)[2]: 138
- 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry (July–December 1970)[2]: 140
- 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division (December 1970 – April 1971) comprising:
The base was turned over to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam 18th Division on 24 October 1969.[5]
Current use
The base remains in use by the PAVN as a base for the 302nd Infantry Division, a component of the 7th Military Region (Vietnam People's Army). The address is 302 Sư Đoàn 88, Long Giao, Cẩm Mỹ.
References
- Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-60. ISBN 978-1555716257.
- Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 130. ISBN 9780811700719.
- Dunstan, Simon (1988). Vietnam Choppers. Osprey Publishing Ltd. p. 132. ISBN 0-85045-572-3.
- "135th Assault Helicopter – Taipans". www.135ahc.net. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
- "Headquarters MACV Monthly Summary October 1969" (PDF). Headquarters United States Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. 1 January 1970. p. 47. Retrieved 24 February 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.