U.S. Naval Facility Vinh Long (1966-1971)

This South Vietnam city, in the eastern sector of the Mekong Delta was the site of a U.S. naval facility during the conflict in Southeast Asia. Vinh Long was selected for a number of reasons: U.S. naval leaders intended to interdict communist waterborne movement with units patrolling the major rivers in the Game Warden operation, and the city was located on the wide Co Chien River; it was accessible to U.S. logistic support vessels steaming in the South China Sea; and facilities at the Vietnamese River Assault Group base were ready to accommodate an American river force.

Beginning in August 1966 river patrol boat (PBR) units of River Patrol Force deployed to Vinh Long, from which they operated against the Viet Cong supply network. The following year, the surface forces were joined by a detachment of Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3, the Seawolves.

Initially base support was rudimentary. Spare parts and supplies were dispensed from small shacks, and boat repairs were performed using a boat ramp and engine lifting rig, and a small crane. Quarters for the men were established in the city in two crowded villas six kilometers from the PBR base.

Conditions gradually improved as the navy devoted resources to the base development. Seabees Installed a pier with Army supplied pontoons and a portable fuel storage bladder. However initial Progress in the creation of support facilities suffered a set back when Viet Cong Forces overran the base during the TET Offensive of 1968, destroying the tactical operations center, with it’s communications equipment, as well as the spare parts buildings, and forcing the evacuation of personnel to the USS Garrett Cty LST-786.

Naval leaders acted quickly to provide mobile support. YR-9 a converted large covered lighter, was based at Vinh Long to handle maintenance and repair tasks, and APL-46, a messing and berthing barge, dropped anchor off the river city in October 1968. At that time the twenty-boat PBR force a detachment of SEALs, and the Naval Support Activity, Saigon Detachment Vinh Long moved afloat. Following the relief in January 1969 of YR-9 and APL-46 by YRBM-20, a vessel that performed all the functions of the two former craft, the U.S. naval continent was completely mobile. Consequently on 1 February 1969, the Naval Support Activity, Saigon Detachment Vinh Long, was disestablished. However , the facility continued to serve as an intermediate support base till September 1971, when the Vietnamese Navy Assumed control.