Ca Lu Combat Base

Ca Lu Combat Base (Vietnamese: Cà Lu) was an Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and United States Marine Corps base located on Highway or Route 9, near Krông Klang, Đa Krông District, western Quảng Trị Province, South Vietnam.[1]

Map showing location of the Ca Lu Combat Base
Ca Lu Combat Base
Quảng Trị Province
Ca Lu Combat Base in December 1968
Coordinates16°41′31.51″N 106°53′8.49″E
TypeMarines
Site history
Built1966
In use1966–1969
Battles/wars
Vietnam War

The base was originally established by the ARVN to cover the infiltration route across the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) through the Cam Lo river valley.[2]: 75  The base was taken over by the 3rd Marine Division during Operation Virginia in April 1966 by the 4th Marine Regiment, with three 105mm howitzers, a command group and a security force were positioned there.[3]: 142 

By February 1967, six 105mm howitzers operated by the 12th Marine Regiment were located at Ca Lu, with companies from the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines providing security.[2]: 10, 20  From August 1967 the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) cut Route 9 between Ca Lu and Khe Sanh Combat Base.[4] In late 1967 work began on expanding Ca Lu into a combat operating base and by December 1967 the base was completed.[2]: 94  Ca Lu was the westernmost position of the strongpoint obstacle system, a line of sensors and obstacles intended to prevent infiltration across the DMZ.[5]: 28 

In 1968 Ca Lu fell within the Lancaster tactical area of operations under the control of the 3rd Marine Regiment.[5]: 18  In support of their attack on Khe Sanh, the PAVN isolated the Marine outposts along Route 9, attacking supply and engineering convoys and on 28 February they shot down a CH-46 helicopter near Ca Lu, killing 22 Marines onboard.[5]: 232  By late March Route 9 into Ca Lu had been reopened and Marine and United States Army engineers and Navy Seabees started construction of a major base near Ca Lu to include an airfield, ammunition storage facilities, bunkers and helicopter revetments and a supporting road network, named Landing Zone Stud. On 28 March, the 1st Cavalry Division took over operational control of Ca Lu in preparation for the launch of Operation Pegasus, the relief of Khe Sanh.[5]: 246  The 1st Battalion, 1st Marines remained at Ca Lu, providing security for the recently completed LZ Stud.[5]: 284  With the closure of Khe Sanh Combat Base in July 1968, Ca Lu and Landing Zone Stud, renamed Vandegrift Combat base were the westernmost Marine bases along the DMZ.[5]: 352 

In September 1969 as part of the withdrawal of the 3rd Marine Division from South Vietnam, preparations began for the Marines to withdraw from Ca Lu and Vandegrift.[6]: 162  In early October the 4th Marine Regiment withdrew from Ca Lu and Vandegrift handing control of the bases to the ARVN 1st Division which dismantled and salvaged material at the bases for the expansion of the combat base at Camp Carroll.[6]: 165 

References
  1. Kelley, Michael (2002). "5". Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 79. ISBN 978-1555716257.
  2. Telfer, Gary (1984). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: Fighting the North Vietnamese 1967 (PDF). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1494285449.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Shulimson, Jack (1982). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: An Expanding War, 1966 (PDF). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. Pike, COL Thomas F. (12 November 2013). Military Records, February 1968, 3rd Marine Division: The Tet Offensive. Charleston: Creatspace. ISBN 978-1-481219-46-4.
  5. Shulimson, Jack (1997). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: 1968 The Defining Year (PDF). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 0160491258.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. Smith, Charles (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969 (PDF). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. ISBN 978-1494287627.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

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