Blackhorse Base Camp

Blackhorse Base Camp (Blackhorse Airfield)[1]: 5–60  (Evans Army Airfield)[1]: 5–174
Xuân Lộc, Đồng Nai Province in Vietnam
Aerial view of Blackhorse Base Camp, July 1967
Blackhorse Base Camp Shown within Vietnam
Coordinates	10.827°N 107.229°E / 10.827; 107.229
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 (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
Runways Direction Length and surface 00/00 2,300 feet (701 m) Asphalt

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.

History

11th ACR HQ, 19 July 1967

7th Surgical Hospital ("Blackhorse hospital"), 19 July 1967

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:
  • 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry[2]: 137 
  • 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry[2]: 138 
  • 4th Battalion, 12th Infantry[2]: 138 
• 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:
  • 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry[2]: 145 
  • 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry[2]: 140 
  • 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry[2]: 147 

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

1. Kelley, Michael (2002). Where we were in Vietnam. Hellgate Press. p. 5-60. ISBN 978-1555716257.
2. Stanton, Shelby (2003). Vietnam Order of Battle. Stackpole Books. p. 130. ISBN 9780811700719.
3. Dunstan, Simon (1988). Vietnam Choppers. Osprey Publishing Ltd. p. 132. ISBN 0-85045-572-3.
4. "135th Assault Helicopter – Taipans". www.135ahc.net. Retrieved 2022-05-01.
5. "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.