The Khe Sanh Combat Base

The Khe Sanh Combat Base was a United States Marine Corps outpost south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone. Its main purpose was to keep watch on NVA infiltration along the border to Laos.

Fighting began there in late April 1967 but the most famous Battle started a few months later: The Battle of Keh Sanh. The Battle of Khe Sanh took place between January 21st and the 9th of July 1968. Two regiments of US Marines where defending Khe Sanh Combat Base.
They where supported by the US Army and the US Air Force as well as small number of South Vietnamese Army troops. The 1968 Battle of Khe Sanh was the longest, deadliest and most controversial of the Vietnam War, both sides claimed victory after it. The NVA never overrun the base but the US started to evacuate the base from June 19th. They destroyed most of the old base at the time.

On 30 January 1971, the ARVN and US forces launched Operation Dewey Canyon II which involved the re-opening of Route 9, securing the Khe Sanh area and re-occupying of Khe Sanh Combat Base. The base was abandoned once again on 6 April 1971.

You can see where the helicopters where parked on the right

Part of the old runway

A recreated bunker in Khe Sanh

A recreated bunker in Khe Sanh

A recreated bunker in Khe Sanh

US M48 Patton Tank

M113 Armored Personnel Carrier

C-130 of the 56th Supply & Services Battalion. The C-130 is parked on a M8A1 steel landing mat

Detail from the C-130

Detail from the C-130

Detail from the C-130

Detail from the C-130

C-130 from the back

Khe Sanh Command Post (recreated)

US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter

Detail of the US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter

Detail of the US Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter

UH-1 helicopter

Display at the museum

A picture from the museum

 
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