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The Base
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- Cam Ranh Bay AB has been called the finest natural deepwater port in Southeast Asia. Located in the central part of Vietnam, it is approximately 20 miles (32 km) long from north to south and up to 10 miles (16 km) wide. Cam Ranh was a major US military installation during the Vietnam War. In addition to its two 10,000' runways, it had an excellent deep-water port and, due to its relatively secure location, was the site of large munitions and POL (Petroleum/Oil/Lubricants) storage site.
- The 1-mile wide strait that opens into the inner bay of Cam Linh provides year-round protection from monsoons and typhoons. On the western shore of Cam Linh is the site of the former French naval base and port of Ba Ngoi (now Cam Lam). On the opposite,
- or Point Cam Linh, side is the city of Cam Ranh and former U.S. air and naval installations.
- In World War II, the bay was used by the Japanese. In 1965 the U.S. military built a vast supply-base complex and airfields over much of the peninsula. This was turned over to South Vietnam in 1972. Captured by North Vietnam forces in April 1975, the base
- was eventually leased to Russia after the war ended.
