1st Searchlight Battery

The 1st Searchlight Battery was a unique unit of the United States Marine Corps formed during the Vietnam War. Activated in 1966, the battery specialized in providing battlefield illumination and target acquisition using high-powered searchlights, supporting Marine infantry and artillery operations, especially at night. The unit played a critical role in perimeter defense and ambush detection at bases such as Da Nang and Phu Bai. After several years of service, the 1st Searchlight Battery was deactivated in the early 1970s as technological advancements and changes in battlefield tactics rendered their mission obsolete.