About this Unit
**NASD Cua Viet** was a United States Navy unit established during the Vietnam War as part of the Naval Advisory Support Detachment (NASD) system. Located at the Cua Viet River Base near the mouth of the Cua Viet River in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, the unit played a key role from 1967 to 1972 in supporting coastal and riverine operations. Its primary mission was to facilitate the logistics and movement of supplies for U.S. Marine and Army units, as well as to support South Vietnamese forces in the area. NASD Cua Viet also contributed to interdiction operations against North Vietnamese supply lines along the DMZ and provided vital naval gunfire support during major engagements, including the defense of Quang Tri City in 1972.
Historical Facts
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Establishment: The Naval Advisory Support Detachment (NASD) Cửa Việt was established in the late 1960s as a key U.S. Navy advisory unit supporting the Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVNN) at the Cửa Việt Base, near the DMZ in Quảng Trị Province.
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Strategic Location: Cửa Việt was located on the Cửa Việt River, serving as a crucial supply and logistics point for U.S. Marine and Army operations in northern I Corps, especially during the battles for Quảng Trị and the defense of the DMZ.
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Advisory Mission: NASD Cửa Việt's main mission was to provide training and operational support to RVNN riverine and coastal patrol units, helping them improve their combat effectiveness against North Vietnamese infiltrations by water.
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Brown Water Navy Operations: The unit was part of the broader U.S. "Brown Water Navy," operating river patrol boats (PBRs), landing craft, and supporting amphibious operations in the challenging waterways of central Vietnam.
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Frequent Attacks: Cửa Việt base was often within artillery range of North Vietnamese forces. It endured frequent rocket and artillery attacks, especially during the 1972 Easter Offensive.
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Amphibious Logistics: The base played a major role in amphibious supply operations, receiving cargo ships and transferring supplies up the river to support besieged Marine bases such as Đông Hà and Khe Sanh.
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Operation Sealords: NASD Cửa Việt participated in Operation Sealords, a major riverine campaign aimed at interdicting enemy logistics and troop movements along the coast and inland waterways.
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Vietnamization: As part of the Vietnamization process, NASD personnel worked closely with the RVNN to transfer operational control and upgrade Vietnamese capabilities before U.S. withdrawal.
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Notable Engagements: In 1972, as the North Vietnamese launched a massive assault in Quảng Trị, NASD advisors assisted RVNN forces in desperately defending the Cửa Việt and Đông Hà river positions.
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Legacy: The unit’s actions and advisory efforts are credited with helping to maintain key supply lines and delaying North Vietnamese advances, even as U.S. involvement in Vietnam was winding down.
