131 DIV LOC BTY ARTY SVYS
AT NUI CHUA CHAN SVN
1968 – 1969
1968, 131 Surveyors on Hill 837, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
Approaching the Hill 837 Helipad, 1968, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
SVN ARVN on Hill 837, 1968, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
The US Commanders of Hill 837, 1968, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
Part of the defensive bunkers ringing Hill 837, 1968, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
Nissen Hut Command Centre Hill 837, 1968, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
Re Supply Chinook, Hill 837, 1968, photo courtesy Geoff Jebb.
Chua Chan is located in Long Khan Province about 60 km east of Saigon and 10km east of Xuan Loc. Xuan Loc was where the last major battle of the Vietnam War was fought in March/April 1975.
Chua Chan rises on the eastern edge of a plain to a height of 837 metres. Its summit gave uninterrupted views from the south east to the north west, to a distance of about 25km.
In 1966 the Americans established a base on Nui Chua Chan as a radio relay station and observation post. It bristled with radio antennae and was only accessible by helicopter. The summit was cleared of all vegetation to about 50m down the slope and ringed with wire, mines and well constructed bunkers. With heavy machine guns and mortars it was very defensible. The VC made occasional probes and in May and August 1968 they made serious assaults without success.
131 Artillery Surveyors' interest was the French Trig Station established there in Colonial times. This provided a reliable point of origin when FSBs were deployed in the area sweeping from south to the west. Given the right conditions, a direct line of sight could be achieved, if not into the FSBs proper, then to points close by. For the Survey task a small party would be choppered to Chua Chan, the remainder would deploy as near the FSB as possible. Here they would set up and establish a computing centre.
It was not always plain sailing! At times smoke, haze, rain, mist and low cloud made visual contact difficult. The use of heliographs and even magnesium flares, usually solved these problems.
Data was passed by radio to the command centre and because we were usually operating outside our AO, our particular frequency was often taken by another Unit. Data transfer by radio, often resulted in harsh words being exchanged; especially when dealing with chopper pilots!
Once these problems were overcome, the survey task could proceed. Long traverse legs- diamond, closed, or parallel for closure, and the job was well underway. The Svy Sgt would handle things at the other end, manage the computations and issue the BP cards.
While working and waiting at Nui Chua Chan, we would be looked after by the base and nothing was too much trouble. More often than not our survey involved an overnight stay. Meals, hot tubs and accommodation would be provided, all precious items in this isolated rocky outcrop. Probably the most precious was the appearance of "Jack Daniels"!!! Needless to say, we always managed to include a few cases of VB and Fosters in our load. This all approved and paid for by Regt Funds in the interest of good PR!
Those who went to Chua Chan would remember the experience!
above: Hill 837, Nui Chua Chan, east of Xuan Loc and the US 11th Armoured Cavalry Base at Blackhorse. View larger image