Cam Ranh Bay

Cam Ranh Bay:

Indian Naval Ship Kirpan will soon be handed over to Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) at the strategic military port of Cam Ranh Bay.

• Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay located in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam, on the South China Sea.
• It is approximately 20 miles (32 km) long from north to south and up to 10 miles (16 km) wide.
• The bay is up to 164 feet (50 m) deep, making it one of the deepest natural harbours in Southeast Asia.
• The port has two main piers, one for general cargo and one for oil tankers.
• It also has a number of other facilities, including a repair yard, a fuel depot, and a container terminal.
• It is a major refuelling and repair station for ships in the South China Sea.
• During the colonial era, it was controlled by the Champa Kingdom and later became part of the Vietnamese territories.
  In the 19th century, the French established a major military presence in the bay.
• During the Vietnam War, Cam Ranh Bay gained significant importance as a strategic military base for both the United States and South Vietnam.
• The United States constructed extensive facilities, including an airbase and a deep-water port, to support its military activities during the war.
• Following the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, Cam Ranh Bay came under the control of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
• The Soviet Union subsequently leased the former American facilities and established a major naval base there.
• The Soviet Navy maintained a presence in Cam Ranh Bay throughout the Cold War until the early 2000s.