The base was first established by the
5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment who air-assaulted into the area on 6 March 1967 in Operation Leeton. Occupation of the Horseshoe as a fire support base would allow artillery coverage of areas beyond the range of guns at Nui Dat and allow for patrols of the surrounding area. The rocky terrain within the Horseshoe made digging almost impossible and trenches and bunkers had to be blasted out and sandbags were filled with rocks. The temperature was cooler than Nui Dat particularly at night and a well provided ample water. The Horseshoe was usually garrisoned by one infantry company and one artillery battery which would each be rotated between here and Nui Dat. From 27 May to 3 July 1967 the Horseshoe was entirely a New Zealand base with V Company,
Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and a company of 161 Battery,
Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery based there. From July to December 1969 the base was used to train units from the
Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN)
18th Division in small arms handling and small unit tactics. The ARVN were described by the 1ATF deputy commander as "the worst battalion in the worst regiment in the worst division in the world." After training the ARVN units, mixed platoons would then mount patrol operations in the Horseshoe tactical area of responsibility. The base was handed over to the ARVN in June 1971. == References ==