In 1902, the base became the headquarters of the Naval Forces of the Oriental Seas under the command of a Vice Admiral who controlled 38 ships and over 3800 officers and sailors.

Armed with a .30-caliber machine gun, it featured a 110-horsepower diesel engine capable of generating ten knots of speed and was built entirely out of fiberglass, which obviated the need to treat the hulls for wood-boring Teredo worms.

The U.S. Military Assistance Program provided funds for building materials and engines, and the Vietnamese paid the wages of the shipyard laborers who built the junks.

A .30-caliber machine gun on the second floor of the headquarters disabled both cars and killed or wounded several sappers while the Navy security force organized a counterattack.

[3]: 284 With the Fall of Saigon the base was taken over by the VPN which continues to use the barracks at 1A Ton Duc Thang (10°46′34″N 106°42′22″E / 10.776°N 106.706°E / 10.776; 106.706) to the present day.