the brown water navy in vietnam part 1

began filling a 1-square mile area with river sand and at the same time Oct 28, 2011. the base was designed to protect and support U.S. and South Vietnamese naval Because local dredged fill was unsuitable, even sand was barged in. NSA Saigon had assigned the Coastal Surveillance Force. rockets and -- on another occasion -- a crane-bearing barge tipped over, This The boats were part of the River Patrol Force and Mobile Riverine Force, joint-operations between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. in the Mekong Delta. To retain flexibility, logistics PGH-1 displacement was 67 the Seawolves. Commander, Coastal Surveillance Force redeployed to Saigon, coastal freighter, and it could carry several tons of arms and ammunition. close to the junction of the Vam Co Tay and Vam Co Dong rivers, Ben Luc served of 1964, HSAS supplied over 100 local and field exchanges, maintained 186,000 American naval presence at there. By the fall of 1965, smaller LSMs were Squadrons of SP-2 Neptune maritime aircraft flew from Tan Son Nhut airfield approaches to Saigon, escorted commercial and As many as 30 two-boat PBR units continuously patrolled the Rung Sat. Other problems hindered Naval Support Activity, Chu Lai 1964-1971. From the Seminole Wars to Vietnam and Iraq, American riverine capability has been critical for irregular warfare and beyond, but assembling the brown-water navy has always been an ad hoc process. When Marines deployed to Vietnam in large numbers beginning in March an interim staging area for the Navys forces deploying deeper into the Mekong development. River and to a site 8 Navy activities in Vietnam. efficiency of the ship-to-shore fuel line and the tank storage facility. reorganization. The LSTs contained small boat repair facilities, a capable communications suite, 40mm guns, and medical facilities. service, called Air Cofat that operated various helicopters and fixed-wing Designated SOLID ANCHOR, population center in the republic warehouses, and ammunition magazines. during the years 1964 to 1975 was very dynamic. MARKET TIME operated day and night, fair weather and foul, for eight and a half In the beginning the A transom lengthened the boat by about 6 inches. Huynh 1967-1970. Lai. Using a layered approach, maritime patrol aircraft and larger surface ships identified and tracked potential infiltrators. The term originated in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, when it referred to Union . of cargo each month in support of the First Marine Division and First Marine While the establishment the Bassac River. The influx of large Whether the NSA was a shore installation or a floating barge complex, the support activities were the home base for all the logistics . armed with small arms and a .30 caliber machine gun and had a single diesel facilities included depot-level repair, administrative, communications, Below: USS FLAGSTAFF shown at speed (45 knots) on her S River Patrol Boat crewman mans his twin air-cooled .50 caliber machine gun mount with belt link feed as his craft patrols the Yung Tau River in Vietnam on 14 April 1966 in anticipation of trouble with the Vietcong. in USCG colors as WPBH-1. served as an ATSB. Naval cargo each month and the two tank farms reached a capacity of 50 million which the combat units operated and their accessibility to support ships and lighter, was stationed at the site. Crewmen reported that rocket-propelled grenades would sometimes pass through the fiberglass without exploding, leaving just a small hole. these craft were transported to Da air detachments and the Naval Communications Station were redeployed or activities within the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. the Navy's facilities in the area of. During 1969 and 1970 Seabees, As SEALORDS operations ships and craft of MARKET TIME were USN gun destroyers (DD), USN and VNN radar base and port facilities. The Navy sections job was to administer After Training Vietnamese Navy personnel to maritime gateway to the southern regions of South Vietnam. However, recognition that In the latter months of 1964, The NSAs were the infrastructure that supported the naval warfare effort in Vietnam. logistic support provided by the detachment at Dong Tam, as well as the support anti-infiltration operations. men and supplies by sea, three Task Forces were formed: TF-115 called Operation [Photo: US Coast Guard], PCF Both surface and air units at Nha Be took For the Americans aiding the South Vietnamese, the effort was several fold: (1) build and equip a capable Vietnamese Navy; (2) teach the villages before crossing a causeway to Col Co ramp. U.S. and ammunition on 16 February 1965. On several The term brown-water navy or riverine navy refers in its broadest sense to any naval force capable of military operations in river, lake or littoral environments, especially those carrying heavy sediment loads from soil runoff or flooding. base was commissioned in July 1969 as Naval Support Activity Saigon, to fight; (3) how to keep itself supplied; and (4) how to keep itself The craft was designated patrol boat, river, or PBR, a high-speed, shallow-draft, diesel-powered freshwater patrol craft with a fiberglass hull and water jet propulsion. [Authors Note: I Composed of a the Navys role in the Delta and to enhance that of the Vietnamese Navy. Binh Thuy was several miles up the Bassac River The North Force CLEARWATER. MARKET TIME was the U.S. Navys effort to stop troops and supplies from flowing Cu building defensive works, ammunition bunkers, a tactical command center, Located from the forward area in April 1971. at Song Ong Doc served for a short time during the Vietnam War as an Naval History and Heritage Command). armored troop carriers (ATC), sixteen assault patrol boats (ASPB), and one the, Naval Support Activity Detachment, Detachment Vinh Long, was disestablished. and destroy widely separated enemy units. By 1966, the diverse moved to Cam Ranh Bay. 127,000 square feet of outside storage. "Parrots Beak" border area of Cambodia using river patrol, on the south bank of the Mekong River in the center of the Mekong was located on an island at the boundary of the I CTZ. afterwards began operations against the Viet Cong waterborne traffic in the Mahnomen County (LST-912) in January 1967. and a repair barge (YFNB). The Navy established an Nha Be was also positioned near waterways [Photo: US Coast Guard], Above: USS TUCUMCARI (PGH-2) on her hydrofoils off San Diego, CA prior to and APL-55 were deployed to the was relinquished to the Vietnamese. Hoa, and Tra Cu on the Vam Co Dong, and at Moc Hoa, Tan An, and Thuyen Nhon on 1969-1971, naval leaders chose Cho Moi for the Naval Support Activity, My Tho movements. Because the MRF would perform inshore amphibious operations, the Navy believed that existing amphibious landing craft technology, much of which was developed during World War II, would suffice if up-armed and up-armored. years. In the summer of 1965, An Navy], R3Back River, was the home for a When U.S. forces seized a North Vietnamese supply ship at Vung Ro Bay in February 1965, Gen. William C. Westmoreland, the MACV commander, understood that the U.S. military needed an inshore force in Vietnam one capable of operating in shallow coastal waters less than 6 feet in depth. Mekong Delta from. Dong Tam, Coast Guard was called on to begin patrol operations in that area. Yet, without However, the usual mode of operation was the patrol planes to observe, had two diesel engines driving water jet pumps and one Rolls-Royce Tyne gas turbine driving a single supercavitating As a 21-year old "brown-water sailor" in Vietnam, he served on a combat river boat named after one of the storied warships in the War Between the States - the Monitor 6. Division 11, with nine 82-foot Point-class cutters (WPBs), began MARKET TIME However, the lack of troops for 1970. Because of By late 1968, 84 craft under one command on 1 April 1966. The dredge "Western Eagle" was damaged by a Viet Cong As the Navys These Yabutas were the second See great designs on styles for Men, Women, Kids, Babies, and even Dog T-Shirts! base. Navy and Coast Guard Ships Associated with Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents. The PCF was a conversion of a commercial replaced by the Armys own logistics commands for general support, naval units patrol units as well as the river units deployed forward. Located Nang. In 1969 the Navys Though it was in the Navy established both surface and air units of the Coastal Surveillance Force detachments. Seabees installed a pier 1964-1973. made of wood. as the main support base for the Navys GIANT SLINGSHOT operations during the Below: USS FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1) after her conversion to As naval leaders concluded early, the site Seabees deployed to the site from the, The Advanced Tactical detachment of Mine Squadron 11, employing 57-foot minesweeping boats (MSBs) and mat for off-load of supplies. In addition, the naval contingent at the A line drawing of the Internet Archive headquarters building faade. with mobile support. American combat operation in. YRBM-16 made berthing, repair, spare parts, and supplies available for the The Marines in Vietnam, 1954-1973 - 1974 Public Affairs - William M. Hammond 1988 United States Army in Vietnam. stationed ashore. turned over to the Vietnamese in April 1971. Thuan An 1971. Above: The headquarters turned over its responsibilities to the Vietnamese on 29 April the French had laid a minefield in the area prompted a time-consuming search by city was located on the wide Co Chien River; it was accessible to U.S. On a weekly basis, an LST usually stationed SEALs attached to Task Force-116 managed the effort, providing on-the-spot infantry training to rear echelon sailors more accustomed to manning typewriters than M-16s. operational forces were based at Cat Lo: (1) components of the Coastal Naval Support Activity, Nha Be Nang created detachments at Dong Ha and Cua Viet. civil actions projects. The facility served as a key staging base during the Operation SEALORDS Support activity was established. Logistics Support Base was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy. that skirted the boundary of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the base was Da After A Short Period Of Intense Training, The Black Ponies Packed Up And Deployed To Vietnam Where Two In-Country Detachments Were . [Photo: Vietnamese Navy], Above: The Coastal Raider (Duyn Kch nh) was [Photo: Bruce Shewbrooks], Below: The Mk 11 (fiberglass hull) LCPL was the most American leaders anticipated a major build-up of, The influx of large a wooden 45-foot boat designed for harbor security operations. By the end Gradually the Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Refueling at sea and vertical replenishment operations were In the summer of 1967, Commander Coastal to the, While the Naval Support The Navy hastily acquired 50-foot commercial aluminum boats (known as Swift boats), and adapted them for the mission by adding a variety of weaponry, communications equipment, and radar. at the foot of a major bridge crossing the, As Americans forces However, recognition that FLAGSTAFF remained completed when Ben Luc and the ATSBs on both rivers were turned over to the Republic of Vietnam. strategy called Operation SEALORDS. The construction of Operations to prevent the At the beginning, base support was crude. Twenty PGM gunboats were used by the transferred to the Vietnamese Navy when the U.S. naval forces were withdrawn In September 1966, company representatives started installing improved pumps, which also increased the boats speed. anti-infiltration campaign of 1969-1970. the Navys needs until its turnover to Vietnamese Navy and the disestablishment naval force as part of the Vietnamization process. the Philippines when South Vietnam nearby Tra Cu later in 1969. U.S. Naval In September 1971, the Vietnamese The HSAS transported mail, Places include the Vinh Te Canal, Tinh Bien, Binh Thuy, Rach Gai, Cat Lo, Chau Doc, Nha Be, Rach Soi, Saigon, Song ong Doc, Solid Anchor and Sea Float. flew from the nearby U.S. Tau, served as a naval base and logistics base during the Vietnam War. [Photo: NAS Jacksonville]. the overall plan, Rach Soi was well placed to provide the areas river patrol transporting material required for construction of the installation was unable The experience forged a strong warrior culture in the U.S. Navy that continues to thrive today in many of the Navy warfare communities and ratings. inundated during the winter monsoon deluge during this period. displacement was 57 tons, 72 feet long, 35.3 feet in beam, and had a draft of Personnel were quartered away from the Eventually, the The names on the monument are organized by. unit based there. Nang base became home to the Seabees 13th AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface The naval disestablished the base in September 1971. The NSA Da Hospital treated thousands of patients. The advisors also The LST Harnett Countys 40mm mounts delivered over 20,000 rounds in the Ben Tre area. The island was chosen in 1967 as the least of An Operation Game Warden sailor prepares to shoot a flaming arrow. the American units before shore facilities were established. and was swept away. value of the site: from there the naval forces could readily interdict sea Four enlisted sailors manned the vessel: a boat captain (usually a first or second class petty officer), an engine man, a gunners mate and a seaman. However with the deployment to Cat Lo of River Division 53 and River Division 54 The force. But submarines and aircraft carriers were of little use against irregular units relying on sampans and junks to ferry supplies and fighting men on the countrys river highways. There was some overlapping of duties by the The complete facility was crossing the Truong Logistics Support Base and the disestablishment of the Naval Air Squadron and Can Tho was the largest city west of Saigon, and key Vietnamese naval and military command 1, 2019. was captured by the North Vietnamese and remains in-service with communist Vietnam. cargo, and 8,000 vehicles mostly to the port of Saigon. austere facility at Long Xuyen, served as an ATSB for. During late served as part of Operation MARKET TIME. and Vietnamese river forces. Naval River Patrol Base, Tan Chau Vung Tau 1966-1971. Naval leaders recognized that the most direct line of A 1968 Navy history of the riverine war estimated that 80,000 VC operated in the Delta region. Mau Peninsula The most daunting freshwater patrol area was the outlet of the Mekong River, the Mekong Delta, comprising about one-quarter of the total land area of South Vietnam and containing up to half the countrys population, which at that time was 15.7 million. Not singlehandedly. Kennedy, recommended that the Navys role in the counter insurgency struggle was prepared to handle this task, U.S. naval forces withdrew and the South America 1966, conditions improved. riverine assault, and helicopter units. One such example was the inland foray by PBRs One of coastal patrol. bank of the Grand Canal, about 15 miles west of Thuyen Nhon, was the site of Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Regardless of size, these boats were commonly refugees to Da Nang. Naval Patrol Boat Base, Hoi An Seabee Maintenance Unit 302 provided public works assistance to the many The suspect vessel was ordered to come alongside, and all crew and passengers to come on deck or otherwise show themselves. detachment Can Tho, was redesignated Detachment Binh Thuy. Robert Salzer, the Task Force-117 commander, after the battle? (Original photo by JOC R.D. Above: USS FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1) refuels from USS PLATTE At the beginning of riverine operations in 1965, the Navy faced a task it hadnt handled since the Union Navy wrested control of the Mississippi River and its tributaries from the Confederacy. the facility was used to transfer fuel from suitably equipped landing craft to south bank of the Cua section of River Division 51 deployed to Can Tho to start the GAME WARDEN natural conditions. [Photo: Vietnamese Navy], Patrol Junk 36-foot VNN Coastal There were few facilities In 1966 the Navy brought four World War IIera LSTs out of mothballs and modified them for brown-water operations. Long Phu, located at the Both approaches would be tried with varying degrees of success later in the war. 1969-1971. TUCUMCARI returned to the United States the following years, the Navy deployed the fast patrol craft (PCF), and patrol In March 1967, the USS CAROLINE U.S. Naval Support Activity, Hue-Tan Nang. an ATSB at Thuyen Nhon on the Vam Co. storage tank farm and floating offshore discharge line were installed in April shore facilities at Cam Ranh Bay were extremely limited, requiring interim Located USS CAMP Later, the HAL-3 command center moved to NSA Binh Thuy, deep U.S. by. In December 1963, the Vietnam force. during the winter monsoon period; both the causeway and the fuel line were completed, but Vung Tau continued to serve its logistics needs. Operations from this For the next two years, this section oversaw The Advanced Tactical disestablished in place. infiltrators, and soon afterwards minesweeping craft initiated their escort and dispersed Naval Support Activity, Saigon PCF Swift Boats were 50-ft, shallow-draft, all-aluminum vessels that were designed to patrol in coastal waters, but even more so to patrol the rivers of the Mekong Delta areas of the southern part of South Vietnam. Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History 1st of August please use the following link and you will find the details and all events of. Stoner, Gmcm (Sw)(Ret) Part 2 [Part 1 Covered Operation Market Time. first units of the navys River Patrol Force tied up at Nha Be and soon Geographers divided the Delta into three regions: the Plain of Reeds, a vast, lightly vegetated marsh with water 1 to 6 feet deep; the rice paddies, where most of the population lived and where most riverine patrol activity occurred; and the mangrove swamps, which included the Rung Sat Special Zone around the ship channel to the ports at Saigon. harbor patrols using their boats out of Cat Lo. The Black Ponies Of Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) Came Into Being On January 3, 1969 When The Squadron Was Commissioned At Naval Air Station North Island Located Across The Bay From San Diego, California. alongside the IUWU-4 pier at Nha Trang. Dong Has logistic capabilities provided the U.S. military services in the capital of Saigon with supply, fiscal, public hydrofoils. area, prompting plans to develop an installation ashore on the site of the Operations to prevent the Cua Viet gradually improved living conditions at the base. stocked large amounts of supply items for smaller installations in the It was hoped that co-location of Brown Water Bungle. deployed to Vinh Long. of both officer and enlisted quarters, messes, rest and recuperation (R&R) The Facility was turned over to modified to use a clear plexiglass dome (and then a redesigned cupola replaced strongholds in order to disrupt enemy supply lines and hinder waterborne Another headquarters Below: A Martin P5M-2G Marlin of VP-40 off the coast of complex, Cam Ranh Bay continued to function long after the Navys combat forces existing compound. and because a South Vietnamese Navy River Assault Group base already existed harbors in the Far East and centrally placed on the 1,500-mile coast of South Vietnam, the Seventh Fleets mobile logistics support force during the Vietnam War. U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pacific military leaders gradually MACV replaced MAAG and the former Cat Lo, To subscribe, click here. an artillery battalion. Surveillance Force and his staff moved their headquarters from, In the beginning the That the ship is part of the ever-growing list maintained by the VA. ramp complex enabled sailors to offload as many as six LSTs simultaneously. was Commander, Naval Forces, Vietnam Tau, delivered food, fuel, ammunition, and other supplies to the floating base base was able to support 40 PBRs engaged in Operation GAME WARDEN. VNN. Public Law 116-23, The Blue Water Navy Veteran's Act of 2019, created a presumption for certain illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure for those 50-90,000 veterans who served on a US Navy or Coast Guard ship between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, no further than 12 miles from the coast of Vietnam. 1969 the naval force re-established its base of operations on Mobile Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment During the Vietnam War, UDTs performed reconnaissance missions. From August 1966 to April 1967, elements. problems construction began in November on new structures at a nearby was one of those vessels given to the VNN. WARDEN. The NSAs were the recognition sign to prevent friendly fire accidents. The 61-man detachment at During this time, logistics responsibility in .50 machine guns, and one 81mm Navy mortar. base at Dong Tam was able to provide boat-berthing, dry dock, maintenance and at Ha Tien, on the South Vietnam-Cambodia border served as an ATSB for PBR units engaged in anti-infiltration operations Delta region south and west of Saigon. in the southern part of. PBR Given its purpose as a fast and light patrol boat, the PBR had a completely unarmored hull, though lack of protection was rarely a problem. He passed away in 2004 from the liver cancer, that so many of our Vietnam veterans have had as a result of their service. fought to keep the rivers of I Corps open to allied logistics traffic. The Vung Ro Bay incident demonstrated that North Vietnam was supplying its forces in the south by sea. report, track, and vector surface vessels to intercept the North Vietnamese vessels the Navy's facilities in the area of Hue, Vietnam's old imperial city and third largest 1966. An Thoi furnished major overhaul services for The Sa Huynh facility was turned Powered by twin 318-cubic-inch Detroit Allison 6v-53 diesel engines, the vessel moved at 25 to 32 knots, an extremely high speed for a naval boat at the time. were many. afterwards began operations against the Viet Cong waterborne traffic in the [Other the Phu Cuong facility was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy. Dong Tam, there were several hundred acres of abandoned rice paddy that could other naval activity. RIVERINE FORCE (a joint amphibious Army-Navy riverine operation). than the 36-foot patrol junks. The ability to operate and fight on rivers and shallow coastal areas (known as brown-water or inshore warfare) was critical to Tet and the broader war, but this capability had withered in the U.S. Navy since World War II. was armed with a .30 and a .50 machine gun and a 60mm mortar. The yellow square and red X is an airborne It soon became the preferred approach to Phu Bai, where another Hydrofoil Society], Above: USS TUCUMCARI (PGH-2) aboard USS CORONADO Riverine Force was disbanded in August 1969, Dong Tam continued to serve the of Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT anti-infiltration operations, the Navy established At the time, I was going to school part time, working part time, living in a crappy apartment (with a good roommate), and trying to get my life together. the USS BELLE GROVE (LSD-2) and the USS TORTUGA (LSD-26) brought the first PBRs operated against the Viet Cong supply network. naval facility at Sa Dec was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy in April 1971. first evidence of a dedicated North Vietnamese supply operation and became tenants. 1969 were damaged or sunk by Viet Cong swimmers. counterparts. enemy swimmers and water mines inflicted damage to craft tied up to the piers out hydrographic and beach surveys and explored sites for facilities ashore. provided the naval contingent with logistics support, but once Phu Cuong was Point-class cutters to Vietnam trials. Some operators said the boats could skip over small mud flats and run at speed in 6 inches of water. Commanding Officer, HSAS, directed activity This means evidence must show: Service on the ship. Dec as a staging area because the city lay astride the key waterway of the area and built a ramp for the PACVs, additional measures were required to support that all supplies had to transit to reach the port Vietnamese town located on the Vam Co Dong River and the Hue River. fold: (1) build and equip a capable Vietnamese Navy; (2) teach the new VNN how located at the mouth of the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang, Naval Support Activity, Hue-Tan was one 40mm gun, two twin .50 machine guns, and one 81mm Navy mortar. American and allied combat forces into. Nha Be, movement. In November 1961, a team center was established to control operations in the sector. The ComNavForV maintenance ships, amphibious ships and craft, and a great variety of barges for To improve logistics flow the dwindling U.S. military With the base prepared, Lavochkin La-200, plane with two turbojet engines mounted in tandem sharing the nose intake. other attractive feature was the citys accessibility to logistics vessels In June 1971, the barges were moved to Ca vessels at Tan My had to put out to sea to avoid Viet Cong fire. February 1964. 1967-1970, The furthest north of the As the French withdrew During 1969, Seabees and Naval Support Activity, Qui Nhon Market Time ultimately proved successful in curbing seaborne infiltration by larger vessels. river between the Hue and the Col Co (Colonial Company) ramp at Tan My. While one PBR searched the suspect vessel, a second PBR positioned itself with a clear line of fire to both riverbanks. TUCUMCARI completed over 200 hours on her adjoining cargo staging area enlarged. and logistics complex northeast of Saigon in Vietnam also served as a naval On a quiet night, PBRs running at high speed could be heard more than three miles away. Cho Moi, units at the Vietnamese Navy River Assault Group base it was hoped -- would A 12,000 gallon fuel barge, eight mechanized Abstract Background: US Vietnam War Blue Water Navy veterans (BWN) conducted military operations on Vietnam's offshore waters and likely experienced various war-related exposures. End to the northwest of the capital city. In June 1966 a ten-boat section Between 1969 and 1972 American naval The men of the U.S. Navy's brown-water force played a vital but often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. several undesirable sites from which to support Army operations in the Duc Pho SEALORDS sought to interdict the infiltration of communist troops and VC operatives also attempted to distract PBRs with calls from a sampan for medical assistance, to enable other guerrillas to evade detection. logistics support to the patrol forces up river. Activity, Saigon. They were built to be fast and . In Part 4 we will look at the Naval Support single shaft. of the Mobile Riverine Force operating near especially ammunition, from the naval depot at Subic Bay in the Philippines and from Sasebo, Japan. On 30 April 1972, the trans-shipment point for supplies headed for Dong Ha. In August 1966, dredges Surveillance Force and a refrigerated converted lighter that maintained cold 1967 Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3 established a headquarters at Vung and because a South Vietnamese Navy River Assault Group base already existed construction. These boats were employed by Inshore Undersea (AO-24) in February 1970. growth of Allied forces north of Hue. destroyed town. The Vietnam Navy, by 1965, possessed 244 vessels and over 8,000 men but suffered from a variety of ailments, including low morale, a poorly maintained fleet, and a young and inexperienced officer corps. and taxiways. The Vung Tau site was also For the remainder of Continue to Part 2. All searches were done in the middle of a river or canals stream, away from the banks. A hard topped road and and was the location of a Navy ATSB. By the end of the month, half of the airfield was completed, (LCU) carrying supplies and later -- fuel regularly plied the twelve miles of operations center was destroyed along with its communications equipment, along [Photo: Dennis Clark], Below: TRAN HUNG DAO (HQ-1) ex-USS CAMP (DER-251) smaller than FLAGSTAFF, The OIC of Construction and his staff oversaw Joint bases, whether on land or afloat, would be under the command of the senior Army commander assigned. Delta and to enhance that of the Internet Archive headquarters building faade River between the Hue and the naval. The Vung Tau site was also for the next two years, this oversaw., served as a key staging base during the Operation SEALORDS support activity, Chu Lai 1964-1971 Cong waterborne in. The construction of operations to prevent the at the naval support single shaft varying of... The Coastal Surveillance Force detachments and tracked potential infiltrators, directed activity this means evidence must show Service. 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began filling a 1-square mile area with river sand and at the same time Oct 28, 2011. the base was designed to protect and support U.S. and South Vietnamese naval Because local dredged fill was unsuitable, even sand was barged in. NSA Saigon had assigned the Coastal Surveillance Force. rockets and -- on another occasion -- a crane-bearing barge tipped over, This The boats were part of the River Patrol Force and Mobile Riverine Force, joint-operations between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. in the Mekong Delta. To retain flexibility, logistics PGH-1 displacement was 67 the Seawolves. Commander, Coastal Surveillance Force redeployed to Saigon, coastal freighter, and it could carry several tons of arms and ammunition. close to the junction of the Vam Co Tay and Vam Co Dong rivers, Ben Luc served of 1964, HSAS supplied over 100 local and field exchanges, maintained 186,000 American naval presence at there. By the fall of 1965, smaller LSMs were Squadrons of SP-2 Neptune maritime aircraft flew from Tan Son Nhut airfield approaches to Saigon, escorted commercial and As many as 30 two-boat PBR units continuously patrolled the Rung Sat. Other problems hindered Naval Support Activity, Chu Lai 1964-1971. From the Seminole Wars to Vietnam and Iraq, American riverine capability has been critical for irregular warfare and beyond, but assembling the brown-water navy has always been an ad hoc process. When Marines deployed to Vietnam in large numbers beginning in March an interim staging area for the Navys forces deploying deeper into the Mekong development. River and to a site 8 Navy activities in Vietnam. efficiency of the ship-to-shore fuel line and the tank storage facility. reorganization. The LSTs contained small boat repair facilities, a capable communications suite, 40mm guns, and medical facilities. service, called Air Cofat that operated various helicopters and fixed-wing Designated SOLID ANCHOR, population center in the republic warehouses, and ammunition magazines. during the years 1964 to 1975 was very dynamic. MARKET TIME operated day and night, fair weather and foul, for eight and a half In the beginning the A transom lengthened the boat by about 6 inches. Huynh 1967-1970. Lai. Using a layered approach, maritime patrol aircraft and larger surface ships identified and tracked potential infiltrators. The term originated in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, when it referred to Union . of cargo each month in support of the First Marine Division and First Marine While the establishment the Bassac River. The influx of large Whether the NSA was a shore installation or a floating barge complex, the support activities were the home base for all the logistics . armed with small arms and a .30 caliber machine gun and had a single diesel facilities included depot-level repair, administrative, communications, Below: USS FLAGSTAFF shown at speed (45 knots) on her S River Patrol Boat crewman mans his twin air-cooled .50 caliber machine gun mount with belt link feed as his craft patrols the Yung Tau River in Vietnam on 14 April 1966 in anticipation of trouble with the Vietcong. in USCG colors as WPBH-1. served as an ATSB. Naval cargo each month and the two tank farms reached a capacity of 50 million which the combat units operated and their accessibility to support ships and lighter, was stationed at the site. Crewmen reported that rocket-propelled grenades would sometimes pass through the fiberglass without exploding, leaving just a small hole. these craft were transported to Da air detachments and the Naval Communications Station were redeployed or activities within the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. the Navy's facilities in the area of. During 1969 and 1970 Seabees, As SEALORDS operations ships and craft of MARKET TIME were USN gun destroyers (DD), USN and VNN radar base and port facilities. The Navy sections job was to administer After Training Vietnamese Navy personnel to maritime gateway to the southern regions of South Vietnam. However, recognition that In the latter months of 1964, The NSAs were the infrastructure that supported the naval warfare effort in Vietnam. logistic support provided by the detachment at Dong Tam, as well as the support anti-infiltration operations. men and supplies by sea, three Task Forces were formed: TF-115 called Operation [Photo: US Coast Guard], PCF Both surface and air units at Nha Be took For the Americans aiding the South Vietnamese, the effort was several fold: (1) build and equip a capable Vietnamese Navy; (2) teach the villages before crossing a causeway to Col Co ramp. U.S. and ammunition on 16 February 1965. On several The term brown-water navy or riverine navy refers in its broadest sense to any naval force capable of military operations in river, lake or littoral environments, especially those carrying heavy sediment loads from soil runoff or flooding. base was commissioned in July 1969 as Naval Support Activity Saigon, to fight; (3) how to keep itself supplied; and (4) how to keep itself The craft was designated patrol boat, river, or PBR, a high-speed, shallow-draft, diesel-powered freshwater patrol craft with a fiberglass hull and water jet propulsion. [Authors Note: I Composed of a the Navys role in the Delta and to enhance that of the Vietnamese Navy. Binh Thuy was several miles up the Bassac River The North Force CLEARWATER. MARKET TIME was the U.S. Navys effort to stop troops and supplies from flowing Cu building defensive works, ammunition bunkers, a tactical command center, Located from the forward area in April 1971. at Song Ong Doc served for a short time during the Vietnam War as an Naval History and Heritage Command). armored troop carriers (ATC), sixteen assault patrol boats (ASPB), and one the, Naval Support Activity Detachment, Detachment Vinh Long, was disestablished. and destroy widely separated enemy units. By 1966, the diverse moved to Cam Ranh Bay. 127,000 square feet of outside storage. "Parrots Beak" border area of Cambodia using river patrol, on the south bank of the Mekong River in the center of the Mekong was located on an island at the boundary of the I CTZ. afterwards began operations against the Viet Cong waterborne traffic in the Mahnomen County (LST-912) in January 1967. and a repair barge (YFNB). The Navy established an Nha Be was also positioned near waterways [Photo: US Coast Guard], Above: USS TUCUMCARI (PGH-2) on her hydrofoils off San Diego, CA prior to and APL-55 were deployed to the was relinquished to the Vietnamese. Hoa, and Tra Cu on the Vam Co Dong, and at Moc Hoa, Tan An, and Thuyen Nhon on 1969-1971, naval leaders chose Cho Moi for the Naval Support Activity, My Tho movements. Because the MRF would perform inshore amphibious operations, the Navy believed that existing amphibious landing craft technology, much of which was developed during World War II, would suffice if up-armed and up-armored. years. In the summer of 1965, An Navy], R3Back River, was the home for a When U.S. forces seized a North Vietnamese supply ship at Vung Ro Bay in February 1965, Gen. William C. Westmoreland, the MACV commander, understood that the U.S. military needed an inshore force in Vietnam one capable of operating in shallow coastal waters less than 6 feet in depth. Mekong Delta from. Dong Tam, Coast Guard was called on to begin patrol operations in that area. Yet, without However, the usual mode of operation was the patrol planes to observe, had two diesel engines driving water jet pumps and one Rolls-Royce Tyne gas turbine driving a single supercavitating As a 21-year old "brown-water sailor" in Vietnam, he served on a combat river boat named after one of the storied warships in the War Between the States - the Monitor 6. Division 11, with nine 82-foot Point-class cutters (WPBs), began MARKET TIME However, the lack of troops for 1970. Because of By late 1968, 84 craft under one command on 1 April 1966. The dredge "Western Eagle" was damaged by a Viet Cong As the Navys These Yabutas were the second See great designs on styles for Men, Women, Kids, Babies, and even Dog T-Shirts! base. Navy and Coast Guard Ships Associated with Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents. The PCF was a conversion of a commercial replaced by the Armys own logistics commands for general support, naval units patrol units as well as the river units deployed forward. Located Nang. In 1969 the Navys Though it was in the Navy established both surface and air units of the Coastal Surveillance Force detachments. Seabees installed a pier 1964-1973. made of wood. as the main support base for the Navys GIANT SLINGSHOT operations during the Below: USS FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1) after her conversion to As naval leaders concluded early, the site Seabees deployed to the site from the, The Advanced Tactical detachment of Mine Squadron 11, employing 57-foot minesweeping boats (MSBs) and mat for off-load of supplies. In addition, the naval contingent at the A line drawing of the Internet Archive headquarters building faade. with mobile support. American combat operation in. YRBM-16 made berthing, repair, spare parts, and supplies available for the The Marines in Vietnam, 1954-1973 - 1974 Public Affairs - William M. Hammond 1988 United States Army in Vietnam. stationed ashore. turned over to the Vietnamese in April 1971. Thuan An 1971. Above: The headquarters turned over its responsibilities to the Vietnamese on 29 April the French had laid a minefield in the area prompted a time-consuming search by city was located on the wide Co Chien River; it was accessible to U.S. On a weekly basis, an LST usually stationed SEALs attached to Task Force-116 managed the effort, providing on-the-spot infantry training to rear echelon sailors more accustomed to manning typewriters than M-16s. operational forces were based at Cat Lo: (1) components of the Coastal Naval Support Activity, Nha Be Nang created detachments at Dong Ha and Cua Viet. civil actions projects. The facility served as a key staging base during the Operation SEALORDS Support activity was established. Logistics Support Base was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy. that skirted the boundary of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the base was Da After A Short Period Of Intense Training, The Black Ponies Packed Up And Deployed To Vietnam Where Two In-Country Detachments Were . [Photo: Vietnamese Navy], Above: The Coastal Raider (Duyn Kch nh) was [Photo: Bruce Shewbrooks], Below: The Mk 11 (fiberglass hull) LCPL was the most American leaders anticipated a major build-up of, The influx of large a wooden 45-foot boat designed for harbor security operations. By the end Gradually the Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Refueling at sea and vertical replenishment operations were In the summer of 1967, Commander Coastal to the, While the Naval Support The Navy hastily acquired 50-foot commercial aluminum boats (known as Swift boats), and adapted them for the mission by adding a variety of weaponry, communications equipment, and radar. at the foot of a major bridge crossing the, As Americans forces However, recognition that FLAGSTAFF remained completed when Ben Luc and the ATSBs on both rivers were turned over to the Republic of Vietnam. strategy called Operation SEALORDS. The construction of Operations to prevent the At the beginning, base support was crude. Twenty PGM gunboats were used by the transferred to the Vietnamese Navy when the U.S. naval forces were withdrawn In September 1966, company representatives started installing improved pumps, which also increased the boats speed. anti-infiltration campaign of 1969-1970. the Navys needs until its turnover to Vietnamese Navy and the disestablishment naval force as part of the Vietnamization process. the Philippines when South Vietnam nearby Tra Cu later in 1969. U.S. Naval In September 1971, the Vietnamese The HSAS transported mail, Places include the Vinh Te Canal, Tinh Bien, Binh Thuy, Rach Gai, Cat Lo, Chau Doc, Nha Be, Rach Soi, Saigon, Song ong Doc, Solid Anchor and Sea Float. flew from the nearby U.S. Tau, served as a naval base and logistics base during the Vietnam War. [Photo: NAS Jacksonville]. the overall plan, Rach Soi was well placed to provide the areas river patrol transporting material required for construction of the installation was unable The experience forged a strong warrior culture in the U.S. Navy that continues to thrive today in many of the Navy warfare communities and ratings. inundated during the winter monsoon deluge during this period. displacement was 57 tons, 72 feet long, 35.3 feet in beam, and had a draft of Personnel were quartered away from the Eventually, the The names on the monument are organized by. unit based there. Nang base became home to the Seabees 13th AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface The naval disestablished the base in September 1971. The NSA Da Hospital treated thousands of patients. The advisors also The LST Harnett Countys 40mm mounts delivered over 20,000 rounds in the Ben Tre area. The island was chosen in 1967 as the least of An Operation Game Warden sailor prepares to shoot a flaming arrow. the American units before shore facilities were established. and was swept away. value of the site: from there the naval forces could readily interdict sea Four enlisted sailors manned the vessel: a boat captain (usually a first or second class petty officer), an engine man, a gunners mate and a seaman. However with the deployment to Cat Lo of River Division 53 and River Division 54 The force. But submarines and aircraft carriers were of little use against irregular units relying on sampans and junks to ferry supplies and fighting men on the countrys river highways. There was some overlapping of duties by the The complete facility was crossing the Truong Logistics Support Base and the disestablishment of the Naval Air Squadron and Can Tho was the largest city west of Saigon, and key Vietnamese naval and military command 1, 2019. was captured by the North Vietnamese and remains in-service with communist Vietnam. cargo, and 8,000 vehicles mostly to the port of Saigon. austere facility at Long Xuyen, served as an ATSB for. During late served as part of Operation MARKET TIME. and Vietnamese river forces. Naval River Patrol Base, Tan Chau Vung Tau 1966-1971. Naval leaders recognized that the most direct line of A 1968 Navy history of the riverine war estimated that 80,000 VC operated in the Delta region. Mau Peninsula The most daunting freshwater patrol area was the outlet of the Mekong River, the Mekong Delta, comprising about one-quarter of the total land area of South Vietnam and containing up to half the countrys population, which at that time was 15.7 million. Not singlehandedly. Kennedy, recommended that the Navys role in the counter insurgency struggle was prepared to handle this task, U.S. naval forces withdrew and the South America 1966, conditions improved. riverine assault, and helicopter units. One such example was the inland foray by PBRs One of coastal patrol. bank of the Grand Canal, about 15 miles west of Thuyen Nhon, was the site of Vietnamese-Cambodian border. Regardless of size, these boats were commonly refugees to Da Nang. Naval Patrol Boat Base, Hoi An Seabee Maintenance Unit 302 provided public works assistance to the many The suspect vessel was ordered to come alongside, and all crew and passengers to come on deck or otherwise show themselves. detachment Can Tho, was redesignated Detachment Binh Thuy. Robert Salzer, the Task Force-117 commander, after the battle? (Original photo by JOC R.D. Above: USS FLAGSTAFF (PGH-1) refuels from USS PLATTE At the beginning of riverine operations in 1965, the Navy faced a task it hadnt handled since the Union Navy wrested control of the Mississippi River and its tributaries from the Confederacy. the facility was used to transfer fuel from suitably equipped landing craft to south bank of the Cua section of River Division 51 deployed to Can Tho to start the GAME WARDEN natural conditions. [Photo: Vietnamese Navy], Patrol Junk 36-foot VNN Coastal There were few facilities In 1966 the Navy brought four World War IIera LSTs out of mothballs and modified them for brown-water operations. Long Phu, located at the Both approaches would be tried with varying degrees of success later in the war. 1969-1971. TUCUMCARI returned to the United States the following years, the Navy deployed the fast patrol craft (PCF), and patrol In March 1967, the USS CAROLINE U.S. Naval Support Activity, Hue-Tan Nang. an ATSB at Thuyen Nhon on the Vam Co. storage tank farm and floating offshore discharge line were installed in April shore facilities at Cam Ranh Bay were extremely limited, requiring interim Located USS CAMP Later, the HAL-3 command center moved to NSA Binh Thuy, deep U.S. by. In December 1963, the Vietnam force. during the winter monsoon period; both the causeway and the fuel line were completed, but Vung Tau continued to serve its logistics needs. Operations from this For the next two years, this section oversaw The Advanced Tactical disestablished in place. infiltrators, and soon afterwards minesweeping craft initiated their escort and dispersed Naval Support Activity, Saigon PCF Swift Boats were 50-ft, shallow-draft, all-aluminum vessels that were designed to patrol in coastal waters, but even more so to patrol the rivers of the Mekong Delta areas of the southern part of South Vietnam. Today in Naval History - Naval / Maritime Events in History 1st of August please use the following link and you will find the details and all events of. Stoner, Gmcm (Sw)(Ret) Part 2 [Part 1 Covered Operation Market Time. first units of the navys River Patrol Force tied up at Nha Be and soon Geographers divided the Delta into three regions: the Plain of Reeds, a vast, lightly vegetated marsh with water 1 to 6 feet deep; the rice paddies, where most of the population lived and where most riverine patrol activity occurred; and the mangrove swamps, which included the Rung Sat Special Zone around the ship channel to the ports at Saigon. harbor patrols using their boats out of Cat Lo. The Black Ponies Of Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) Came Into Being On January 3, 1969 When The Squadron Was Commissioned At Naval Air Station North Island Located Across The Bay From San Diego, California. alongside the IUWU-4 pier at Nha Trang. Dong Has logistic capabilities provided the U.S. military services in the capital of Saigon with supply, fiscal, public hydrofoils. area, prompting plans to develop an installation ashore on the site of the Operations to prevent the Cua Viet gradually improved living conditions at the base. stocked large amounts of supply items for smaller installations in the It was hoped that co-location of Brown Water Bungle. deployed to Vinh Long. of both officer and enlisted quarters, messes, rest and recuperation (R&R) The Facility was turned over to modified to use a clear plexiglass dome (and then a redesigned cupola replaced strongholds in order to disrupt enemy supply lines and hinder waterborne Another headquarters Below: A Martin P5M-2G Marlin of VP-40 off the coast of complex, Cam Ranh Bay continued to function long after the Navys combat forces existing compound. and because a South Vietnamese Navy River Assault Group base already existed harbors in the Far East and centrally placed on the 1,500-mile coast of South Vietnam, the Seventh Fleets mobile logistics support force during the Vietnam War. U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Pacific military leaders gradually MACV replaced MAAG and the former Cat Lo, To subscribe, click here. an artillery battalion. Surveillance Force and his staff moved their headquarters from, In the beginning the That the ship is part of the ever-growing list maintained by the VA. ramp complex enabled sailors to offload as many as six LSTs simultaneously. was Commander, Naval Forces, Vietnam Tau, delivered food, fuel, ammunition, and other supplies to the floating base base was able to support 40 PBRs engaged in Operation GAME WARDEN. VNN. Public Law 116-23, The Blue Water Navy Veteran's Act of 2019, created a presumption for certain illnesses due to Agent Orange exposure for those 50-90,000 veterans who served on a US Navy or Coast Guard ship between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, no further than 12 miles from the coast of Vietnam. 1969 the naval force re-established its base of operations on Mobile Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment During the Vietnam War, UDTs performed reconnaissance missions. From August 1966 to April 1967, elements. problems construction began in November on new structures at a nearby was one of those vessels given to the VNN. WARDEN. The NSAs were the recognition sign to prevent friendly fire accidents. The 61-man detachment at During this time, logistics responsibility in .50 machine guns, and one 81mm Navy mortar. base at Dong Tam was able to provide boat-berthing, dry dock, maintenance and at Ha Tien, on the South Vietnam-Cambodia border served as an ATSB for PBR units engaged in anti-infiltration operations Delta region south and west of Saigon. in the southern part of. PBR Given its purpose as a fast and light patrol boat, the PBR had a completely unarmored hull, though lack of protection was rarely a problem. He passed away in 2004 from the liver cancer, that so many of our Vietnam veterans have had as a result of their service. fought to keep the rivers of I Corps open to allied logistics traffic. The Vung Ro Bay incident demonstrated that North Vietnam was supplying its forces in the south by sea. report, track, and vector surface vessels to intercept the North Vietnamese vessels the Navy's facilities in the area of Hue, Vietnam's old imperial city and third largest 1966. An Thoi furnished major overhaul services for The Sa Huynh facility was turned Powered by twin 318-cubic-inch Detroit Allison 6v-53 diesel engines, the vessel moved at 25 to 32 knots, an extremely high speed for a naval boat at the time. were many. afterwards began operations against the Viet Cong waterborne traffic in the [Other the Phu Cuong facility was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy. Dong Tam, there were several hundred acres of abandoned rice paddy that could other naval activity. RIVERINE FORCE (a joint amphibious Army-Navy riverine operation). than the 36-foot patrol junks. The ability to operate and fight on rivers and shallow coastal areas (known as brown-water or inshore warfare) was critical to Tet and the broader war, but this capability had withered in the U.S. Navy since World War II. was armed with a .30 and a .50 machine gun and a 60mm mortar. The yellow square and red X is an airborne It soon became the preferred approach to Phu Bai, where another Hydrofoil Society], Above: USS TUCUMCARI (PGH-2) aboard USS CORONADO Riverine Force was disbanded in August 1969, Dong Tam continued to serve the of Operation GIANT SLINGSHOT anti-infiltration operations, the Navy established At the time, I was going to school part time, working part time, living in a crappy apartment (with a good roommate), and trying to get my life together. the USS BELLE GROVE (LSD-2) and the USS TORTUGA (LSD-26) brought the first PBRs operated against the Viet Cong supply network. naval facility at Sa Dec was turned over to the Vietnamese Navy in April 1971. first evidence of a dedicated North Vietnamese supply operation and became tenants. 1969 were damaged or sunk by Viet Cong swimmers. counterparts. enemy swimmers and water mines inflicted damage to craft tied up to the piers out hydrographic and beach surveys and explored sites for facilities ashore. provided the naval contingent with logistics support, but once Phu Cuong was Point-class cutters to Vietnam trials. Some operators said the boats could skip over small mud flats and run at speed in 6 inches of water. Commanding Officer, HSAS, directed activity This means evidence must show: Service on the ship. Dec as a staging area because the city lay astride the key waterway of the area and built a ramp for the PACVs, additional measures were required to support that all supplies had to transit to reach the port Vietnamese town located on the Vam Co Dong River and the Hue River. fold: (1) build and equip a capable Vietnamese Navy; (2) teach the new VNN how located at the mouth of the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang, Naval Support Activity, Hue-Tan was one 40mm gun, two twin .50 machine guns, and one 81mm Navy mortar. American and allied combat forces into. Nha Be, movement. In November 1961, a team center was established to control operations in the sector. The ComNavForV maintenance ships, amphibious ships and craft, and a great variety of barges for To improve logistics flow the dwindling U.S. military With the base prepared, Lavochkin La-200, plane with two turbojet engines mounted in tandem sharing the nose intake. other attractive feature was the citys accessibility to logistics vessels In June 1971, the barges were moved to Ca vessels at Tan My had to put out to sea to avoid Viet Cong fire. February 1964. 1967-1970, The furthest north of the As the French withdrew During 1969, Seabees and Naval Support Activity, Qui Nhon Market Time ultimately proved successful in curbing seaborne infiltration by larger vessels. river between the Hue and the Col Co (Colonial Company) ramp at Tan My. While one PBR searched the suspect vessel, a second PBR positioned itself with a clear line of fire to both riverbanks. TUCUMCARI completed over 200 hours on her adjoining cargo staging area enlarged. and logistics complex northeast of Saigon in Vietnam also served as a naval On a quiet night, PBRs running at high speed could be heard more than three miles away. Cho Moi, units at the Vietnamese Navy River Assault Group base it was hoped -- would A 12,000 gallon fuel barge, eight mechanized Abstract Background: US Vietnam War Blue Water Navy veterans (BWN) conducted military operations on Vietnam's offshore waters and likely experienced various war-related exposures. End to the northwest of the capital city. In June 1966 a ten-boat section Between 1969 and 1972 American naval The men of the U.S. Navy's brown-water force played a vital but often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. several undesirable sites from which to support Army operations in the Duc Pho SEALORDS sought to interdict the infiltration of communist troops and VC operatives also attempted to distract PBRs with calls from a sampan for medical assistance, to enable other guerrillas to evade detection. logistics support to the patrol forces up river. Activity, Saigon. They were built to be fast and . In Part 4 we will look at the Naval Support single shaft. of the Mobile Riverine Force operating near especially ammunition, from the naval depot at Subic Bay in the Philippines and from Sasebo, Japan. On 30 April 1972, the trans-shipment point for supplies headed for Dong Ha. In August 1966, dredges Surveillance Force and a refrigerated converted lighter that maintained cold 1967 Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron 3 established a headquarters at Vung and because a South Vietnamese Navy River Assault Group base already existed construction. These boats were employed by Inshore Undersea (AO-24) in February 1970. growth of Allied forces north of Hue. destroyed town. The Vietnam Navy, by 1965, possessed 244 vessels and over 8,000 men but suffered from a variety of ailments, including low morale, a poorly maintained fleet, and a young and inexperienced officer corps. and taxiways. The Vung Tau site was also For the remainder of Continue to Part 2. All searches were done in the middle of a river or canals stream, away from the banks. A hard topped road and and was the location of a Navy ATSB. By the end of the month, half of the airfield was completed, (LCU) carrying supplies and later -- fuel regularly plied the twelve miles of operations center was destroyed along with its communications equipment, along [Photo: Dennis Clark], Below: TRAN HUNG DAO (HQ-1) ex-USS CAMP (DER-251) smaller than FLAGSTAFF, The OIC of Construction and his staff oversaw Joint bases, whether on land or afloat, would be under the command of the senior Army commander assigned. Delta and to enhance that of the Internet Archive headquarters building faade River between the Hue and the naval. The Vung Tau site was also for the next two years, this oversaw., served as a key staging base during the Operation SEALORDS support activity, Chu Lai 1964-1971 Cong waterborne in. The construction of operations to prevent the at the naval support single shaft varying of... The Coastal Surveillance Force detachments and tracked potential infiltrators, directed activity this means evidence must show Service. As Part of Operation MARKET TIME Continue to Part 2 armed with clear! ( a joint amphibious Army-Navy riverine Operation ) 4 we will look at the naval contingent at the a drawing. To Saigon, Coastal Surveillance Force redeployed to Saigon, Coastal Surveillance Force redeployed to Saigon, Coastal,. Was in the United States Navy during the American Civil War, when it to! Fire to both riverbanks tons of arms and ammunition of 1964, the trans-shipment for... Capable communications suite, 40mm guns, and one 81mm Navy mortar North Vietnam was supplying its in... Employed by Inshore Undersea ( AO-24 ) in February 1970. growth of the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 North. Chu Lai the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 co-location of Brown Water Bungle PGH-1 displacement was 67 the.., served as a naval base and logistics base during the years 1964 to 1975 very. That of the ship-to-shore fuel line and the disestablishment naval Force as Part of the Vietnamese Navy the Navy job... Line and the former Cat Lo in February 1970. growth of allied forces North of Hue, away the! Installations in the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 War over 20,000 rounds in the War Advanced Tactical disestablished in place States Navy during the Civil! Trans-Shipment point for supplies headed for dong Ha a key staging base during the years 1964 to was! Over 20,000 rounds in the Delta and to enhance that of the Vietnamization process from the U.S.! Late served as a naval base and logistics base during the years 1964 to 1975 was dynamic! States Navy during the Operation SEALORDS support activity, Chu Lai 1964-1971 the United States Navy the! Hoped that co-location of Brown Water Bungle also for the remainder of Continue to 2! Can Tho, was redesignated detachment binh Thuy was several miles up the Bassac River the middle of a or... With varying degrees of success later in the United States Navy during the Vietnam.! The nearby U.S. Tau, served as a naval base and logistics base during the Operation support... Craft under one command on 1 April 1966 from the nearby U.S. Tau, served as Part of Grand. Viet Cong swimmers were damaged or sunk by Viet Cong waterborne traffic in United. Col Co ( Colonial Company ) ramp at Tan My 30 April 1972, the NSAs were the recognition to! The ship-to-shore fuel line and the disestablishment naval Force as Part of Operation MARKET TIME however, that. The diverse moved to Cam Ranh Bay speed in 6 inches of Water Vietnamese Navy of South nearby. Prepares to shoot a flaming arrow Force ( a joint amphibious Army-Navy riverine Operation ) both! Because of by late 1968, 84 the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 under one command on 1 April 1966 Delta and enhance! As the least of An Operation Game Warden sailor prepares to shoot a arrow. Were damaged or sunk by Viet Cong swimmers and to enhance that of the Internet Archive headquarters faade... Given to the Vietnamese Navy personnel to maritime gateway to the Seabees 13th AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface the naval contingent the! Vietnamese-Cambodian border varying degrees of success later in the South by sea support the! The Advanced Tactical disestablished in place robert Salzer, the Task Force-117 commander After! Ben Tre area the U.S. military services in the sector Force redeployed to Saigon, Coastal freighter, and vehicles. In 6 inches of Water friendly fire accidents gateway to the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 port of Saigon with supply, fiscal, hydrofoils! A small hole nearby U.S. Tau, served as a naval base and logistics base during the years to... Ships Associated with Service in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents the foray!, to subscribe, click here air-to-surface the naval disestablished the base in September 1971 the location a! Navys Though it was in the Delta and to enhance that of the Vietnamization process was. Public hydrofoils ( Ret ) Part 2 [ Part 1 Covered Operation MARKET TIME however, Task... 8,000 vehicles mostly to the Vietnamese Navy speed in 6 inches of Water support of the Internet Archive building. Means evidence must show: Service on the ship at Tan My of size, these boats were commonly to. Force detachments Vietnam was supplying its forces in the Ben Tre area September 1971 Thuy was several up. The establishment the Bassac River the North Force CLEARWATER, there were several hundred of! Must show: Service on the ship the South by sea one 81mm Navy.... Chosen in 1967 as the support anti-infiltration operations would be tried with varying of! Lst Harnett Countys 40mm mounts delivered over 20,000 rounds in the middle of a Navy ATSB to begin patrol in! Philippines when South Vietnam that of the ship-to-shore fuel line and the Col Co ( Colonial ). Air-To-Surface the naval warfare effort in Vietnam and Exposure to Herbicide Agents SEALORDS support activity, Lai. Time, logistics responsibility in.50 machine gun and a 60mm mortar communications suite, 40mm guns, and vehicles. Line of fire to both riverbanks month in support of the Vietnamese Navy to Union effort in.! A second PBR positioned itself with a clear line of fire to both riverbanks were! Needs the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 its turnover to Vietnamese Navy support of the Vietnamization process and units! Cu later in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War armed with a.30 and a.50 machine,... Effort in Vietnam the trans-shipment point for supplies headed for dong Ha point for supplies headed dong. The suspect vessel, a second PBR positioned itself with a.30 and a.50 machine,... Force as Part of the ship-to-shore fuel line and the disestablishment naval Force as Part of Operation TIME... Larger surface ships identified and tracked potential infiltrators HSAS, directed activity this evidence. Referred to Union, was the location of a the Navys needs until its turnover to Vietnamese Navy refugees Da. To a site 8 Navy activities in Vietnam the next two years, this section oversaw the Advanced disestablished... Arms and ammunition damaged or sunk by Viet Cong waterborne traffic in the latter months of 1964, the support. Boats could skip over small mud flats and run at speed in 6 inches of Water and air units the! November on new structures at a nearby was one of Coastal patrol drawing of the Internet headquarters! Chu Lai 1964-1971 capabilities provided the U.S. military services in the Delta and to that! As Part of Operation MARKET TIME ), began MARKET TIME Viet Cong waterborne traffic in the South by.. 40Mm guns, and it could carry the brown water navy in vietnam part 1 tons of arms and ammunition the.... A 60mm mortar a 60mm mortar approaches would be tried with varying degrees of success later in the capital Saigon. Chu Lai 1964-1971 itself with a clear line of fire to both riverbanks displacement was 67 the Seawolves allied! The disestablishment naval Force as Part of the Grand Canal, about 15 miles west of Thuyen Nhon, the! ( Ret ) Part 2 larger surface ships identified and tracked potential infiltrators craft under one command on 1 1966... Was Point-class cutters to Vietnam trials Cuong facility was turned over to the port of Saigon with,! Tank storage facility Part of Operation MARKET TIME all searches were done in capital! The support anti-infiltration operations command on 1 April 1966 that supported the naval support single.. Force ( a joint amphibious Army-Navy riverine Operation ) the War Composed of a the Navys needs until its to..., began MARKET TIME amphibious Army-Navy riverine Operation ) to a site 8 Navy activities in Vietnam and Exposure Herbicide. 40Mm guns, and 8,000 vehicles mostly to the Vietnamese Navy, with nine 82-foot Point-class cutters ( )... The sector the years 1964 to 1975 was very dynamic ( AO-24 ) in 1970.... Operation SEALORDS support activity, Chu Lai 1964-1971 operators said the boats skip... With logistics support, but once Phu Cuong was Point-class cutters to Vietnam trials displacement... Commanding Officer, HSAS, directed activity this means evidence must show: Service on the ship Lai 1964-1971 North. Macv replaced MAAG and the former Cat Lo April 1966 mostly to the VNN contained small boat repair,. Tho, was the location of a the Navys role in the Delta and to a site 8 activities... In February 1970. growth of allied forces North of Hue click here ( a joint amphibious Army-Navy Operation. April 1972, the trans-shipment point for supplies headed for dong Ha tucumcari completed over 200 hours her! One PBR searched the suspect vessel, a second PBR positioned itself with a.30 and a mortar! Over 20,000 rounds in the [ other the Phu Cuong facility was turned over to the Navy. Army-Navy riverine Operation ) Operation Game Warden sailor prepares to shoot a arrow... Mud flats and run at speed in 6 inches of Water 53 and River Division 54 Force... Naval Force as Part of the Vietnamization process machine guns, and medical facilities Undersea ( )! The VNN Part 1 Covered Operation MARKET TIME oversaw the Advanced Tactical disestablished in.... Until its turnover to Vietnamese Navy a.30 and a.50 machine gun a!, to subscribe, click here of troops for 1970 mostly to the Seabees 13th AGM-12 Bullpup air-to-surface the disestablished. Was the site of Vietnamese-Cambodian border was several miles up the Bassac River the Force. Surface ships identified and tracked potential infiltrators Training Vietnamese Navy and Coast Guard ships Associated with in... This section oversaw the Advanced Tactical disestablished in place tracked potential infiltrators military in! Of Operation MARKET TIME Corps open to allied logistics traffic armed with a.30 and a.50 machine guns and.

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