Boat Support Unit - One
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History of BSU-1 |
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Boat Support Unit ONE
was originally established by the Chief of Naval
Operations on 1 February 1964 as a component command
of Naval Operations Support Group, Pacific. Its
mission was to administer the newly reinstated
Patrol Torpedo
Fast (PTF) Boat Program and to operate
high-speed craft in support of Naval Special Warfare
operations, primarily in conjunction with the
Underwater Demolition Team and SEAL Units. The
mission was soon expanded to include all aspects of
riverine and restricted water warfare. |
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The PTF program grew rapidly, beginning with four
"Nasty Class" PTFs in the fall of 1964. Crews
attended schools in the San Diego area, then
deployed to Subic Bay, Philippines, to put their
boats in service and prepare for operational
commitments. As a result of events in the Tonkin
Gulf, there was a great demand for simulated PTF
type attacks, and Boat Support Unit ONE was tasked
with providing such services.
In September 1965, Boat Support Unit ONE implemented
the original training for PCF (Swift) crews in
underway boat operations for duty as part of the
MARKET TIME patrol in Vietnam, using eight Swift
Boats. On 1 July 1971, Boat Support Unit ONE and its
mission broadened to encompass coastal/riverine
patrol and interdiction.
The command was instrumental in the development and
evaluation of a wide variety of small boat projects.
These included the Landing Craft Swimmer Recovery
Vessel; Coastal Patrol and Interdiction Craft;
Swimmer Delivery Vehicle, Auxiliary, which continues
to serve as a mother ship for SEAL Swimmer Delivery
Vehicle diving operations; and the FLAGSTAFF
(PGH-1), one of the Navy's first operational
hydrofoils.
Read this comprehensive
timeline of the changes from BSU-1 to the
present organization compiled by GMCM Jim Gray (SWCC)
Ret.
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The
LCSR at BSU-1
10-05-06 Randy Miller
I was stationed with Boat Support Unit One
at the Amphib Base in San Diego from
1965-1968. During that time I served as part
of the 4 member boat crew on the LCSR. We
had about 6-7 of them. It was a 52 ft fiber
glass boat with twin 1,000 hp Solar gas
turbine engines twin screw shaft drive.
John Woody - Bob
and All, What about the LCSRs, the Uniflite
Landing Craft Swimmer Recovery boat with
Solar Gas Turbines. We had several at BSU-1
when I was there. I believe it was a 52 ft
boat built on a cabin cruiser hull. They
were fun for about an hour and half, and
then you had to refuel.
Stephen Thomas - By
the time I reported to BSU-1 at the end of
1968, all of the LCSR had been withdrawn
from service and put up on blocks in the
PhiBase boat storage lot, back in the
furthest corner, as I recall. They were
right up against the cyclone fence and
clearly visible from the road as I headed
into Coronado and the Mexican Village on
Saturdays.
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09-23-06 John
Woody Do not forget the
Subic Det out of BSU-1. It was normally
manned by one officer, and was the main
supply/logistics route for repairs and parts for the
MST-1 PTFs. The Napier repair facility was in Subic.
We moved parts, boats, and engines in and out of
Subic through the Subic Det. PTFs were normally
shipped to Subic every six to eight months to dry
the hulls out and get new engines. In 1967, when I
was at MST-1, we got our first 500 hour Napier
engine. Engine replacements were a big thing. The
Enginemen never saw the inside of a Napier, only the
clutch/transmission hydraulics connections and the
engine mounts. The hulls were placed on a pier in
Subic and dried out for six weeks or so. Those hulls
would absorb about six tons of water during
operations and the bilges would be dry. A fresh boat
was really a great thing to operate.
We had several rotating CONEX boxes that we placed
loose parts in for repair and return. When they were
less than full on return, we used the space for San
Miguel beer. The Marines at Da Nang Air Base loved
it when we returned a CONEX box as we would open one
and pass a few cases of San Miguel around. We never
had a problem getting a C 130 flight in or out of
Da Nang. |
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| 04-21-03 -
From Sean Tierney - I believe I reported
aboard BSU-1 in March of 65'. I did my
survival training in Hawaii in May and left
for Vietnam in early June 65' as OIC
for a training team. I'll try to find my orders to see who was on
the team. The old gas boats (2) were still there but in July or August we
loaded them on an LSD for shipment home. Later that summer my team
went to Subic Bay to run the sea trials on two new boats. After the trials
we loaded them on another LSD for shipment to DaNang.
More Here. . .
(This is
a link to www.ptfnasty.com) |
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| 08/27/01 -
Joe Burks -
I rode PTF's,13 (very briefly), 22, and 21
boats out of NAB Coronado. Also spent a year
in Craft Development Division of
BSU1. Lots of memories of the boats although
I am not sure which are real solid any more
- been 30 odd years. More Here...
More Here
(This is
a link to www.ptfnasty.com) |
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| 06/15/00 -
Bryan Ellerman I served with BSU1
from July '68 through June '69 as an ETR2.
My tour in DaNang was from October '68
through April '69. I actually replaced Ralph
McMillan in DaNang. Reading your Web Page
brings back a lot of memories. I too, have
many stories to tell but no pictures.
More Here
(This is
a link to www.ptfnasty.com) |
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| 03-25-02 -
Jerry Fifield They weren't worried
about me hurting someone else with that
missile launcher, but them goats on San
Clemente Island and that goddamn Mexican
Patrol Boat that kept messing with us when
we were fishing in the Coronado Islands were
a threatened species. It was an old Navy
minesweeper with a 3 inch single fire mount
on the foredeck and he would shoot at you
also. I pissed him off one day, showed him
what speed and maneuverability was all
about, ran circles and figure 8's around him
at top speed, about 300 to 500 yards out . .
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More Here
(This is
a link to www.ptfnasty.com) |
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| 08-21-01 - Richard Siebert (GMG-3)
When I got to BSU-1 and suffered at the
hands of a GMGC, went to my assignment in the
security field of the USN, the info was received in
general conversation. As I remember, I seem to
remember better than I can see, soon after arriving
the Chief had us all together to reorganize. He had
so many people in and out he wanted to realign so he
had seniority back in line. He was telling us about
all that had gone on during the inquest. I was there
after all the testimony was finish but still was
able to go to some of the social function they had
for the family. It was either the Chief or a GMG2 by
the name of Greene (from Barbados) in one of those
sessions that talked of the PTFs. . . .
More Here
(This is
a link to www.ptfnasty.com) |
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| Jack Sudduth - My first PTF
experience was with the 13 boat when we received it
from England. Beautiful boat. Learned how to drive a
PTF on that one. Came to love that boat and and will
never forget it and the many wild adventures we had
together.
Read More Here
(This is
a link to www.ptfnasty.com) |
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12-11-06
Charles (Chuck) L. Thoin
I was surfing the web and came across your web
site. I reported for duty to Boat Support Unit One
on 20 SEP 68 right out of Boot Camp across the bay.
The CO was LCDR Russ Gleason. I had been classified
as a Machinist Mate FN but when I
reported I was informed that BSU-1 needed EN's not
MM's.
Read More Here |
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| Bill Bremmer -
I was at BSU-1 from early 1970 until my discharge in June 1971, and I
deployed with MST Two Detachment Golf in September 1970 returning in March
1971. We operated an MSSC and LSSC out of Long Phu across from what was called
Dung Island near where the Bassac goes into the South China Sea, supporting both
US and Vietnamese SEALs. Read More Here
Also jump to BSU-1, MST-2 |
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Robert Stoner Briefing: Fabulous
Flops of Naval Engineering -
The Shallow Water Attack Boat (1966)
The roots of the SWAB program
have been lost over the years, but it was one of the
radical designs tested by Boat Support Unit ONE in
late 1965 and early 1966. |
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The boat was built by Bertram
Yachts in Miami, Florida, and was powered by two
Chrysler gasoline marine engines with four barrel
carburetors and a pair of Dana stern drives. The
stern drives required a lot of maintenance.
Read the whole story here.
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| Other "Flop" comments: |
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John Woody - I believe that this was the Ontos?
(spelling) weaponed boat that we had at BSU - One
when I arrived. It was on a trailer when I got
there. It used the Marine anti tank recoilless rifle
system. I believe the weapons were fixed, so the
boat had to be aimed to shoot. It did not work out.
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Stephen Thomas - There were a few, the logic behind
some of which escapes me.
A 21 SeaCraft runabout that had some extra bracing
to support a center line pedestal for a weapon of
some kind. Its hull was, as I recall, made of
laminated balsa wood sheathed in plastic. The hull
bottom had a series of parallel longitudinal steps.
It was very fast and maneuverable, but could not
beach. It had a stern drive. In profile the sheer
line rose slightly from the bow, with a hump that
merged into a concave slope that flattened into a
straight line for most of the length. I seem to
recall some association with the APSS program, but
we're talking about some 40 or more years ago. I do
recall morning and afternoon taxi runs for officers
who live around the north end of the bay, who either
did not want to face rush hour traffic, or whose
licenses had been suspended.
A handful of unmodified 25' and 31' Bertrams that by
my time were primarily used for navigation and boat
crew training, for admin runs in the bay, and as
swimmer safety boats for SEAL and UDT SDV training.
A 26' Atlantic Research Company SEABLAZER that was
on loan from the builder for concept evaluation. It
was twas a joy to handle. This was the prototype for
the MSSC. Some of its features were included in the
LSSC and STAB as well -- the reticulated flotation
foam that filled the voids and fuel tanks (reducing
accumulation of gasoline vapors), the pre-failed
skin panels designed to vent any explosion from a
hit out through the side or bottom, away from the
armored crew and payload box. We dreaded the time
when we would have to return her to the builder.
I can't help thinking that some of these were never
intended for operation use, but solely for training
"until the real thing came along" just as the Army
used passenger cars and trucks marked "TANK" in
maneuvers in the 1939 - 1941 period, as there
weren't enough of the real thing to go around
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SEABLAZER
(01-29-08) |
From
Stephen Thomas - Joe Judith was the AR SeaBlazer/MSSC project
manager, and hosted the party for BSU-2 officers and wives/SOs to
celebrate delivery of the BSU-2 portion of the production order. It
must |
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have been late 1970; I had recently
returned from my second (April - October) DaNang deployment, and
none of the MSSC had arrived in-country when I toured all deployed
teams and detachments with Lee Mansi in January and February of that
year.
Please forward any recollection you
may have to this project.
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This brochure courtesy of Tom Beck,
he snatched it from the trash in the '70's. |
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PTF Weapons
Test Platform
PTF-13, the stateside Nasty class PTF which was the
training boat for all PTF sailors deploying, was
also used as a weapons test platform. Most notable
was the 81mm rocket launcher built by Oerlikon. This
twin launcher was tested Oct 1967. and had rotary
drum magazines with 9 rockets in each magazine. The
rockets had a range of 10,900 yards and the system
weighed 2,300 lbs. The Rocket system was later given
to the Ecuadorian Navy. PTF-13 also tested a
stabilized 40mm cannon by White Oak Naval Ordnance
Laboratory and a 20mm Hispano Suza cannon at the
same time.
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The two photos show
the weapons mounted on PTF-13
PTF-13 would also test other weapons such as the
REDEYE shoulder fired anti-aircraft missile.
Jim Gray - PTF
Historian |
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10-25-08
Stephen Thomas - The Oerlikon 81 MM
rocket launcher trials were completed before I
reported at the end of 1968. There was a short
(silent) film of the weapon being fired out at
the San Clemente target area. In the spring of
'69 on a night DD-op, #13 struck some floating
debris at speed and suffered significant damage.
One screw was mangled, one of the frames (under
the wardroom) was broken, and the starboard
strut was deformed. She was never completely
repaired, at least not during my tenure. PhibPac
could never find funds or deck space to ship her
to Subic and back for a proper overhaul. That
may have had a lot to do with the decision to
fit her as a drone target for trials of
the air-to-surface version of Harpoon. An
instrument package was to be mounted in the
mortar position to measure and record miss
distances with the Harpoons set to miss by a
pre-set distance.
As to the 81 MM mortar, during
my second DaNang tour we obtained a few VT
fuses and converted a few HE rounds to VT frag.
We found that air bursts would be more effective
against personnel than impact bursts, and
mechanical time fusing really needs a stable
platform to be effective. The VT trials finally
came to nothing, as it was discovered
(fortunately by someone else) that the fuse
was so sensitive that it could go off close
aboard if you tried to use it in rain or even a
heavy mist.
Chuckle: I once had to get an
interpreter to explain to a CSS gunner's
mate that it was not a good idea to try to
dumdum 20 MM ammo with a hacksaw. Fortunately
he had selected an AP round for his initial
effort. But he ruined a few saw blades in the
process.
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| MORE SWAB AND SEABLAZER |
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01-18-09 My name is
David Goff, I was transferred to BSU-1 in Aug. 1965 as a BMSN, and departed in AUG, 1968 as a BM2. During
that time, I was assigned as Coxswain of the SWAB
for a three month period. I was advised that the
SWAB concept was that of two engineers from San
Clemente Island, and the boat was converted there.
Read More Here |
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(06-10-09) BIRGE, JACK
L, EN2 March 64-Feb 67 Arrived
Coronado Amphib Base for duty in Boat Training Team 7, same day as
returning from WestPac cruise aboard USS Oriskany, CVA-34. Reported
to a bare building with single desk being used as the Quarter Deck.
While waiting for rest of unit to arrive, was granted a short
leave. Read More Here |
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Barracks 1964 |
Burton EN1 |
Quick BM2 |
Morel, EN2 |
Engineer Officer |
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Rose, ENC |
New SK Chief |
Warren, BM2 & our Corpsmen |
Pratt, En1 |
Birge, EN2 |
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Green, EN1 |
Danang Hotel |
Birge, EN2 |
Green, EN1 |
Ltjg Tierney, Michael Belden, EN1 |
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Burial site of Spanish ship captain on Spanish Beach
dated 1859 |
Departing DaNang after 1st tour with Phillipino
friends |
Danang Airport, Belding EN-1(no hat) |
Jack Pratt, EN-1 Budiongan,
SK-2 |
Jack Birge, EN-2 |
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Spanish Beach |
Budiongan, SK-2 (standing)
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Engine shop |
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Head after storm |
Zoom of PTFs in background from "after storm" photo |
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(06-10-09) Rodger Berley EN1
Ever since I found the website I have been looking at it for people
I can remember. I remember Tiny Edwards, McMillan, Shifferns, then
the gunnersmate Estep. When I was in BSU-1 I was also in school for
the PG boats. I was supposed to go on the Tacoma, but there was a
big delay in her reduction gears being made. That was when I was
putting hours on the LSSC and the STAB boats. We were just putting
hours on the engines before anything else was done to them. I was
there Oct 68 to June 69. The latter part in Subic. While at Subic I
was in the Napier Deltic Class in April. I still have my course
book. My Naval career was ASR-7 Chanticleer, ASR-9, Florikan. Sub
Tender AS-12, Sperry. BSU-1. Naval Facility Lewes Delaware. DD-866
Oreleck. Naval Station 32nd Street for Discharge. 10 years, 5 months
total. |
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Engine Room on #3 boat before engines installed |
#6 boat |
#24 Boat - Osprey, all aluminum |
Rear view of #24 boat |
View of #20, #19 and airfield |
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#6 boat |
#17 boat |
Tiny Edwards at the helm |
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07-10-09 ,
David M. McLean, Reno NV.
I served in BSU-1 from 1966-1969 and had two tours to Da-Nang one in
April 66 and the second in Aug 67. I was assigned to the shipfitters
shop. We were responsible for all the welding/pipefitting and metal
repairs for the boats/piers and drydock.
Read More Here |
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(Added 06-01-2010)
PTF-2 at Little Creek Va. 1963 |
BSU-1 compound 1970 NAB Coronado, photo credit GMG2 Mark
Polloni
(Added 05-30-2012) |
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