Special Boat Unit

Special Boat Units TWELVE and Thirteen were put into commission October 2, 1978 at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, CA. Additional history can be read in the attached articles and photos below preserved by your shipmate GMCM Jim Gray (SWCC) Ret.

Original

Second Variation

Final

12-03-07 SPECIAL BOAT UNIT-13 Short Fuse Reunion remarks:

Oh Aye, it was a short fuse, but the call went out, and they still came. One from Alaska, two from Colorado, and one from Texas. When you look upon them, you see some of the Old Men, with grey hair, or no hair, Over weight. and they earned it! Paid for the right in service of their country. Read More Here

SPECIAL BOAT UNIT-13 RIBS IN OPERATION DESERT SHIELD/STORM 1990/1991 Special Boat Unit 13 plays a unique role in Naval Special Warfare history by being the first unit to deploy Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boats (called RIBs) into Combat Operations. Upon receiving orders from NSWG-1 via CSBR-1, SpecBoat Unit 13 sent Detachment Bravo off with two 24' Willard Ribs and 6 Combatant Craft crewmen. This det. was to supplement SBU-12's HSB dets. On 21 Sept 90 Det Bravo arrived in Saudi Arabia and were originally based at Ras Al Gar NSWTG. They began area specific training for combat operations and NBC warfare, learning how to support SEALs with such a small craft. Later they moved up to Ras Al Mishab and conducted nightly patrols. Waiting for the war to kick off was a long wait like all the Desert Shield vets wanted Desert Storm to kick off and go home. During Desert Storm Det Bravo was moved to NSW Task Element Kilo operating off of a Kuwaiti motorized Barge called the SAWAHILL, which had a nickname of "Happy Duck". This Kuwait Vessel had escaped the Iraqi Invasion with two FACs a 45' meter FAC called Instigall and a 57' meter FAC called AL SAN BOUK. During Desert Shield/Storm they conducted CSAR Operations, Reconnaissance, Insertion and Extraction and Battle Damage Assessments. At war's end SBU-13 RIB det Bravo returned home 12 Mar 1991.

SBU-13 RIB underway and it does get Cold in the Persian Gulf	SBU-13 RIB acting as Support craft for SDV Launching off Sawahill	Free Kuwait Navy Fast Attack Craft Instagall a part of a NSW Task Element	Free Kuwait Navy Motorized Barge Sawahil known also as "Happy Duck" served as a Base for a Naval Special Warfare Task Element	Free Kuwait navy Al San Bouk a Fast attack craft that escaped the Iraqi Invasion served in a NSW Task Element.

	12-14-07 Pete Frede BMCS ret. "Jim, I retired BMCS in 96 after I was told I wasn't medically fit for sea duty. I had the choice to stay at Bethesda Naval Hospital or since I already had over 20 in I could retire. So, I swallowed the anchor. My wife Patty and I are living in Greenville N.C. and yes, I'm still riding a Harley. Here's some photos and info for the webpage. During my time at SBU-13 I did the following deployments: Read More Great history collection here.

THE INFAMOUS CASTLE ROCK GUNSHOOT

10-09-06 - Jeffrey Hunter Jim - Remember Lt Jim Ostrich ? Now a Captain I think. He was so much FUN ! We used to take his little car, a Toyota if I remember right, and place it on the end of pier 13... SIDEWAYS ! One of our guys "Big Al", had a Buick that he used to drive down from L.A., and for some reason his key would work on the LT's car. So we were constantly . . .

10-11-06 - Phil Garn I saw Jeff's blurb on the gun shoot. A couple of minor corrections and additions. We were on an ACTDUTRA at SCI and had been working with HAL 5 who had been shooting in the same area, I think they shot the day before.

Officer Call - Operation Northern Hawk 1986

09-10-07 Frank Lipovisk I was a LT at SBU-13 in the Reserves at the time. The operational side of Northern Hawk is kinda' fading now but I do remember a number of great missions during the exercise. On the transit north I remember Phil Garn kept taking his team into isolation/seclusion where they would just shutter themselves into a compartment and go through some SEAL-inspired immersion planning exercise. Read More

09-10-07 - Cmdr. Mark Bauer USNR ret. (then LT. SBU-13) First op with the SWCL was to insert and blow a missile base on Indian Island to smithereens with a limited amount of C4. We took 818 and I skippered the op. I can’t remember if there were two boats, but I know we picked up the SEALS. PO2 Marler was sleeping at 0200 when the explosion was supposed to go off. I was the only person awake on the boat. Read More

(01-05-08) Don Gardner I remember the First day I checked aboard, only because it was the same day that the Challenger Space Shuttle exploded over Florida, 01-28-1986...It was a very solemn day, and no other event could possibly shadow the horrific accident of losing 7 US Hero's in space, Read More

01-15-08 Scott Meaney GMG1 I was at SBU-13 from 88-90, I was in the gunshop with Sigsworth before that I was at ACU-1 with Bill Danforth. I swapped with Gardener to come over to 13. I wont take to much of your time I was wondering if any of the guys from 13 ever got together, if so could you let me know i sure would like to see them. Thanks for the website Master Chief.

09-11-07 Phil Garn - Ground Swell In the late afternoon and behind schedule, we finished the post operational debrief on the ASDV, but everyone (SEALs, Boat Unit and most of all SUBPAC) was generally pleased with the last couple of days of sub ops. (1) I, then an Ensign (0-1) was really glad to get some topical steroids from the Diving Medical Officer for a rash on my forearms, Read More

12-28-06 - OS2 Ray "mad Dog" Evanouski PB757 Do we all remember those tough and grueling "training evolutions" at beautiful San Clemente Island? Ah yes, loading up the old PBs; 20mm, .50 cal., 7.62mm, and my favorite: 81 mike mike mortar rounds. Read More

12-28-06 - ENC Harry F. Lowrey (SWCC) Ret Jim. How are ya boatmate? I just found today the warboats web page. I found a Pic of SBU-12 AND SBU-13, that was taken on the Wimbrown. We were the first DET to arrive in the gulf from 12 and thirteen. In the pic I am 2nd from left standing. Being in the boats was the best time of my life while in the Navy.

HMC J.A. Greenough, USNR, Ret. - I can remember being aboard a US Navy 65' Specter class patrol boat (PB-755), around 1979-1982. We were conducting open house activities in Marina Del Rey, Calif, as part of Special Boat Unit Thirteen. A group of Puerto Rican Communist activists came aboard and unfurled a banner denouncing the United States's presence in Puerto Rico. The group was order of the vessel, but refused to leave. The Officer in charge then ordered the crew to make ready to get underway. The Specter's three dual turbo charged Detroit 8V-71 Diesel engines were fired up and Lines were cast off. The demonstrators became frantic and asked what are you doing? The reply was that we were making ready for sea, and that after we cleared the break water all unauthorized persons aboard the boat would be thrown overboard. At this they could not get off the boat fast enough. We departed the harbor for about a half hour and the continued our open house with out further incident. This was one of the best moments in my memory of my service in the US NAVY.

06-20-07 Jim Ostrich, Operations Officer at SBU-13 - The Water Buffalo's on fire.............., * Hey sir, I think you ran that small car off the FWY with that lane change....... * Camp Schlongmaster / IBS Beach Ops ...... A great collection of SBU-13 Stories.

11-12-07 - THE "RAT PATROL" GUN TRUCK OF SBU-13 - On the West Coast, Special Boat Units would conduct underway gunshoots at San Clementi Is for their heavy crew served weapons such as 20mm and the 60mm and 81mm mortars and 50 cal MG. However during the winter months "inclimate weather caused sea states too rough for our small boats and many a scheduled gunshoot and valuable training times were lost. Read More

12-15-07 - Billy Hoffmann - I was at SBU-13 from 1981 to 1983 and I learned (OJT) on one of our green LCPL's and after a break-in period became coxswain of my own boat. I just loved it. As you well remember, sometimes we provided boat support to the UDT teams (SDV and otherwise), occasionally SEAL Team 1, Force RECON and even had the chance to work with some Army Rangers once as they were conducting Helo water insertions and recovery training. Read More

	Commissioning article with 13 insignia	1986-Active & Reserve, Officers and Enlisted --
	Plankowner's certificate	1984 - Active and Reserve, Officers and Enlisted --
		1981 - Doc's guys.. Lt Bennett, Doc Greenough next to LT Pryor, Ltjg Eberling can you ID the rest of the guys?? Click HERE for very large format version.
		SBU-13 command history
			Rosters



Seven Man Teams for SBU-13

SBU-13 Seafox Crews, 1985.

Low Res	High Res		Whatever the odds...	Det Kodiak

			This cartoon represents when we did SHOBA Range Patrol at San Clemente Island. The patrols were long and boring and lasted 1 week at a time, Monday - Friday. The Uniform of the Day was shorts, boots and hats. We did lots of fishing and trading with the local fishermen.
Seafox Drawing	Seafox Cartoon

Boat Pictures

Deployment training for Persian Gulf, 1988. En2 McKinney, ET2 Hunter, GMG2 Eschbaugh.	PB MKIII & SWCC tied to pier at N.A.B., Coronado	UDT-12 frogmen cast from SBU-13 PB MKIII off San Clementi Is.	"Big Ski", GMC Leroy Gerzkowski, later Command Master Chief	Lt. Phil Garn


GMG1 Gray, EN2 McKinney, OS2 "Mad Dog" Evanouski.	1990- Lt Phil Garn, GM Brian Eschbaugh, Robin McKinney, Tom Folkeson.	LT Greybill	PCF Swift Boats, MKII828, Mk1 104.	Lt Brian Herring.


GMG Gray, preps fuses on 81mm illumination round for night gunshot on MKIII PB.	Seafox SWCC at speed 1987.	SBU-13 and SBU-X1 deploys boats to Washington for OP Northern Hawk aboard USS Fort Fisher. Note SBU-13 Sea Foxes, SBU-X1 PBR's. In well deck SBUX1 MiniATCs.	Mad Dog Evanouski finishes a sardine breakfast while OIC up chucks breakfast.	PB MKIII, note SBU-13 insignia and CO's pennent. 25mm chain gun on bow.


Heading out for a gunshoot. SBU-13 reserves spent much of their weekend drills at San Clemente Is doing gunshoots, seal support and FXP-6 drills.qA	MKIII PB at speed. Note SBU-13 CO Pennant flying . That means Commanding Officer on board.	20mm Mk16 Cannon on PB MKIII, 850 rounds per min.	Operation Earnest Will, Persian Gulf 1988. SBU-13 MKIII. Pouncer Intercepts Dhow, getting too close to Bangi.	GMG Bill Danforth off San Clementi Is. 60mm Mortar MK4 (Naval) being fired by trigger.Note aimsights , lightweight and fits into a tripod.


Persian Gulf - 1988 "Operation Earnest Will". Wimbrown 7, NSWTU(PAC)MEF Home to SEALS, Spec Boat Dets, Marines, Army & Air Force and one serious deterrent to Iran. Note one PB on barge undergoing maintenance. SBU-12 & 13 provided the MKIII PBs and crews.	GMCS Jim Gray on Kuwaiti Navy Boat, 1993.	PB753 "Dragon Boat" on Day Patrol, Persian Gulf 1988.	This is 1992 and it is an Iranian Boghammer brought back to Coronado after being sunk during Operation Earnest Will. Special Boat Unit-13 had two and they were used as “aggressor boats” against the fleet in exercises.	Persian Gulf 1988 -Mines were a big threat in the Gulf to tankers and even "Boats" if it was a floater. The joe was "anybody could be mine sweeper ONCE!"


Iranian Boghamer from "Operation Earnst Will." Note on the bow the box is 107mm rocket launchers and also carried 51 cal on stern, plus RPGs & SAAM missles.	SBU-13 24' Willard RIB 1990 Support Combat Swimmer Ops.	SBU-13 Op Earnst Will PB753, 1988	Jeff Hunter Photo - SEAFOX at sunset on OP NORTHERN HAWK. I remember we were going out to do a night mission, but don't remember exactly what that mission was. Maybe it was to find LT Stans infamous "Lost Platoon" from SEAL Team Three, remember that one ?


PB & SeaFoxes at Wilson Cove, SCI	GMG2 Brian Eschbaugh on a hot day in Persian Gulf 1988 with his " M-60 Back Pack" 600rds 7.62 mm ready to go.	Brain Ekberg on MTT with Kuwaiti Navy Jan.1993, on board Kuwaiti navy boat, a modified civilian speed boat as most of their navy was lost during1990-91War. Note Kuwaiti Navy crewman on lookout.....and its close to lunch time.	Gunner engages "moving" targets on SCI with his 20mm Mk16. Note expended brass being ejected and on deck. Photo credit ENC Ed Bermender

PHOTO CREDIT RICK DOUGHMAN more photos here.

GMG1 JIMMY PENDERGRASS ARMORER AND MAA FOR SBU-13	GMC BILL DANFORTH SBU-13 OUTSIDE CORONADO BASE ARMORY

PHOTO CREDIT LT PHIL GARN

LTJG Garn with captured AK-47	Prepping for night op in Puget Sound. SBU-13 ACDUTRA Lt. Randy Morgani Platoon	.50 cal shoot of PB MKIII	Lowering SBU-13 SWCL into water at Vallejo (SBU-11) for ACDUTRA	SeaFox gunshoot, M-60 & .50 cal at SCI


SBU-13 ACDUTRA SeaFox Sacramento River Delta, Jay Duenas	EN2 McKinney, GMC Gray, HMC Greenough sitting on a SeaFox.	Lt Garn shoots .50 cal from SeaFox	ASDV PB and Fountain Speedboat off SCI 1990 SBU-12 & SBR-1 ex. Lt Jack Spratt SBU-12	SWCls Vallejo SBU-13 ACDUTRA


SBU-13 SWCLs and PBs with SBU-11 Minis in Vallejo.	PBR in Mike Boat SBU-11 Puget Sound ACDUTRA	SBU-13 SWCL Crew ACDUTRA Sacramento River. b. Hackett, T. Folkesson, J. Duenas, P. Garn.	PB Sacramento River Delta SBU-13 ACDUTRA	Off loading SBU-13 SWCL at Vallejo for ACTDUTRA


SBU-12 PB's op at Vallejo ACDUTRA	Infamous gunshoot at SCI.50cals away	TOC crew Mission Bay, Brian Eschbaugh, Phil Farn, Jeff Hunter, Robin "Rob" McKinney	TOC prepping for kayak ops. 1990. Hackert & Doc Kyle	Castle Rock gunshoot. ET2 Hunter, LT Ostrich


Garn & Eschbaugh canoe pair Mission Bay	TOC Canoe pairs, Garn, Eschbaugh, Hunter, McKinney		PB & SeaFoxes at Wilson Cove, SCI

06-23-07 Rory Towne Here are some more pic's. There are some of San Clemente Island and when I was Squadron Sailor of the Quarter.They had the base photographer take the pic's of the engine room of the 736. I had it looking great. It also ran great. The guy reading the book is Brian Larence. (Other Rory Towne photos HERE)



Added 11-06-07 The Gunboat Section

1993 SBU-13's Iranian Gunboat, a "prize" from Op.Earnst Will inserts "Agents" onto a hostile Golf course in Coronado.	After insertion the "Agents" watch the Iran Gunboat withdraw, Note the Coronado Apartments in Background. SBU-13 also had a Iranian Boghammer.	The Iranian Gun Boat AKA "the Flying Bathtub" on its trailer. a 40 knot boat powered by twin volvo penta engines check out those outdrives.	SBU-13 Gunboat loading out for a ship attack, note 50calMG with BFA	The second Iranian Gunboat, a Boghammer, here captured by a SBUXI PBR in a wargame in 1991


SBU-13 24' Willard RHIBs frozen in Kodiak Alaska	Newly minted LCDR Bob Koerber Training Officer and 24'Hurricane RHIB	SEAL Combat Swimmers in SWCL swimmers compartment check their dreggers before dive.	1993 awards ceremony at SBU-13	SEAFOX receives IBS squad of SEALs at San Clementi Is.

	Added 01-05-07 >
Familiar faces in 1992 Klein and Bronson		SBU-13 Practice water survival and IBS Training. 1984	Even SCPO Big Ski can find time for a break	SCPO Big Ski pauses in thought before addressing his remarks to the troops


Pulling the increment bags off 81mm HE round	Loading a 81mm mortar	Loader just dropped in a 81mm mortar round down the tube.	81mm Mortar round going down the tube, the loader quickly ducks to avoid the muzzle blast	81mm Mortar and 50cal MG on stern of PBMKIII LT Herring and GMG1 Gray


An old MK67 mount firing, note ammo stowage box built into mount.	Lt. Bare firing M-79


13 boys fun on 24ft Willards 1991, note new Squadron building being built.	McKinney, Hale, Murrain, Marler, Hunter Back turned unknown	Gary Hunt on SEAFOX	SEAFOX on step

Added 03-10-08

SBU-13 milling about smartly before Blues Inspection 1981	SBU-13 forming up for Inspection. No those aren't all CPOs, those are the enlisted Zuwalt Dress Uniforms which were not Popular	Addressing the Command	Awards Ceremony, but note the crackerjack uniform making its comeback into the 1981.	Doc's guys.. Lt Bennett, Doc Greenough next to LT Pryor, Ltjg Eberling can you ID the rest of the guys??

Ray Evanouski and John Nickols.	PB753 off San Clementi Is, I.D'd Norris, Greenough, Berry, possibly Lipe on helm.	Sea Specter PB MKIII note SBU-13 insignia	50cal gunshoot	Gun run on beach SCI, Doc in the casual attire.

SBU-13, 1981 photo. Note the Zumwalt enlisted uniforms.	BM1 Al Stroup in the GULF during Earnst Will

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Special Boat Unit - 13