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SEAL/MST OPERATIONS FROM SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR IN 1970

by

GMCM (SW) Robert H. Stoner (Ret.)

A daylight transit on the big north-south canal just east of the village we called the "Annex" (the village was about 5 km from SEA FLOAT). Both the MSSC and LSSC (to the rear and right in the photo) are "on-step" and at maximum speed. Note the 7.62mm Mini-gun installation of the MSSC. Photo: Bob Stoner

MSSCs from detachments "Charlie" and "Bravo" on the beach at SOLID ANCHOR. EN2 Don King (kneeling) is talking to BM2 Austin Moore (mugging for the camera). Bravo's MSSC is getting some maintenance done on its radar. Note the scrounged helo gunship ammo boxes for the M-60 machineguns. Also, the mangled front steps on the front of Charlie's MSSC. These steps were always getting damaged or broken and were no help to SEALs on extraction. Eventually, most dets just rigged a nylon cargo net over the bow to help the SEALs get aboard. Photo: Bob Stoner

An M-60 gunner's perspective of a canal around SOLID ANCHOR. Note the exposed bank. Operations were scheduled to take advantage of in-coming tidal waters in the canals. If you were in one of the smaller versions, and the tide was going out, you'd better get out because you'd be high and dry until it came back in. Photo: Bob Stoner

An early morning extraction of a SEAL squad from the LSSC's perspective. Note the two blue-lens strobe lights. This was the signal to come in for the extraction. From the shadows on the water there are at least four SEALs on the beach. Photo: Bob Stoner

My converted A/N M-3 aircraft ..50 machinegun on the starboard weapon mount of the MSSC. Note the ammunition feed arrangement. We used bungee cords and nylon line to hold the ammo boxes to the outside of the boat. This is a 426-round ammo box for .50 ammunition. Just visible to the right is a box for 7.62mm ammo for the M-60. The ballistic nylon, vinyl-covered "flak blanket" is laced to the inside of the boat's interior. Underneath the flak blanket were ceramic armor tiles. Photo: Bob Stoner

Low tide at SOLID ANCHOR. The armored troop carriers (ATC or Tango boats) are beached. The piers at the rear have any assortment of ATCs and PCFs ("Swift" boats). Note the two sandbagged bunkers on the river bank and the "two hole" head (white shack). The guard tower at the rear marks the east edge of the base. Across the canal and in back of it is the camp for the Vietnamese "Kit Carson Scouts" (KCS), who were ex-enemy soldiers now supposedly working for the South Vietnamese side. (Right! That's why one of the two SEAL advisors was always awake while the other slept at their camp.) Photo: Bob Stoner

The Det. Bravo MSSC snuggles up to its Det. Charlie sister at SOLID ANCHOR. The vulnerability of the aluminum boarding steps is clearly shown. The LSSC is in the background. To the right and rear is what is left of the SEA FLOAT barges. The local Vietnamese stripped them of their plywood for building materials. These barges were used to rebuild Song Ong Doc (BREEZY COVE) after it was destroyed. Photo: Bob Stoner

RM2 Jimmy Wells (left) converses with RD2 "Wally" Wallace (center) on Det. Charlie's LSSC. The flak jackets in back of Wallace are piled on the stanchion for the radar which was removed as unnecessary. This is the usual armament arrangement for our two LSSCs: two M-60s midships and a .50 BMG aft. Photo: Bob Stoner

Det. Charlie's LSSC just pulling back from the insertion of a SEAL squad somewhere along the Song Cau Lon. This shot was taken from the MSSC. Photo: Bob Stoner