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“Long before American combat troops arrived in Southeast Asia, the
CIA was conducting covert operations and programs to bolster the South
Vietnamese government.” [Douglas Pike, WIS, p. 34] Initially the CIA Maritime forces used junks rigged for clandestine
missions. Soon many other craft were procured to provide the different
mission support necessary to meet the goals of the command authority. Some
of these boats are outlined here.
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As the Vietnam war was drawing to a close more modern
craft were being introduced. Some of these presented here are
pre-Vietnam War era to bring the history up to the end of that war.
As important as the technical aspects of the boats is
the stories of the men that served aboard them. There stories are
recorded under the units that they served with. This chapter
attempts organize that information into an easy to find summary of
this history. |
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The
Warboats of Vietnam are highlighted in this
section with a technical description, any photos
received and many personal experiences aboard the
vessel. More Here |
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Boat
Support Unit Summary compiled by
GMCM Jim Gray (SWCC) Ret,
BSU-1 was originally established by CNO on 1 February 1964 a
component command of Naval Operations Support Groups, Pacific. Its mission
was to administer the newly reinstated PTF (Patrol Torpedo Fast) Boat
program and to operate high-speed craft in support of Naval Special
Warfare Operations, this primarily in conjunction with UDT and SEAL units.
More Here |
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The Family Tree - This was created to provide an
opportunity for BSU/CRD and SBU members to contribute any
piece of history they choose. If you have photos of
people or boats send them along for the record. If you know
the location or email of a former BSU or any of the
later SBU, CRS or SBS members, send them along for the
directory. More Here |
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DaNang
Harbor - this is a great collection of photos,
maps, drawings and genuine seastories. In 2007 a
veteran returned to the area and shared a selection
of photo of the base as it is in service today.
More Here |
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PTF
Nasty.com is
the website that got all of this started. An early
website and some photo of PTFs taken by a tin can
sailor has evolved from a PTF website to this
warboats.org website and beyond. If you haven't seen
this site, Click
Here. |
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USN/USCG
Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument/Small Boat Display - In the early 1990's a
concept was developed that a memorial which listed not
only the names of the individuals who died in Vietnam,
but their date of passing and the unit to which they
were attached would provide additional meaning to a
memorial display. Visit
it HERE |
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GMCM Robert Stoner (Ret) is
our resident author and story
teller. He has amassed a great
collection of photos, drawings and
technical material that he shares in
his different articles. This is a
summary of his works.
Bob's Bio Here |
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Sea
Float/Solid Anchor
were joint US/Vietnamese
attempts to inject an allied
presence into An Xuyen Province, 175
miles southwest of Saigon.
More Here |
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U.S. Combatants – Gulf of Tonkin Incident
A summary of US and Soviet
vessels involved in the now famous
incidents in the Gulf.
More Here. |
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Naval Special Warfare: Small Combatant
Craft Development History, an Informal History This
is a rare collection of photos and
description of craft from the US and
No. Vietnamese. . . .
More Here |
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Coastal River Division - 21 In the July - August 1972 time
frame, Naval Reservists in the Midwest Were told about the
formation of a new units at Great Lakes, IL. This unit was were initially scheduled to operate
fast patrol boats (PTF). . . .
More Here |
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Stoner Ordnance Notes: A
complete technical description of
the weapons used during the Vietnam
War .
More Here |
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Stoner Briefing: The Fabulous Flops of Naval
Engineering
The Shallow Water Attack Boat
(SWAB) was a 28-foot (later 31-foot)
Bertram Yachts, Miami, Florida,
design. It was designed to ambush
larger vessels and devastate them .
. . .
More Here |
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Introducing Bob's newest series - The Brown Water
Navy in Vietnam |
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Operation Market Time:
TF-116
was the Navy’s effort to stop troops
and supplies from flowing into So.
Vietnam from No. Vietnam by way of
the South China Sea and Gulf of
Thailand. . .
More Here |
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Operation Game Warden: TF-116
Task Force 116 was established on
December 18, 1965. During the
Vietnam War, there were over 50 LSTs
serving in direct support of the
Navy’s . .
Start Here |
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Mobile Riverine Force:
TF-117
The
purpose of the MRF was to support an
infantry brigade and an artillery
battalion using modified landing
craft, support ships. .
More Here |
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Naval Bases and
Support Activities -
South
Vietnam was divided into four Corps
areas: I Corps was in the North, II
Corps was the central highlands, III
was the area around the capital city
of Saigon, and IV Corps extended
from the Mekong River Delta.
More Here |
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