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The "Alpha" Boat was used primarily as a riverine "minesweeper" because it was built of steel and specifically built for the Vietnam War. The US Navy's Swift Boats were built on an off the shelf, already existing civilian model, that was purchased by the navy and modified for military use; they were all Aluminum, 50 feet long, and were manned by five crewmen and one officer. The PBR's (Patrol Boat Rivers) were all fiberglass, jet water propulsion (no propellers), 32 footers, with five crewmen and NO officer in command of the boat. The Alpha Boat was short for ASPB, Assault Support Patrol Boat, and was the only Riverine Boat serving in the "Brown Water Navy" that was DESIGNED & CONSTRUCTED from the keel up for the Riverine Forces in Vietnam. It was specifically built to withstand under water explosions. Although many were sunk in Vietnam, the US Navy still let them lead the way when heading up river..."mine-sweeping."
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What was the brown water navy?
The US Navy's "Riverine Force" in the Vietnam War. The riverine force operated Monitors, Alpha boats, PBRs, and Swift Boats.
What are the names of inland waterways in south Vietnam?
Look at the website, "Coastal Squadron One" Swift Boat Crew Directory. USN riverine forces operated on nearly all of the waterways in South Vietnam.
What is a small navy boat?
Although US subs, such as the GATO class during WWII exceeded 300 feet in length, generally (among US Sailors) any surface vessel less than 200 feet was a boat, longer than that was a ship. For US Navy "small combatants", those are the Vietnam era riverine boats used by the USN's "Brown Water Navy" in the war (Riverine Forces). The US Navy Swift Boat (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast) was an all aluminum 50 foot "small navy boat." The all fiberglass PBR (Patrol Boat River) was a 32 foot "small navy boat."
What weapons were invented during the Vietnam War?
A full range of riverine vessels including the Swift Boat. The M-16 rifle.
Who sponsored Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?
Possibly US Sailors that served in the Brown Water Navy (US Navy Riverine Forces) in Vietnam. Swift Boats (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast) were only one of several riverine boats in the war: PBR's (Patrol Boat River-built of fiberglass, jet water powered/seen in the film "Apocalypse Now"); Monitors (converted WW2 Landing Craft, made of steel, and armed with either a 40mm or 105mm cannon in a forward turret-river battleships); Alpha Boats (ASPB-Assault Support Patrol Boat) built of steel, and used for mine sweeping the rivers; Swift Boats (PCF's) were all aluminum built, 5 crewmen and one officer in charge, fifty foot long-Senator Kerry was a commander on a PCF.
Which USN riverine boat was especially built from the drawing board up for the Vietnam War?
The ASPB (Assault Support Patrol Boat), called the "Alpha Boat" in South Vietnam. About 50 feet long and built of steel at the Gunderson Plant in Oregon. Oregon made about 87 of these riverine boats, none survived to return to the US. In the US today, there are two Swift Boats, several PBRs, and one Monitor on display, but no Alpha boats.
Riverine forces in Vietnam?
The US Navy's Riverine Forces were part of the US Navy's Brown Water Navy; only the second time it was created. The first time was the US Civil War (1861-1865). The Brown Water Navy (Riverine Forces) used: Swift Boats (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast, all aluminum 50' foot long boats); PBR's (Patrol Boat River-fiberglass 32 foot long boats); Alpha boats (ASPB-Assault Support Patrol Boats, all steel contructed boats); and Monitors (River Battleships).
When did the Riverine War start?
The French had already been fighting a riverine war since 1946; operating primarily WWII USN surplus landing craft, such as the LCMs, LVT, LCI, etc. (Landing Craft Medium, Landing craft vehicle tank, Landing craft Infantry, etc.). The French did design one original riverine war boat during the war however, the RAG boat. The model company "Monogram" used to market this plastic model kit. RAG stood for River Assault Group, and was manned by French and South Viet crewmen. When USN forces entered the fray (replacing the French) they observed/studied the RAG boat, and went to work designing the ONLY US Riverine Boat designed and built specifically for the Vietnam War...the "Alpha Boat", officially designated the ASPB (Assault Support Patrol Boat). The Alpha boat was totally constructed from steel from a company in Oregon. US Riverine Forces officially began operating as the USN Brown Water Navy in December 1965. With the new all aluminum Swift Boats (PCF) and all fiberglass PBR's entering into combat the same year. The Swift Boats and PBRs were modified from civilian water-craft to meet USN wartime standards. The USN Monitor was simply a WWII LCM (Landing Craft Medium) modified with armor and a gun turret (usually a 40mm cannon).
What was the brown water navy?
The US Navy's "Riverine Force" in the Vietnam War. The riverine force operated Monitors, Alpha boats, PBRs, and Swift Boats.
Where was the alpha boat useful?
Of the four riverine boats operated by the USN's Brown Water Navy in South Vietnam, only the ASPB (Alpha) was designed and built specifically for the Vietnam War. The famed Swift Boat (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast) was actually a design taken from an oil rig transport boat that took workmen to and from oil rig sites in the Gulf of Mexico. The PBR (Patrol Boat River) was a quick design based upon civilian pleasure craft, and the Monitor was simply a converted WWII LCM (Landing Craft Medium). The ASPB (Alpha boat) was designed and built by the Gunderson Brothers out of Portland Oregon in 1966. The vessels were designed to be mine proof and heavily armed for combat specifially on the rivers of South Vietnam; and they arrived in country in 1967. The Brown Water Navy primarily used Alpha boats for mine-sweeping, in which they often led the way of the riverine boats as they deployed up and down the rivers. They were a little over 50' long and 15' wide, and displaced roughly 25 tons. Powered by two 475 hp diesels, and manned by six crewmen, the machine had a speed of about 16 knots, and was armed with 2 fifties, a 20mm and one 81mm mortar. The Alpha boat was considered the "destroyer" of the Brown Water Navy (while the Monitor was called the "battleship" of the riverine forces; this vessel was armed with either a 40mm or 105mm cannon mounted in a turret).
What are the names of inland waterways in south Vietnam?
Look at the website, "Coastal Squadron One" Swift Boat Crew Directory. USN riverine forces operated on nearly all of the waterways in South Vietnam.
Life in a us army boat platoon?
US Army boat units certainly served in WWII. And the US Army's 9th Infantry Division conducted riverine operations in MR-4 (Military Region 4/Mekong Delta) South Vietnam. However, the US Navy operated it's Brown Water Navy's Riverine Forces, not the US Army. The USN Brown Water Navy consisted of several riverine units, just to name a few of them: Riverine Assault Squadrons; Riverine Patrol Squadrons; Coastal Squadrons; River Support Squadrons; Mobile Riverine Forces; etc. And, they were organized differently, for example, a "Riverine Assault Squadron" might have (numbers will always vary based upon losses or deadlines (deadline=down for maintenance): 2 divisions; each div=8 ASPB/3 Monitors/13 ATC/2 CCB (ASPB-Assault Support Patrol Boat (aka Alpha Boat); ATC-Armored Troop Carrier; CCB-Command & Control Boat; a Monitor was a river battleship). A PBR (Patrol Boat River) squadron might have 5 riverine divisions; each division consisting of 4 or 5 sections (each section consisting of 10 Pibbers (PBRs). (Nick-named the "Plastics", all fiberglass 32 footers). PCF (Patrol Craft Fast/SWIFT BOATS) were assigned to "Coastal Squadrons": A squadron might have 5 divisions; each division consisting of up to 19 Swift Boats. (All aluminum 50 footers, twin diesel engines, 1 officer & 5 crewmen; 3 .50 Caliber Browning Machineguns, and one 81mm mortar). Life aboard those riverine boats was patrolling by day, and if intelligence indicated strong enemy activity, patrols were conducted at night. Sailors stayed in shore or floating barracks; or aboard their crafts, if the campaign called for it.
What is a small navy boat?
Although US subs, such as the GATO class during WWII exceeded 300 feet in length, generally (among US Sailors) any surface vessel less than 200 feet was a boat, longer than that was a ship. For US Navy "small combatants", those are the Vietnam era riverine boats used by the USN's "Brown Water Navy" in the war (Riverine Forces). The US Navy Swift Boat (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast) was an all aluminum 50 foot "small navy boat." The all fiberglass PBR (Patrol Boat River) was a 32 foot "small navy boat."
What forces are on a speedboat?
what are the forces of a speed boat
What was the US Navy role in Vietnam?
For the first time since the US Civil War, the US Navy created a "Brown Water Navy" to operate separately from their "Blue Water Navy" (Regular Fleet). While the regular fleet provided air strikes (aircraft carriers); and the battleship (USS New Jersey), cruisers (8 & 6 inch guns), destroyers (5 inch guns) provided naval gunfire support along the Gun Line; the Brown Water Navy operated the Riverine Forces consisting of Swift Boats (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast/all aluminim 50 footers), PBR's (Patrol Boat River-all fiberglass 32 footers), Alpha Boats (ASPB-all steel constructed Assault Support Patrol Boats), and Monitors (River Battleships). The ALPHA Boats were the only original "built just for Vietnam" (Made in Oregon) riverine boats, and were built to withstand River mines. Thusly, they often led the way down the rivers, as Mine Sweepers. Only one Riverine boat is suspected of being destroyed by North Vietnamese Aircraft: PCF-19 was possibly sunk by a NVAF helicopter in a running gun battle. See Swift Boat Down, by James Steffes (2005); ISBN 1-59926-612-1
What weapons were invented during the Vietnam War?
A full range of riverine vessels including the Swift Boat. The M-16 rifle.
Who sponsored Swift Boat Veterans for Truth?
Possibly US Sailors that served in the Brown Water Navy (US Navy Riverine Forces) in Vietnam. Swift Boats (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast) were only one of several riverine boats in the war: PBR's (Patrol Boat River-built of fiberglass, jet water powered/seen in the film "Apocalypse Now"); Monitors (converted WW2 Landing Craft, made of steel, and armed with either a 40mm or 105mm cannon in a forward turret-river battleships); Alpha Boats (ASPB-Assault Support Patrol Boat) built of steel, and used for mine sweeping the rivers; Swift Boats (PCF's) were all aluminum built, 5 crewmen and one officer in charge, fifty foot long-Senator Kerry was a commander on a PCF.
