Another Vietnam Memorial…

Posted on by March 6, 2013
This one is located on NB Coronado and is dedicated to the Brown Water Navy and the USCG units that supported coastal operations.    

The memorial includes a ‘wall’ listing the major awards folks received and lists the losses from serving in the various units.

There are three ‘boats’ on display, a “Command Communications Boat”, an ex- LCM that was converted to provide comms, and support to Swift boats and PBRs.  They were ‘dog’ slow (8kts) hence the heavy protection.  The ‘fencing’ around the sides and upperworks was to detonate 40mm grenades and RPGs before they actually hit the boat.

A “Swift boat” (AKA PCF), purpose built for coastal and riverine patrol, this one is painted in coastal ‘colors’ e.g. Navy Gray.  The riverine version had black and green camo paint jobs.  These could run up to 30 kts, were UNARMORED and relied on speed and manueverability.  They had twin 50’s up top and 

As you look forward past the bow in the picture below, you can see part of the memorial wall, and the over/under 50 cal and grenade launcher, correction 81MM closed breech mortar (thanks Master Cheif).

Lastly, a  Patrol Boat River (AKA PBR).  These were lightly armored, 35kts and used for single mission 12-16 hour patrols. They were also relatively ‘small’ compared to the other units, and were the first water jet powered units used by the Navy.

God bless ALL the men that went out and fought these boats…

Comments

Another Vietnam Memorial… — 17 Comments

  2. The PCF in the photo shows a railing about the aft deck. I never saw that in an operational boat – as discussed at lunch.

    All that being said, the Brown Water Navy was a very interesting chapter in the evolution of the US Navy. And with few exceptions, was covered in valor.

  3. LL that exception is Kerry, and OLD NFO, I sent this link to my buddy who is an exBWN vet. He was a survivor of the sinking of my ship (a MM3) and after his leave went to Washington state for training. I ask him, ‘…dude, did you tell the Navy it wasn’t your fault the ship sunk?’ But he has some interesting stories, too.

  5. Coffeypot – Secretary of State Kerry is covered with something but it’s not valor.

    Maybe we need to sic the ghost of the dead Mr. Hines on him?

  6. Thanks for the education.

    I knew a bit about the River Patrol Boats, but next to nothing about the Swift Boats.

  7. MSgt- You’re not THAT old…LOL

    LL- Understood, and I was wondering after I took the pics yesterday. Thanks!

    CP- Thanks and yes Kerry WAS the exception…

    WSF- if you survived…

    LL- LOL

    drjim- Hellva boat, NO armor!!!

  9. Didn’t learn of them until I’d come home; found them most interesting then.

    On a purely practical note, I wonder what it was like to man a 50 cal at 30 knots on water. Hah!

    Praise, thanks, and respect to them all. Except the one turncoat whose name shall be mentioned only after Voldemort.

  10. I always enjoy looking around old war museums and such. It is interesting to see how some things have changed and how some things never change.

  11. ND- Thanks for the link!

    Bob- I’d think ‘busy’ would be a good word… balance, aim, hang on for dear life…

    Duke- True!

  12. OLD NFO – pretty sure the 50/grenade launcher was actually a MaDeuce ‘mated’ to a closed breech 81mm mortar -‘created’ by a CG GM (or 3).
    As to the Swift boats – their original purpose was to provide near coastal protection for the ‘big boys’ doing gunfire support missions. Their role changed (support/assist the PBRS – weren’t enough to go around)shortly after jeffenk got placed in command of one – why do you think he had such a short ‘command’ tour?

    OTB MCPO (Coastie type) sends

  16. The CCB came from my unit, SBU-XI, the Mk II PBR most likely as well.
    We had a system similar to the Ma Deuce/81mm on the PBR’s but with a 60mm Naval Mortar and an M60. We used the 60 mortars for illum mostly.
    One of my most valued career “achievements” was NOBC 9279 “OIC Combatant Craft”