563:, often fired from behind earthen bunkered positions. Engagements were brief and violent, with the ambushers often slipping away into the undergrowth when the boats located the source of attack and began to concentrate their return fire. When attacked the boats would accelerate out of the hot zone, turn and then return as a group, firing as many of their guns as they could bring to bear. They would power past the ambush point, turn and return to attack again until the ambushers were either killed or slipped away. Though most cruising and patrolling was done at 8 to 10 knots, the boats could reach a top speed of 32 knots. Thick brush and vegetation in the delta provided excellent cover for the escaping ambushers. Casualties taken among the river crews were high. Casualties suffered among the VC were difficult to assess, as they would take their dead and wounded away from a firefight. Discovering newly dug graveyards was one of the few ways to confirm VC losses.
1318:
1247:
1118:
1168:
1208:
713:
1190:
936:, which was engaged in a naval gunfire support mission in the same general area, came under attack from an unidentified jet aircraft. The jet fired two missiles at the ship: one exploded 200 yards (180 m) off the port beam; and the other close aboard to port, showering the ship with fragments. No sailors were injured, and the missiles caused only minor structural damage to the ship. At 03:09, while
701:
1222:
1093:
380:
232:
1154:
1136:
941:
into the chief petty officers' mess and nearby spaces, killing one sailor and wounding two others. The ship took evasive action but temporarily lost radar contact with the aircraft. At 03:16, two more missiles hit the ship, destroying the gunners' store and damaging other spaces, including the engineers' workshop, the seamen's mess, the missile director room, the
346:, in which the falling projectile's primer struck the fixed firing pin at the base of the mortar tube, but a unique lanyard firing weapon in which the projectile was still loaded into the muzzle. The gunner could "fire at will" by the use of the lanyard. The weapon had been tested in the 1950s and discarded as the U.S. Navy lost interest in the system. The
1904:
484:
1317:
24:
868:
stopped to observe the scene and saw two aircraft appeared off its beams again with lights on. The boat commander contacted the marine observer and inquired about their status. The marines told him that they could not identify the aircraft because they did not have their identification, friend or foe
365:
In the latter half of 1967, 46 Mark II boats, with a modified deck house set further back from the bow. The newer boats also had round port holes (replacing larger sliding windows) in the aft superstructure. From 1969 through 1972, 33 Mark IIIs, which were a larger version of the Mark IIs, arrived in
830:
was struck by two missiles, one struck the cabin just below the pilothouse on the port side, the other hit the engine room. The boat sank in four minutes. Four of its crewmen were killed, and two others badly injured. The remaining crew managed to swim free from the sinking craft and cling to a life
602:
was lost that same year in an ambush when it was hit by fire from a 57 mm recoilless rifle. Its controls destroyed and coxswain killed, it ran aground at speed. When the crew ran out of ammunition it had to be abandoned. It was recovered the next day but was too badly damaged to be repaired, so
329:
Detroit marine diesel engines rated at 480 horsepower (360 kW) each, with a design range from 320 nautical miles (590 km) at 21 knots (39 km/h) to about 750 nautical miles (1,390 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h). The normal complement for a Swift Boat was six: an officer in charge
534:
Swift Boats generally operated in teams of three to five. Each boat had an officer in charge, one of whom would also be placed in overall charge of the mission. Their missions included patrolling the waterways, searching water traffic for weapons and munitions, transporting South
Vietnamese marine
1265:
Former U.S. Navy
Vietnam veterans, from the Swift Boat Sailors' Association, visited Malta in 2010 and said the Malta Swifts were the last two still in service, out of hundreds that were built. One of the two patrol boats headed back to the United States to become a memorial in summer 2012 at the
940:
was searching a 5-mile radius area between the coast and Tiger Island with its radar, it detected a single aircraft tracking east. The aircraft was not squawking IFF. An attempt was made to identify the aircraft by visual gun direction personnel on the bridge. Five minutes later a missile slammed
542:
When the Swift Boats began making forays up the waterways into the interior of the delta, they initially took the carriers by surprise, causing them to drop their materials and run off into the overgrowth. Occasionally a short firefight would break out. As it became clear that control of the
854:
was 3 miles (4.8 km) from the river mouth, crewmembers observed two sets of aircraft lights off the port and starboard beam, about 300 yards (270 m) away and 100 feet (30 m) above the water. The boat commander immediately got on the radio and requested permission to engage the
1075:
The M2 machine gun was replaced by a domestically produced 12.7 mm NSV gun, which had fewer jamming problems and was easier for the crews to maintain. The electronic and communication systems were also overhauled. Some PCFs captured have a DsHK HMG and an AGS-17 AGL mounted on top.
546:
For the Swifts, coming back down river was always more dangerous than going up river. The passage of a patrol assured their eventual return, providing an opportunity for the VC. Ambushes were typically short lived affairs, set up at a river bend or in a narrow canal that restricted the
863:
came about, increased speed and moved away from the kill zone while bringing its .50-caliber guns to bear against an aerial target hovering at 1,000 feet (300 m) with lights blinking. The aircraft decreased altitude and turned off its lights. After a short time,
945:
checkout room, and the chiefs' mess (again). This second attack killed an officer and wounded other sailors. As the aircraft turned to make a third pass, one of the ship's gun turrets fired five rounds and the aircraft turned and retreated. Fourteen minutes later
530:
The Mekong Delta is composed of ten thousand square miles of marshland, swamps and forested areas. The region is interlaced by rivers and canal ways. Controlled by the VC, the interior waterways of the Mekong Delta were used to transport supplies and weapons.
432:
Most of the 193 PCFs built were used by the U.S. Navy in
Vietnam and the two training bases in California. About 80 of the boats constructed were sold or given away to nations friendly to the United States. The original training base for Swift Boats was at
850:, which had arrived on the scene at 01:50 to continue the search for survivors, noticed illumination rounds being fired that were not their own. Opting to investigate, the officer in charge ordered the boat to speed to the Cua Viet River. When
961:, Commander Seventh Fleet, appointed Rear Admiral S. H. Moore, Commander Task Group 77.1/70.8, to conduct an informal investigation into the various firing incidents occurring between 15 and 17 June. The board determined that Air Force
511:, led to the incorporation of Swifts to patrol the 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of rivers and canals of Vietnam's interior waterways. Swift Boats continued to operate along the Vietnamese coastal areas, but with the start of Admiral
341:
ammunition box on the stern, improved habitability equipment such as bunks, a refrigerator and freezer, and a sink. The 81 mm combination mortar mounted on the rear deck was not a gravity firing mortar as used by the Army and
1333:, the vessel was awarded to the college in 1995 and has been used in oceanographic research and education since then. It is berthed at JEB Little Creek and operates in and around Chesapeake Bay. The second operational PCF,
799:
On the night of 15/16 June 1968, U.S. marine aircraft spotters on the ground began reporting unidentified helicopters near the DMZ. The first report stated that four helicopters had been detected and were proceeding toward
297:(NAVADGRP MACV) staff study titled "Naval Craft Requirements in a Counter Insurgency Environment," published 1 February 1965. The study was positively received, and the Navy began to search for sources. Sewart Seacraft of
1285:
and the worst peace-time accident suffered by
Maltese services personnel – killed five AFM soldiers and two policemen when illegal fireworks about to be dumped into the sea exploded on the bow of the small patrol boat.
543:
waterways was being contested, the VC developed a number of tactics to challenge the U.S. Navy. They set up ambushes, built obstructions in the canals to create choke points and began to place mines in the waterways.
1345:
There are two Swift Boats preserved in static displays in the United States. Both are former U.S. Navy Swift Boats that were originally stationed in
California to train PCF crews. One is located at the
1341:
in the service of Malta) is operational in San Diego, California at the
Maritime Museum of San Diego. The boat makes regular runs on weekends and is staffed with former Swift Boat sailors as narrators.
330:(skipper), a boatswains mate, a radar/radioman (radarman), an engineer (engineman), and two gunners (quartermaster and gunner's mate). In 1969, the crew was supplemented with a Vietnamese trainee.
527:
area in the southern tip of
Vietnam. Here they patrolled the waterways and performed special operations, including gunfire support, troop insertion and evacuation, and raids into enemy territory.
896:
then observed numerous lighted aircraft that appeared to be helicopters in the northern part of the area. These aircraft approached the U.S. vessels and made firing runs with their lights off.
2174:
2292:
932:
to conduct a surveillance mission in the vicinity of Tiger Island in attempt to flush out any enemy helicopters or waterborne craft operating from there. At 01:18 on the 17th,
2248:
325:
The Swift Boats had welded aluminum hulls about 50 feet (15 m) long with 13 feet (4.0 m) beam, and draft of about five feet (1.5 m). They were powered by a pair of
313:, which appeared nearly ideal. The Navy bought their plans, and asked Sewart Seacraft to prepare modified drawings that included a gun tub, ammo lockers, bunks, and a small
1593:
2218:
2572:
1017:
attacks on the 17th, however, no physical evidence supported these findings. Later research of the incident with surviving veterans and a review of salvage reports from
1474:
2118:
859:
received a single rocket from seaward at a low trajectory. The rocket passed a couple of feet over the main cabin and exploded in the water ten feet from the boat.
507:
limited their seaworthiness in open waters. These limitations, plus the difficulties being encountered in the interior waterways by the smaller, more lightly armed
1145:
1859:
448:, California, where it remained for the duration of the war. Though not a deep water boat, PCF training boats frequently transited from Mare Island, through the
808:
and by radar. Over the course of the night, Air Force pilots reported 19 additional helicopter sightings. On this same evening the guided missile heavy cruiser
609:
was lost to a rocket attack in 1969. Several other Swift Boats had been lost to river mines, but had been salvaged and either repaired or used for spare parts.
1298:
2091:
869:(IFF) transponders turned on. At 02:35, the aircraft near the beach fired 40–50 rounds of .50-caliber tracer fire at the PCF. All rounds landed astern.
1347:
337:
machine guns in a turret above the pilot house, an over-and-under .50-caliber machine gun – 81 mm mortar combination mounted on the rear deck, a
1429:
2476:
1309:
A Swift Mk.3-class PB-353 physically restored and converted to museum display at the re-launched
Philippine Navy Museum, Fort San Felipe, Cavite.
1614:
954:
about hostile aircraft in the area, came under attack by an unidentified aircraft. Lookouts and sonar confirmed a near miss astern by a missile.
904:
also returned fire intermittently for approximately 75 minutes. Neither vessel was damaged in the engagement; there were no personnel injured.
2166:
804:, just off the North Vietnamese coast at an altitude of 700–1,000 feet (210–300 m). These spotters observed the aircraft visually, using
2504:
2415:
2196:
880:, now back on the scene was attacked by a fixed-wing aircraft, which made two attack runs against the vessel. Both the commanding officer of
294:
1961:
333:
The first two PCFs were delivered to the Navy in late August 1965. The original water taxi design had been enhanced with two .50 caliber
2385:
2025:
1751:
2446:
1885:
1541:
1105:, taken from the former South Vietnam Navy. M2 HMG and other American-installed components replaced with NSV HMG or a DsHK and AGS-17.
397:
249:
2518:
2490:
2461:
1946:
1895:
419:
271:
2240:
1421:
1390:
997:
on the 17th. From the positions of
American vessels and attacking aircraft, the board concluded that Air Force aircraft attacked
969:
missiles on 17 June at 01:15 and one at 03:15 that same day. Fragments of
Sparrow missiles complete with serial numbers found on
962:
774:
2210:
2065:
1589:
460:, California in December 1969. This was the only Swift Boat lost during training operations. No crewmen were lost in the event.
1996:
1162:: The MN GC-201 Comandante Torrijos and MN GC-202 Presidente Porras acquired from the US in the 1980s for the Panamanian Navy.
317:. The Navy used those enhanced plans to request bids from other boat builders. Sewart Seacraft was chosen to build the boats.
2144:
1425:
1359:
434:
401:
253:
2114:
1441:
579:
1824:
491:
The first Swift Boats arrived in South Vietnam in October 1965. The boats were initially used as coastal patrol craft in
2567:
1267:
769:
350:
maintained the gun/mortar system before the Navy incorporated it into the PCF program. Many boats also mounted a single
1321:
A preserved PCF 104 boat in the middle, located at the Vietnam Unit Memorial Monument, Naval Amphibiious Base Coronado.
500:
2582:
472:
343:
390:
242:
210:
to interdict Vietcong movement of arms and munitions, transport South Vietnamese forces and insert SEAL teams for
2577:
1397:
1370:
Those who served on the boats in Vietnam and later became politicians include Nebraska Governor and U.S. Senator
733:
347:
2270:
2088:"South Vietnamese Navy Crewmembers on PCFs · Swift Boat Crew and Responsibilities · Swift Boat Sailors Memorial"
483:
1455:
on June 30, 2008, Swift Boat veterans objected to the prevalent use of the verb "swiftboating" as this type of
1199:
1057:
915:
801:
326:
1975:
1102:
1053:
819:, Cap Lay and Tiger Island. At 00:10 on the 16th, an unidentified aircraft fired three rockets or missiles at
2087:
2562:
742:
467:
units was the marshland that forms the northern shoreline of San Francisco Bay. This area, now known as the
1631:
977:
confirmed these findings. The case was therefore quite clear with regard to these two attacks on 17 June —
2542:
2354:
1181:
816:
665:
2293:"Swift Boat Sailors Association Memorial Ceremony - Honoring the 50 Swift Boat Sailors "Still on Patrol""
2244:
922:
632:
612:
When Vietnamization was implemented, several Swift Boats were turned over to the South Vietnamese Navy.
492:
23:
2326:
1448:" has entered American political jargon associating swift boat service with political smear tactics.
1471:, PBR, 32-foot (9.8 m) long, all fiberglass boat, with twin water jet propulsion, used on rivers.
1433:
1351:
504:
1459:
attack, stating that it is disrespectful to the men who served and died on the PCFs during Vietnam.
206:, initially to patrol the coastal areas and later for work in the interior waterways as part of the
2047:
1127:
761:
520:
468:
547:
maneuverability of the boats. A wide variety of portable weapons were used in attacks, including
1659:
1468:
1383:
1018:
958:
926:
809:
516:
508:
449:
357:
The original order for 50 boats was followed shortly by an additional order for 54 more Mark Is.
298:
203:
1502:
2514:
2500:
2486:
2472:
2457:
2442:
2411:
2377:
1942:
1891:
211:
2350:
2021:
1743:
1355:
1041:
832:
548:
314:
207:
1545:
1231:
1177:
985:
had been the victims of friendly fire. The board also investigated the 16 June attacks on
805:
519:" riverway interdiction strategy, their primary area of operations soon centered upon the
351:
338:
2061:
1673:
1920:
Steffes, p.68-71, official U.S. Navy OinC (Officer In Charge) PCF-12 After Action Report
1273:
The museum has a display paying tribute to the Maltese servicemen who died on board the
2331:
2214:
2170:
1375:
1123:
1061:
310:
2306:
2140:
815:, operating near the DMZ, also began reporting helicopter activity in the vicinity of
2556:
1908:
1281:) during an accident that occurred on September 7, 1984. The incident – known as the
1213:
1195:
966:
942:
900:
received heavy caliber automatic weapons fire from these aircraft and returned fire.
843:
718:
705:
681:
669:
591:
445:
2526:, August 9, 1968, Vol. 92 No. 6; "Viet Nam War: Fatal Error" (The World/Vietnam War)
2511:
War on the Rivers: A Swift Boat Sailor's Chronicle of the Battle of the Mekong Delta
1992:
1445:
1409:
1033:
524:
512:
199:
1564:
1329:
is operated by Tidewater Community College in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Formerly
1065:
2435:
1887:
War in the Shallows: U.S. Navy and Coastal and Riverine Warfare in Vietnam 1965-8
1405:
1401:
1282:
1173:
1069:
636:
464:
441:
379:
334:
231:
215:
96:
487:
PCFs carry a group of South Vietnamese marines up a narrow canal for insertion.
1812:
1393:
1371:
653:
457:
306:
302:
1689:"The United States Coast Guard's Piggyback 81mm Mortar/.50 cal. machine gun"
1645:
1437:
1379:
908:
503:(PAVN) forces in South Vietnam. However, the design's shallow draft and low
496:
1711:
1028:
shortly after the attack, found that the rocket entry holes in the hull of
475:
unit PBRs) up until 1995, when Mare Island was scheduled for base closure.
1688:
1032:
were 76.2mm in size—the size of a standard helicopter rocket carried by a
1246:
1227:
1037:
756:
595:
1938:
1098:
700:
587:
404: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
354:
in the forward peak tank, just in front of the forward superstructure.
256: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
578:, were lost in rough seas at the mouth of the Cua Viet River near the
2278:
1159:
2346:
838:
arrived on scene at 01:30. As soon as the survivors were on board,
684:
incident due to an unrelated incident in the same area the next day
452:
to cruise either north or south along the Pacific Ocean coastline.
2439:
White Water, Red Hot Lead: On Board US Navy Swift Boats in Vietnam
1615:"Việt Nam trang bị súng phóng lựu tự động AGS-17 cho giang thuyền"
1141:
560:
552:
482:
1907:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the
1072:. The Swift Boats are still active in the Vietnam People's Navy.
1358:; the second Swift Boat is on the Naval Special Weapons Base at
1301:
commemorating the island's maritime heritage on 10 August 2011.
556:
536:
1325:
There are two operational PCFs in the United States today. R/V
373:
225:
2543:
HNSA Ship Page: Swift Boats to visit as museums and memorials
2547:
888:
positively identified the aircraft as a "jet." The crews of
1712:"Notes on Mk 2 Mod 0 and Mod 1 .50 Caliber MG/81mm Mortar"
1064:
in 1975. The PCFs were quickly used in VPN operations at
2483:
Swift Boat Down: The real story of the sinking of PCF-19
2408:
Encyclopedia of Politics, the Media, and Popular Culture
2335:, David K. Shipler, May 28, 1986. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
1646:"WATCH: The Brown Water Navy and Swift Boats of Vietnam"
1024:, the ship that recovered the bodies and codebooks from
2537:
198:, were all-aluminum, 50-foot (15 m) long, shallow-
907:
On the afternoon of 16 June, Task Unit 77.1.0 ordered
846:
for a medevac to Danang. In the meantime, the crew of
1005:
on the 16th and that American aircraft also attacked
495:, interdicting seaborne supplies on their way to the
2454:
U.S. Small Combatants: An Illustrated Design History
1660:"NEW PATROL BOATS: Swiftships' swift boats for Iraq"
1436:
Kerry's military record was attacked by a political
2022:"PCF 816 Swift Boat - Maritime Museum of San Diego"
1251:: Khmer Rouge, captured from the US and Khmer Navy.
566:The first Swift Boat to be lost during the war was
1932:Swift Boat Down: The real story of the sinking of
1674:"Swiftships: The Sea's Best Aluminum Water Vessel"
1590:"Khám phá vũ khí mới trên tàu PCF VN sau nâng cấp"
1396:commanded a Swift Boat when he served in Vietnam.
2211:"Updated: Patrol boat explosion tragedy recalled"
2062:"Jane's Fighting Ships - Philippines swift boats"
2016:
2014:
1362:, California, the original home of PCF training.
137:2x General Motors 12V71"N" Detroit marine diesels
2378:"Veterans Long to Reclaim the Name 'Swift Boat'"
2327:The Vietnam War and the Congressman of the 1980s
1632:"Photos of the Swift Boat at the US Navy Museum"
1475:List of patrol vessels of the United States Navy
1293:as a memorial to those killed in the explosion.
2513:Pictorial Histories Publishing Company, 2004.
2497:Operation Market Time: The Early Years, 1965–66
1068:and other islands to repel the invasion of the
625:
570:, which was lost to a mine in 1966. Two boats,
2436:https://books.google.com/books?id=8qgaDgAAQBAJ
2141:"Jane's Fighting Ships - Thailand swift boats"
1993:"Jane's Fighting Ships - Cambodia swift boats"
1813:"Coastal Squadron One; 22 May 1966 Sinking of
1146:Maritime Squadron of the Armed Forces of Malta
950:, now at general quarters due to reports from
598:. All three of these boats were lost in 1966.
155:2x 0.50 caliber machine gun (top) (US-based)
8:
2197:"Swift Boat takes vets, public back in time"
2167:"Veteran patrol boat to head back to the US"
2115:"Swift Boat takes vets, public back in time"
1565:"PATROL CRAFT FAST | Homeland Magazine"
1496:
1494:
873:responded with machine-gun and mortar fire.
1987:
1985:
1879:
1877:
1875:
1873:
1871:
1869:
842:departed the scene to drop them off at the
826:At 01:00 on 16 June 1968 in the same area,
145:32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph) (Mk I)
1811:Wasikowski, Lawrence J. (April 26, 2008).
622:
2307:"Full Citations of Living Recipients K-L"
1536:
1534:
1532:
1530:
1528:
1526:
1524:
420:Learn how and when to remove this message
272:Learn how and when to remove this message
2573:Patrol vessels of the United States Navy
2467:Gugliottia, Guy, Yeoman, Neva Sullaway,
1316:
463:The most frequent training area for the
309:for companies operating oil rigs in the
16:Type of coastal and riverine patrol boat
2456:, United States Naval Institute, 1987
2113:Tribune, San Diego Union (9 May 2013).
1738:
1736:
1734:
1609:
1607:
1605:
1603:
1490:
586:, was lost in a rescue effort during a
1890:. Naval History and Heritage Command.
1827:from the original on 24 September 2015
1626:
1624:
1584:
1582:
1580:
1578:
1576:
1574:
1559:
1557:
1555:
471:State Wildlife Area, was also used by
18:
2357:from the original on 25 November 2005
1962:"Chuyên trang Infonet Báo VietnamNet"
1044:holes, which would have been larger.
7:
2221:from the original on 21 October 2013
1687:Wells II, William R. (August 1997).
402:adding citations to reliable sources
295:Military Assistance Command, Vietnam
254:adding citations to reliable sources
2241:"Maritime Stamp issue by MaltaPost"
1592:(in Vietnamese). Soha. 2014-06-18.
2406:Cogan, Brian; Kelso, Tony (2009).
2251:from the original on 27 April 2014
2177:from the original on 28 April 2012
2147:from the original on 18 March 2017
2068:from the original on 18 March 2017
1412:during riverine combat in a PCF.
289:The Swift Boat was conceived in a
14:
2347:"What, Exactly, Is a Swift Boat?"
2121:from the original on 4 March 2016
2094:from the original on 4 March 2016
1999:from the original on 4 March 2016
1503:"Remembering the 193 Swift Boats"
2275:Historic Naval Ships Association
2028:from the original on 7 July 2016
1902:
1596:from the original on 2014-06-20.
1245:
1220:
1206:
1188:
1166:
1152:
1134:
1116:
1091:
925:guided-missile destroyer Hobart
711:
699:
378:
230:
180:Quarter inch thick aluminum hull
53:Sewart Seacraft (now Swiftships)
22:
2548:Swift Boat Sailors' Association
2538:PCF-45 story, by Robert Shirley
2410:. ABC-CLIO. pp. 155, 335.
2388:from the original on 2009-04-24
2345:Bowers, Andy (25 August 2004).
1976:"Giá súng đa năng trên tàu PCF"
1754:from the original on 2015-09-06
440:In 1969, training was moved to
389:needs additional citations for
241:needs additional citations for
1360:Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
1040:helicopter and not Sparrow or
786:1 helicopter allegedly damaged
435:Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
111:51 ft (16 m) (Mk II)
63:
1:
2469:Swift Boats at War in Vietnam
1442:Swift Boat Veterans for Truth
1048:Vietnam People's Navy service
214:(COIN) operations during the
170:1x AGS-17 (Vietnamese-based)
108:50 ft (15 m) (Mk I)
2376:Zernike, Kate (2008-06-30).
1748:Maritime Museum of San Diego
1268:Maritime Museum of San Diego
1047:
823:, but none hit the vessel.
2599:
1860:"Patrol Craft, Fast (PCF)"
1378:, and Arizona Congressman
1056:managed to capture 107 of
957:The next day Vice Admiral
473:United States Navy Reserve
167:1x DsHK (Vietnamese-based)
2471:. Stackpole Books, 2017.
2441:. Published by Casemate.
1444:. Ever since, the term "
780:
749:
724:
692:
642:
630:
616:Controversy over loss of
535:units and inserting Navy
348:United States Coast Guard
164:1x NSV (Vietnamese-based)
158:1x 81mm mortar (US-based)
86:
36:
21:
1200:Republic of Vietnam Navy
1058:Republic of Vietnam Navy
1009:on the 17th. Unlike the
557:.50 caliber machine guns
501:People's Army of Vietnam
202:vessels operated by the
1930:Steffes, James (2005),
1884:Sherwood, John (2015).
1297:was also depicted on a
668:& Cửa Việt Rivers,
603:was salvaged instead.
327:General Motors 12V71"N"
129:3 ft (0.91 m)
121:13 ft (4.0 m)
87:General characteristics
45:PCF (Patrol Craft Fast)
1400:Kerry was awarded the
1322:
1277:(the sister vessel of
1182:Philippine Coast Guard
725:Commanders and leaders
488:
305:' predecessor), built
2245:The Malta Independent
1542:"Boat Specifications"
1374:, a recipient of the
1320:
1299:Maltese postage stamp
1103:Vietnam People's Navy
1054:Vietnam People's Navy
923:Royal Australian Navy
884:and the commander of
781:Casualties and losses
633:Operation Market Time
493:Operation Market Time
486:
2428:General bibliography
2217:. 7 September 2009.
1744:"PCF 816 Swift Boat"
1382:, who served in the
1352:Washington Navy Yard
918:Theodore E. Chandler
855:aircraft. At 02:25,
652:~0030 - 0400 hours (
590:at the mouth of the
456:sank in a storm off
398:improve this article
361:Mark II and Mark III
291:Naval Advisory Group
250:improve this article
2568:Patrol boat classes
2434:Daly, Dan (2017). [
2173:. 10 January 2012.
1617:. 16 November 2015.
1128:Khmer National Navy
762:fixed-wing aircraft
680:Determined to be a
594:on the approach to
479:Vietnam War service
469:Napa Sonoma Marshes
161:1x Mk 19 (US-based)
2509:Symmes, Weymouth
2452:Friedman, Norman.
2382:The New York Times
2247:. 28 August 2011.
1978:. 6 November 2015.
1691:. Vietnam Magazine
1662:. 26 October 2011.
1469:Patrol Boat, River
1453:The New York Times
1391:Secretary of State
1384:United States Navy
1323:
993:and the attack on
959:William F. Bringle
770:point-class cutter
489:
450:Golden Gate Bridge
299:Berwick, Louisiana
204:United States Navy
2583:Vietnam War ships
2505:978-1-4415-9049-7
2499:, Xlibris, 2009,
2485:, Xlibris, 2005
2417:978-0-313-34379-7
1847:War on the Rivers
1799:War on the Rivers
1786:War on the Rivers
1773:War on the Rivers
1726:War on the Rivers
1451:In an article in
1389:U.S. Senator and
1366:Notable personnel
1289:The AFM retained
797:
796:
740:LTJG Ronald Fritz
738:LTJG Peter Snyder
688:
687:
626:Sinking of PCF-19
549:recoilless rifles
430:
429:
422:
282:
281:
274:
212:counterinsurgency
194:), also known as
188:Patrol Craft Fast
184:
183:
2590:
2578:Riverine warfare
2481:Steffes, James
2477:978 081 171 9599
2422:
2421:
2403:
2397:
2396:
2394:
2393:
2373:
2367:
2366:
2364:
2362:
2342:
2336:
2324:
2318:
2317:
2315:
2313:
2303:
2297:
2296:
2289:
2283:
2282:
2277:. Archived from
2267:
2261:
2260:
2258:
2256:
2237:
2231:
2230:
2228:
2226:
2207:
2201:
2200:
2193:
2187:
2186:
2184:
2182:
2163:
2157:
2156:
2154:
2152:
2137:
2131:
2130:
2128:
2126:
2110:
2104:
2103:
2101:
2099:
2084:
2078:
2077:
2075:
2073:
2058:
2052:
2051:
2044:
2038:
2037:
2035:
2033:
2018:
2009:
2008:
2006:
2004:
1989:
1980:
1979:
1972:
1966:
1965:
1958:
1952:
1951:
1927:
1921:
1918:
1912:
1906:
1905:
1901:
1881:
1864:
1863:
1856:
1850:
1843:
1837:
1836:
1834:
1832:
1808:
1802:
1795:
1789:
1782:
1776:
1769:
1763:
1762:
1760:
1759:
1740:
1729:
1722:
1716:
1715:
1707:
1701:
1700:
1698:
1696:
1684:
1678:
1677:
1670:
1664:
1663:
1656:
1650:
1649:
1642:
1636:
1635:
1628:
1619:
1618:
1611:
1598:
1597:
1586:
1569:
1568:
1561:
1550:
1549:
1544:. Archived from
1538:
1519:
1518:
1516:
1514:
1509:. Swiftships.com
1498:
1356:Washington, D.C.
1327:Matthew F. Maury
1270:in California.
1250:
1249:
1239:Non-State Actors
1226:
1224:
1223:
1212:
1210:
1209:
1194:
1192:
1191:
1172:
1170:
1169:
1158:
1156:
1155:
1140:
1138:
1137:
1122:
1120:
1119:
1097:
1095:
1094:
806:Starlight Scopes
757:Mi-4 helicopters
717:
715:
714:
704:
703:
644:
643:
623:
521:Cà Mau Peninsula
425:
418:
414:
411:
405:
382:
374:
277:
270:
266:
263:
257:
234:
226:
208:brown-water navy
26:
19:
2598:
2597:
2593:
2592:
2591:
2589:
2588:
2587:
2553:
2552:
2534:
2529:
2495:Steffes, James
2430:
2425:
2418:
2405:
2404:
2400:
2391:
2389:
2375:
2374:
2370:
2360:
2358:
2344:
2343:
2339:
2325:
2321:
2311:
2309:
2305:
2304:
2300:
2291:
2290:
2286:
2269:
2268:
2264:
2254:
2252:
2239:
2238:
2234:
2224:
2222:
2209:
2208:
2204:
2195:
2194:
2190:
2180:
2178:
2165:
2164:
2160:
2150:
2148:
2139:
2138:
2134:
2124:
2122:
2112:
2111:
2107:
2097:
2095:
2086:
2085:
2081:
2071:
2069:
2060:
2059:
2055:
2046:
2045:
2041:
2031:
2029:
2020:
2019:
2012:
2002:
2000:
1991:
1990:
1983:
1974:
1973:
1969:
1960:
1959:
1955:
1949:
1929:
1928:
1924:
1919:
1915:
1903:
1898:
1883:
1882:
1867:
1858:
1857:
1853:
1844:
1840:
1830:
1828:
1810:
1809:
1805:
1796:
1792:
1783:
1779:
1770:
1766:
1757:
1755:
1742:
1741:
1732:
1723:
1719:
1709:
1708:
1704:
1694:
1692:
1686:
1685:
1681:
1672:
1671:
1667:
1658:
1657:
1653:
1644:
1643:
1639:
1630:
1629:
1622:
1613:
1612:
1601:
1588:
1587:
1572:
1563:
1562:
1553:
1540:
1539:
1522:
1512:
1510:
1501:Sage, Darrell.
1500:
1499:
1492:
1488:
1483:
1465:
1418:
1368:
1315:
1307:
1263:
1258:
1244:
1241:
1232:Royal Thai Navy
1221:
1219:
1207:
1205:
1189:
1187:
1178:Philippine Navy
1167:
1165:
1153:
1151:
1135:
1133:
1117:
1115:
1112:
1092:
1090:
1087:
1082:
1060:PCFs after the
1050:
792:
790:
789:1 PCF destroyed
772:
767:
759:
741:
739:
737:
712:
710:
698:
672:
651:
621:
582:, and a third,
481:
426:
415:
409:
406:
395:
383:
372:
363:
352:M60 machine gun
323:
287:
278:
267:
261:
258:
247:
235:
224:
32:
17:
12:
11:
5:
2596:
2594:
2586:
2585:
2580:
2575:
2570:
2565:
2563:Military boats
2555:
2554:
2551:
2550:
2545:
2540:
2533:
2532:External links
2530:
2528:
2527:
2521:
2507:
2493:
2479:
2465:
2450:
2447:978-1612004785
2431:
2429:
2426:
2424:
2423:
2416:
2398:
2368:
2337:
2332:New York Times
2319:
2298:
2284:
2281:on 2008-05-09.
2262:
2232:
2215:Times of Malta
2202:
2188:
2171:Times of Malta
2158:
2132:
2105:
2079:
2053:
2039:
2010:
1981:
1967:
1953:
1947:
1922:
1913:
1896:
1865:
1851:
1838:
1821:swiftboats.net
1803:
1790:
1777:
1764:
1730:
1717:
1702:
1679:
1665:
1651:
1637:
1620:
1599:
1570:
1551:
1548:on 2019-12-30.
1520:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1478:
1477:
1472:
1464:
1461:
1417:
1414:
1376:Medal of Honor
1367:
1364:
1314:
1311:
1306:
1303:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1253:
1252:
1240:
1237:
1236:
1235:
1217:
1203:
1185:
1163:
1149:
1131:
1124:Khmer Republic
1111:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
1062:Fall of Saigon
1049:
1046:
1036:-manufactured
967:AIM-7E Sparrow
795:
794:
787:
783:
782:
778:
777:
775:F-4 Phantom II
764:
752:
751:
747:
746:
745:Dominic Damico
731:
727:
726:
722:
721:
708:
695:
694:
690:
689:
686:
685:
678:
674:
673:
664:
662:
658:
657:
648:
640:
639:
628:
627:
620:
614:
480:
477:
428:
427:
386:
384:
377:
371:
368:
362:
359:
322:
319:
311:Gulf of Mexico
286:
283:
280:
279:
238:
236:
229:
223:
220:
182:
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119:
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109:
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80:
76:
75:
72:
68:
67:
59:
55:
54:
51:
47:
46:
43:
39:
38:
37:Class overview
34:
33:
27:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
2595:
2584:
2581:
2579:
2576:
2574:
2571:
2569:
2566:
2564:
2561:
2560:
2558:
2549:
2546:
2544:
2541:
2539:
2536:
2535:
2531:
2525:
2522:
2520:
2519:1-57510-109-2
2516:
2512:
2508:
2506:
2502:
2498:
2494:
2492:
2491:1-59926-612-1
2488:
2484:
2480:
2478:
2474:
2470:
2466:
2463:
2462:0-87021-713-5
2459:
2455:
2451:
2448:
2444:
2440:
2437:
2433:
2432:
2427:
2419:
2413:
2409:
2402:
2399:
2387:
2383:
2379:
2372:
2369:
2356:
2352:
2348:
2341:
2338:
2334:
2333:
2328:
2323:
2320:
2308:
2302:
2299:
2295:. 5 May 2017.
2294:
2288:
2285:
2280:
2276:
2272:
2266:
2263:
2250:
2246:
2242:
2236:
2233:
2220:
2216:
2212:
2206:
2203:
2199:. 9 May 2013.
2198:
2192:
2189:
2176:
2172:
2168:
2162:
2159:
2146:
2142:
2136:
2133:
2120:
2116:
2109:
2106:
2093:
2089:
2083:
2080:
2067:
2063:
2057:
2054:
2049:
2048:"Panama Navy"
2043:
2040:
2027:
2023:
2017:
2015:
2011:
1998:
1994:
1988:
1986:
1982:
1977:
1971:
1968:
1963:
1957:
1954:
1950:
1948:1-59926-612-1
1944:
1940:
1936:
1933:
1926:
1923:
1917:
1914:
1910:
1909:public domain
1899:
1897:9780945274773
1893:
1889:
1888:
1880:
1878:
1876:
1874:
1872:
1870:
1866:
1861:
1855:
1852:
1848:
1842:
1839:
1826:
1822:
1818:
1816:
1807:
1804:
1800:
1794:
1791:
1787:
1781:
1778:
1774:
1768:
1765:
1753:
1749:
1745:
1739:
1737:
1735:
1731:
1727:
1721:
1718:
1713:
1706:
1703:
1690:
1683:
1680:
1676:. March 2018.
1675:
1669:
1666:
1661:
1655:
1652:
1647:
1641:
1638:
1633:
1627:
1625:
1621:
1616:
1610:
1608:
1606:
1604:
1600:
1595:
1591:
1585:
1583:
1581:
1579:
1577:
1575:
1571:
1566:
1560:
1558:
1556:
1552:
1547:
1543:
1537:
1535:
1533:
1531:
1529:
1527:
1525:
1521:
1508:
1504:
1497:
1495:
1491:
1485:
1480:
1476:
1473:
1470:
1467:
1466:
1462:
1460:
1458:
1454:
1449:
1447:
1443:
1439:
1435:
1431:
1427:
1423:
1415:
1413:
1411:
1410:Purple Hearts
1407:
1403:
1399:
1395:
1392:
1387:
1385:
1381:
1377:
1373:
1365:
1363:
1361:
1357:
1353:
1349:
1343:
1340:
1336:
1332:
1328:
1319:
1313:United States
1312:
1310:
1304:
1302:
1300:
1296:
1292:
1287:
1284:
1280:
1276:
1271:
1269:
1260:
1255:
1248:
1243:
1242:
1238:
1233:
1229:
1218:
1215:
1214:United States
1204:
1201:
1197:
1196:South Vietnam
1186:
1183:
1179:
1175:
1164:
1161:
1150:
1147:
1143:
1132:
1129:
1125:
1114:
1113:
1109:
1104:
1100:
1089:
1088:
1084:
1079:
1077:
1073:
1071:
1067:
1063:
1059:
1055:
1045:
1043:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1022:
1016:
1012:
1008:
1004:
1000:
996:
992:
988:
984:
980:
976:
972:
968:
965:launched two
964:
960:
955:
953:
949:
944:
943:RIM-24 Tartar
939:
935:
931:
930:
924:
920:
919:
913:
912:
905:
903:
899:
895:
891:
887:
883:
879:
874:
872:
867:
862:
858:
853:
849:
845:
844:Cua Viet Base
841:
837:
836:
829:
824:
822:
818:
814:
813:
807:
803:
788:
785:
784:
779:
776:
771:
765:
763:
758:
754:
753:
748:
744:
735:
732:
729:
728:
723:
720:
719:United States
709:
707:
706:North Vietnam
702:
697:
696:
691:
683:
682:friendly fire
679:
676:
675:
671:
670:South Vietnam
667:
663:
660:
659:
655:
650:June 16, 1968
649:
646:
645:
641:
638:
634:
629:
624:
619:
615:
613:
610:
608:
604:
601:
597:
593:
592:Perfume River
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
564:
562:
558:
554:
550:
544:
540:
538:
532:
528:
526:
522:
518:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
485:
478:
476:
474:
470:
466:
461:
459:
455:
451:
447:
446:San Pablo Bay
443:
438:
436:
424:
421:
413:
403:
399:
393:
392:
387:This section
385:
381:
376:
375:
369:
367:
360:
358:
355:
353:
349:
345:
340:
336:
331:
328:
320:
318:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
292:
284:
276:
273:
265:
255:
251:
245:
244:
239:This section
237:
233:
228:
227:
221:
219:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
179:
176:
175:
169:
166:
163:
160:
157:
154:
153:
152:
149:
148:
144:
141:
140:
136:
133:
132:
128:
125:
124:
120:
117:
116:
110:
107:
106:
105:
102:
101:
98:
94:
91:
90:
85:
81:
78:
77:
73:
70:
69:
66:
65:
60:
57:
56:
52:
49:
48:
44:
41:
40:
35:
30:
25:
20:
2523:
2510:
2496:
2482:
2468:
2453:
2438:
2407:
2401:
2390:. Retrieved
2381:
2371:
2361:13 September
2359:. Retrieved
2340:
2330:
2322:
2310:. Retrieved
2301:
2287:
2279:the original
2274:
2265:
2253:. Retrieved
2235:
2223:. Retrieved
2205:
2191:
2179:. Retrieved
2161:
2151:23 September
2149:. Retrieved
2135:
2125:23 September
2123:. Retrieved
2108:
2098:23 September
2096:. Retrieved
2082:
2072:23 September
2070:. Retrieved
2056:
2042:
2032:23 September
2030:. Retrieved
2003:23 September
2001:. Retrieved
1970:
1956:
1935:
1931:
1925:
1916:
1886:
1854:
1846:
1841:
1829:. Retrieved
1820:
1814:
1806:
1798:
1793:
1785:
1780:
1772:
1767:
1756:. Retrieved
1747:
1725:
1720:
1710:Bob Stoner.
1705:
1693:. Retrieved
1682:
1668:
1654:
1640:
1546:the original
1511:. Retrieved
1506:
1456:
1452:
1450:
1446:swiftboating
1424:nominee for
1419:
1388:
1369:
1344:
1338:
1334:
1330:
1326:
1324:
1308:
1294:
1290:
1288:
1278:
1274:
1272:
1264:
1256:Preservation
1074:
1051:
1029:
1025:
1020:
1014:
1010:
1006:
1002:
998:
994:
990:
986:
982:
978:
974:
970:
956:
951:
947:
937:
933:
928:
917:
910:
906:
901:
897:
893:
889:
885:
881:
877:
875:
870:
865:
860:
856:
851:
847:
839:
834:
827:
825:
820:
811:
802:Tiger Island
798:
693:Belligerents
617:
611:
606:
605:
599:
583:
575:
571:
567:
565:
553:B-40 rockets
545:
541:
533:
529:
525:Mekong Delta
513:Elmo Zumwalt
490:
462:
453:
439:
431:
416:
407:
396:Please help
391:verification
388:
364:
356:
344:Marine Corps
332:
324:
290:
288:
268:
259:
248:Please help
243:verification
240:
195:
191:
187:
185:
62:
28:
1849:pp. 120-122
1416:Controversy
1406:Bronze Star
1402:Silver Star
1348:Navy Museum
1305:Philippines
1283:C23 tragedy
1216:: U.S. Navy
1174:Philippines
1070:Khmer Rouge
833:USCGC
831:raft until
637:Vietnam War
465:Mare Island
442:Mare Island
335:M2 Browning
307:water taxis
222:Development
216:Vietnam War
97:patrol boat
2557:Categories
2392:2010-03-27
1758:2015-07-06
1695:16 January
1507:Swiftships
1481:References
1457:ad hominem
1422:Democratic
1408:and three
1394:John Kerry
1372:Bob Kerrey
1337:(formerly
1042:Sidewinder
1038:Mi-4 Hound
927:HMAS
898:Point Dume
890:Point Dume
882:Point Dume
878:Point Dume
876:At 02:40,
840:Point Dume
835:Point Dume
760:1 unknown
736:John Davis
458:Bodega Bay
410:April 2023
303:Swiftships
285:Conception
262:April 2023
196:Swift Boat
134:Propulsion
31:on patrol.
2351:Slate.com
2225:15 August
2181:15 August
1486:Citations
1438:527 group
1426:president
1380:Jim Kolbe
1080:Operators
1019:USS
916:USS
909:USS
810:USS
793:2 wounded
654:UTC+07:00
505:freeboard
499:(VC) and
497:Viet Cong
366:Vietnam.
95:Riverine
79:Preserved
71:Completed
64:Operators
58:Operators
2386:Archived
2355:Archived
2255:27 April
2249:Archived
2219:Archived
2175:Archived
2145:Archived
2119:Archived
2092:Archived
2066:Archived
2026:Archived
1997:Archived
1831:July 13,
1825:Archived
1752:Archived
1594:Archived
1463:See also
1228:Thailand
921:and the
791:5 killed
750:Strength
661:Location
631:Part of
523:and the
517:SEALORDS
150:Armament
50:Builders
2271:"PFC 1"
1939:Xlibris
1845:Symmes
1797:Symmes
1784:Symmes
1771:Symmes
1724:Symmes
1440:called
1434:Senator
1432:, then-
1420:As the
1335:PCF-816
1099:Vietnam
1085:Current
1066:Thổ Chu
817:Bến Hải
730:Unknown
666:Bến Hải
588:monsoon
539:teams.
370:Service
2517:
2503:
2489:
2475:
2460:
2445:
2414:
2312:May 7,
1945:
1934:PCF-19
1894:
1815:PCF-41
1801:p. 173
1788:p. 136
1775:p. 148
1513:29 May
1225:
1211:
1193:
1180:&
1171:
1160:Panama
1157:
1139:
1121:
1110:Former
1096:
1034:Soviet
1030:PCF-19
1026:PCF-19
1015:Hobart
1011:Boston
1003:PCF-19
999:Boston
991:PCF-19
987:Boston
983:Boston
979:Hobart
975:Hobart
971:Boston
952:Hobart
938:Hobart
934:Boston
929:Hobart
902:PCF-12
894:PCF-12
886:PCF-12
871:PCF-12
866:PCF-12
861:PCF-12
857:PCF-12
852:PCF-12
848:PCF-12
828:PCF-19
821:Boston
812:Boston
766:2 PCFs
716:
677:Result
618:PCF-19
607:PCF-43
600:PCF-41
584:PCF-77
576:PCF-76
572:PCF-14
561:AK-47s
339:mortar
321:Mark I
315:galley
103:Length
29:PCF-32
1728:p. 95
1331:PCF-2
1261:Malta
1142:Malta
1007:Edson
995:Edson
948:Edson
911:Edson
568:PCF-4
454:PCF-8
444:near
200:draft
177:Armor
142:Speed
126:Draft
2524:Time
2515:ISBN
2501:ISBN
2487:ISBN
2473:ISBN
2458:ISBN
2443:ISBN
2412:ISBN
2363:2004
2314:2020
2257:2014
2227:2012
2183:2012
2153:2016
2127:2016
2100:2016
2074:2016
2034:2016
2005:2016
1943:ISBN
1892:ISBN
1833:2018
1697:2012
1515:2024
1430:2004
1398:LTJG
1339:P-24
1052:The
1021:Acme
1013:and
1001:and
989:and
981:and
973:and
963:F-4s
892:and
755:2-4
734:LTJG
647:Date
574:and
559:and
537:SEAL
515:'s "
509:PBRs
186:The
118:Beam
92:Type
61:See
42:Name
1428:in
1386:.
1354:in
1350:at
1295:P23
1291:P23
1279:P24
1275:P23
743:Col
596:Huế
580:DMZ
437:.
400:by
252:by
192:PCF
74:193
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2013:^
1995:.
1984:^
1941:,
1937:,
1868:^
1823:.
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1750:.
1746:.
1733:^
1623:^
1602:^
1573:^
1554:^
1523:^
1505:.
1493:^
1404:,
1230::
1198::
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