Ahoy mates!

I treated myself to some research books this past week. One of the was Squardon's excellent pictorial history of the Brown Water Navy war in Vietnam - Riverine.

They're some interesting subjects to add to what we already know participated in the riverine campaign.

Aircraft -
French PBY Catalina
French Grumman Goose
USN P2 Neptune
USN P3 Orion
USN P5 Marlin
USN UH-1 Huey
USN OV-10A Bronco

Ships - this is very interesting
French carrier LaFayette (ex Langley)
USN USS 670 USS Dortch (sailed up the river to Saigon)
USCG cutters and patrol ships
USN Boston Whalers
USN DDs, DEs and Minesweepers (while these patrolled the coastal waters, they were part of the brown water navy force according to the USN)

Have fun guys.
Later...Gator

Howdy Ken

Thx for doin' the research on this subject {I'm always happy to see anything having to do with Riverine subject matter }
I was aware of most of the craft you listed being associated with the BWN.....but the "French carrier LaFayette (ex Langley)" listing did surprise me........any more you can give us on that?

tia

Tread.

PostScript: Also, if you're interested......look into some of the early records of 'shared' missions between the Mobile Riverine Force and the
SeaWolves.......

Will do Tread.

Yep... the Seals Used the Whaler's quite a bit. My old man was off the Caost in a Tin Can... the USS Miles C. Fox in early 1967........

The SeaWolves were the river rats air wing....

Ahoy Tread!

The French used the deep water bays to bring in their carriers to cut down flight time to and from target. The photo in the book is of the LaFayette in Along Bay supporting French troops in the Red River valley.

.....can't tell ya how much a statement like that, implying a sweet collaboration betwix both the Army & the Navy gives me goose-billies!
Actually, the cooperation between the early Mobile Riverine Force and the SeaWolves was well balanced. And necessary at the time.
This kind of inter-service behaviour extended even further into the use of 'Puff' replacements supporting both SeaWolf/Riverine missions using 119 GunShip(s).

Tread.

Oops....most excellent Lafayette photo Ken!!

Hey.....this brings up a good question...how would the French configuration differ from the American configuration on the Langley {Lafayette}?..............any of you big carrier aficionado's listening?

Actually the SeaWolves were Navy, they first flew borrowed Army UH-1's until they received their own helicopters.

HAL-3

Beat me to it Dave.

Ahoy Tread. SeaWolves flew several different models of Hueys.

Later...Gator

Hello everyone,

There is some great information coming out especially the French Navy's involvment. The following aircraft were also a part in addition to what is mentioned.

SBD Dauntless
SB2C Helldiver
F6F-5 Hellcat
F4U Corsairs (5,7's and AU-1 versions) if I'm not mistaken.

Sincerely,
Brian

gator,
just found this thread but recently I went down to Patriots Point Naval & Martime Museum. Where the USS Yorktown is berthed and found this Book
War On The Rivers By Weymouth D. Symmers. It's a good read. If you lie swift's.

Also trying to find some pictures of RAG boats a have the for mentioned book .