U.S Vietnam Patrol river boats
During the Vietnam War, the United States Navy relied heavily on riverine and coastal patrol vessels to interdict enemy supplies and provide support for ground forces. Among the most critical of these were the Patrol Boat, River (PBR) and the Patrol Craft, Fast (PCF), more commonly known as Swift Boats. These small, maneuverable vessels were purpose-built or adapted for the unique challenges of the Southeast Asian environment, particularly the Mekong Delta and coastal waters of South Vietnam, where conventional naval vessels could not effectively operate.
The PBR, or Patrol Boat, River, was perhaps the most iconic of the riverine warfare vessels used in Vietnam. Designed for shallow-water operations, the PBR was made primarily of fiberglass to reduce weight and increase speed, with a very shallow draft that allowed it to operate in just a few feet of water. It was originally designed by United Boatbuilders of Bellingham, Washington, under Navy specifications, and built to counter the Viet Cong’s use of the intricate river networks for supply and communication. The boats were powered by twin diesel engines with Jacuzzi water jet drives, which not only allowed for high maneuverability but also reduced the risk of damage from submerged obstacles and permitted operation in very shallow waters. The typical armament of a PBR included twin .50 caliber machine guns mounted in a forward turret, a single .50 caliber or M60 machine gun mounted aft, and sometimes a 40mm grenade launcher or additional small arms such as M16 rifles and shotguns. These weapons allowed the PBR to deliver considerable firepower in close-quarter engagements on narrow waterways. The PBR usually had a crew of four, but could carry several additional troops or South Vietnamese personnel depending on the mission, though space was limited.
Complementing the PBR in coastal and slightly larger inland operations was the PCF, or Swift Boat. These vessels were originally conceived by the Navy in cooperation with Sewart Seacraft of Berwick, Louisiana, who built the first prototypes and later the production fleet. Swift Boats were aluminum-hulled and significantly larger than the PBRs, measuring about 50 feet in length. They were designed initially for coastal patrols to interdict Viet Cong supply lines coming from North Vietnam by sea, but their mission profile quickly evolved to include operations in the Mekong Delta and larger rivers. Swift Boats were powered by two General Motors diesel engines and had a deeper draft than the PBRs, limiting their use in the most shallow waters but giving them more range and durability in rougher seas and open river areas.
In terms of armament, Swift Boats were typically equipped with a twin .50 caliber machine gun mounted in a forward turret and another single .50 caliber or M60 mounted aft, sometimes supplemented by an 81mm mortar with an integrated single .50 caliber mount. The mortar was intended for indirect fire support and proved valuable in engaging enemy forces hiding in dense riverbank vegetation or behind terrain obstacles. The crew usually consisted of six men, but Swift Boats could carry up to a dozen additional troops or Vietnamese forces, depending on the operational requirements. This made them effective not only for patrol and interdiction but also for transporting small units of troops in support of operations such as reconnaissance or raids.
Both the PBR and PCF formed the backbone of the U.S. Navy’s brown-water navy in Vietnam, operating as part of the larger Operation Game Warden and Operation Market Time efforts. Operation Game Warden was focused on controlling the rivers and canals of the Mekong Delta, while Operation Market Time sought to cut off maritime supply routes from North Vietnam to the south. These boats often operated in extreme conditions, under the constant threat of ambush from riverbanks or booby traps hidden below the waterline. Crews had to remain vigilant at all times, and combat was often fast, close, and intense. The missions required courage, coordination, and rapid response to threats, and both types of boats became symbols of the difficult but essential naval role in the Vietnam conflict.
