What were the river boats in Vietnam called?

To combat the Viet Cong guerillas disrupting communications and supplies in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War, the U.S. Navy utilized small fiberglass hull boats designated Patrol Boat, Riverine (PBR). The boats had an enlisted crew of four and began operations in March 1966 with Operation Game Warden.

What did River Rats do in Vietnam?

River Rats is an autobiographical account of his tour as a 20-year-old member of the “Brown Water Navy,” made up of small units that manned naval firebases and floating detachments and rode patrol boats alongside South Vietnamese troops, mercenaries and regional forces.

How many patrol boat rivers are left?

The PBR is the U.S. Navy designation for a small, rigid-hulled patrol boat that was used in the Vietnam War from March 1966 until the end of 1971. The boats were deployed in a force that grew to a peak of 250 vessels. Today, only 36 PBRs exist in the United States. About six of them are seaworthy.

What kind of boat was used in Apocalypse Now?

Most of the 418 Mark II PBRs constructed by Uniflite went to Vietnam. A number of the boats were also sold to foreign navies, including the Philippines navy, or to domestic police forces. A Philippines navy PBR appeared as a U.S. Navy PBR in the 1979 film Apocalypse Now.

How long is a patrol boat?

Seagoing patrol boats are typically around 30 m (100 ft) in length and usually carry a single medium caliber artillery gun as main armament, and a variety of lighter secondary armament such as machine guns or a close-in weapon system.

How many people are on patrol boats?

21 personnel
Each patrol boat has a standard ship’s company of 21 personnel, with a maximum of 29 (not including use of the austere compartment).

What does the term river rat mean?

Definition of river rat 1 : riverman sense 1. 2 : one who spends his leisure time on or along a river.

Were PT boats used in Vietnam War?

“As a kid, this is the kind of opportunity I would dream of.” PTFs were the Vietnam War’s version of the famous PT boats used in World War II. They were heavily armed, near-coastal gunboats, used mostly by special forces. Following its service in Vietnam, PTF-26 returned to the United States in 1971.

What do they smoke in Apocalypse Now?

In one of the scenes that have been added to Francis Ford Coppola’s ”Apocalypse Now,” Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) smokes opium with a French widow (Aurore Clément) who lives in the crumbling imperial grandeur of her family’s remote jungle rubber plantation.

Can a Huey lift a PBR?

Factual errors The maximum gross weight of a Huey helicopter is 10,500 pounds. It would be impossible for such an aircraft to lift a Patrol Boat, Riverine (PBR) which weighs anywhere between 15,000 and 19,000 pounds.