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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

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Brown Water Navy

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Brown Water Navy

The Brown Water Navy boats serving in the Vietnam War were a departure for the U.S. Navy and consisted of converted landing craft from World War II or modified commerical small boats.   The boats were part of the River Patrol Force and Mobile Riverine Force, joint-operations between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy.  Two of the main boat operations were Operation Market Time and Operation Game Warden where the boats helped to stop the flow of North Vietnamese troops, supplies, and communications in South Vietnam.   During Vietnamization, the majority of the boats were turned over to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam. 

Models of an Armored Troop Carrier (ATC),  Armored Support Patrol Boat (ASPB), and a Patrol Boat, Riverine (PBR) are on display in the America's Wars in Vietnam: 1961-1975 exhibit in the south end of the Cold War Gallery, Bldg. 70.   PCF-1, a Patrol Craft, Fast, is on exterior display outside of the Cold War Gallery.   

Other Resources:

War in the Shallows:  U.S. Navy Coastal and Riverine Warfare

Image:  88-162-YK:  USN PBR on Patrol.  Artwork by Charles Waterhouse.  Courtesy of the Navy Art Gallery.