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Vietnam: Coastal Divsion 12

1967-1970

Collection Number: AR/482 (Formerly COLL/462)

Finding Aid (PDF, 81 KB)

 

Historical Note:

Coastal Division TWELVE was originally PCF Division 102 (PCF stands for Patrol Craft Fast, aka Swift Boats). Its primary mission was to interdict ships from North Vietnam and prevent supply offloading in South Vietnam, with the secondary mission of providing gunfire support for ground troops.

PCF Division 102 deployed from Coronado, California, in December 1965 to Subic Bay, Philippines. Then it established a base of operations in DaNang, Vietnam, on 13 January 1966. Soon after, PCF Division 102 participated in Operation Market Time and was part of Task Group 115.1. It patrolled areas, between the DMZ and the southern I Corps boundary, using Swift Boats. On 1 January 1967, PCF Division 102 changed its name to Coastal Division Twelve.

In 1967, Coastal Division Twelve participated in the operations listed below:

• Operation Market Time

• Operation DeSoto

• Operation Deckhouse VI

• Operation Beacon Hill One

• Operation Seahawk

• Operation Boone

• Operation Canyon

• Operation Beau Diddley

• Operation Beacon Star

• Operation Beau Charger

• Operation Bear Claw

• Operation Bear Bite

• Operation Beacon Torch

• Operation Dragon Fire

• Operation Ballistic Charge

• Operation Beaver Cage

• Operation Badger Tooth

• Operation Fortress Ridge

In addition, Coastal Division Twelve formed Coastal Division Sixteen, which lasted from 20 June 1967 to 1 November 1967. The Division continued its participation in Operation Market Time through 1968.

The Division's last complete year of operations was 1969. During this year, it trained the Vietnamese for the eventual turnover of Coastal Division Twelve to the South Vietnamese Navy. On 1 March 1970, Coastal Division Twelve was to be primarily manned and controlled by the South Vietnamese. In the interim, it participated in several operations:

• Operation Market Time

• Operation Bold Mariner

• Operation Sea Tiger

• Operation Daring Rebel

Scope and Content Note:

This collection is composed of post patrol reports and spot reports. Post patrol reports told of actions taken on individual patrols while spot reports summarized the division's actions on a particular day. In addition, post patrol reports were given to the division while spot reports were sent to the task group.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in two series:

Series I contains post patrol reports. It is arranged first by area patrolled and then by chronological order.

Series II contains spot reports. It is arranged only by chronological order.

Access:

Open to the public.

Classification:

The collection had an initial “Declassification Review” followed by a Kyl-Lott review in June 2002. Most of the records have been declassified and a few have been referred to other agencies for final review.

Subject Headings (LCSH)

United States. Navy-History-Sources.

United States. Navy. Coastal Division, 12th

United States. Navy-Small boat service.

Vietnam Conflict, 1961-1975.

Published: Wed Jul 19 09:24:39 EDT 2023