The Mobile Riverine Force (MRF) started with three basic
boat types:
(1) The Armored Troop Carrier (ATC), also known as the Tango
boat, served as the real work horse of the MRF and was by far the most
prevalent;
(2) The Monitor was the floating tank of the MRF with either
40 mm turret or a 105 howitzer mount, 20 mm mounts, a few 50 cals and mortar
mounts of various sizes; and,
(3) The Command and Communications boat (CCB), or Charlie
boat. This boat is where the Officer in Charge was riding and
communicating.
The CCB was also referred to as the Command and Control
Boat. The CCB was a converted Monitor with a command center in lieu of a mortar
pit. The boats of the Mobile Riverine Force were commanded by enlisted
personnel. Two additional boat types were added to the force because of special
conditions in Vietnam. The Assault Support Patrol Boat (ASPB), or Alpha boat,
was made to be faster and more maneuverable. Fast is a relative term,
since 13 to 15 knots wasn't fast except when compared to the average 8 knots of
the rest of the boats.
The Alpha was equipped with mine-sweeping gear to run in
close to the bank and clip any command detonated wires. Two Alphas generally
headed a column of boats streaming minesweeping gear and another Alpha was
usually at the back of the column (for those of you who are duck hunters you'll
understand why that was called the "coffin" position). Previous
to the Alphas, the Tangos were generally used as the minesweepers. That didn't
make sense though since putting an 8-man crew and a platoon of Army troops at
risk wasn't a great idea. So along came the Alpha with a 6-man crew to take
up the riskier duty assignments. Also, specifically designed to burn foliage
along the river bank was the addition of the flamethrower-equipped Monitor,
known as the Zippo boat. Each squadron of boats also had a tango boat
which had been converted as a Refueler Boat. (Sorry, I don't have any pictures
of a Refueler). Also, there was a bunker busting boat converted from and
Armored Troop Carrier which was equipped with high pressure water cannon.
This boat was nicknamed the "Douche Boat."
