ARTICALS & STORIES OF RAD 595 / 153

"Delta Destroyeryer"

Sink Red Infiltration Attemps"

This a story that was printed in the Stars and Strips News Paper, in 1969.

Photos and story

by Joc Glenn H. Briggs

Saigon    (Special)     -

Enemy troops entering the Republic of Vietnam from

Cambodia in the upper mecong Delta must get by the

boats of River Assault Div.153.

   Nickednamed the "Delta Destroyers," the unit is the Navy's

only assault support patrol boat (ASPB) division in Vietnam.

   The Alfa boats, as they're called, operate out of Tuyen

Nhon, Nha Be and other location. They spend their time pa-

trolling the waterways of Operation "Giant Slingshot" and the

Rung Sat Special Zone.

    Rad-153 uses the most modern version of the ASPB termed

the "Program 5" boat. Its primary mission is to escort, protect

and lie in wait on "water-borneguard posts."

    The boats with heavy dark hulls resemble some of the

river craft of the Civil War. They have one turret on top of

the pilot house and another near the bow.

   The ASPB bristles with firepower. It is armed wit a varie-

ty of weapons including two 20mm cannons, two .50-caliber

machine guns, an M60 machine gun, two automatic grenade

launchers and an 81-mm mortar.

    The 40-ton craft of RAD-153 normally carry a crew of six

enlisted men, two of whom are Vietnamese Naval Personnel.

    On one of the boats is a combat patrol officer who coordin-

ates the actions of the boats and who keeps intouch with the

forward support base. He is usually a junior officer or chief

petty officer.

    When the sun goes down cufew is in effect. The boats slide

into their predetermined positions and lie in wait for the enemy.

This duty of looking , listeningand waaiting lasts into the early

morning hour and requires silence and no lights.

    Discovery of the enemy bring the boats alive as they let go

with their assortment of weapons. This responce is backed

up by 105mm artillery, Navy OV10 " Bronco" aircraft and light

attack helicopters ( Seawolves ).

    Lt. Thomas J. Lopez, of PowEllton W. Va., is commander of

River Assault Div. 153. "In numerous firefights, "he explains,

River Assault Div. 153 has stopped river crossings and infil-

tration attempts, and has assisted other services, both Amer-ican and Vietnamese, in driving back the enemy."

     Thirty-one Vietnamese sailors are trainging in ASPB warfare

with the river assault division. When training is completed, the

Vietnamese sailor is ceremoniously presented his certificate of qualification.

Top is VN gunner. Bottom Left. Is EN3 John Adams. Bottom Right is Sn Ronn Johnson.

The is taken from the December NAVFORV Monthly Report of 1969.

This reort is the events that evolved when BM3 Larry Ray Dameron & FN Joseph Frank Benak Were KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 11, 1969.

This part of the monthly report reads as follows." ASPB's of RAD 153 were nosed in to the beach at the Special Forces Camp at Binh Chau on the Vam Co Dong (was actually the Song Vam Co Tay River) Six miles northwest of Moc Ha (WS 928 993) when they received 82mm mortar, B-40, and auto mattic weapons hits at 0121H on 11 December. Four PBR's, which were in WBGP (water borne guard post) near- by, were scrambled to the scene along with Army LHFT (light helo fire team) and Navy Black Ponies that were diverted to the area. Enroute , PBR's receaved B-40 and A/W fire from the portion of Binh Chau Village which is west of the fork in the river. The fire was not returned. At 0134H, the damaged ASPB's departed the area for Moc Hoa. Shortly thereafter, with camp under ground assault, the Army advisor requested emergency Extr-action and medevac. The extraction was begun by PBR's as the enemy force entered the camp and forced the defenders to retreat to the south perimeter. At this point, Black Ponies commenced airstrikes, and two aditional PBR's were scambled from Moc Hoa (as well as boat's from RAD153 working out of Moc Hoa). At 0156H, the Black Ponies were forced to leave the area due to low fuel state, and additional Black Ponies were requested. Meanwhile, two PBR's continued direct fire into the enemy force while spotting for by the Army LHFT. At 0230H, a shadow aircraft began strikes and receaved A/W fire while over the target, and at 0306H, the camp was retacken by the defenders. Friendly casualties in the action were two USN killed, Two USN wounded (serious) , and two VNN wounded ( Serious), (Also not in this report for I was there as one of the ASPB crew members that was scrambled out of Moc Hoa that night, one of the three Army advisors was plucked out of the Song Vam Co Tay river, one was on leave in Siagon and the tird was killed after a direct hit from enemy fire to the camps commo bunker. I was therer to help extract his remains from the bunker, I can't remember the number of other casualties to the popular forces). All Navy Casualties were aboared the ASPB's when they were hit. One U.S. Army man was also wounded. The people of the village nearby reported that the VC killed four civilians and wounded six while detroying 14 houses. Enemy casualties were listed as 21 Vc killed and two Vc mounded of which 11 of the kills were credited to the Back Ponies. A special Forces agent reported later that 27 VC had been killed 13 wounded in the attack. He also commented that the VC are possibly monitoring U.S. Navy units to limit their support of FOB's in forthcoming attacks. Two days later, on the night of 13 December, Black Pony air-craft killed 30 VC (by body count) in an airstrke a mile and a half to the northeast of the camp.

BM3 R.L. McDevitt (Mack).

MAP OF ACTION.

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