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!!! GUNBOATS !!!
ON THE SONG CAU LON
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USS Crocket PG-88
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USS Crocket PG-88 [dewatering]
The USS Crocket PG-88 is shown here on the Song Cua Lon River near Seafloat.
Near the bow and just below main deck is hull damage from a rocket attack.
STORIES TOLD ON THE SONG CUA LON
STORY FROM DENNIS KEMPF BM2
EMAIL: swabie[ at ]umacs.net
On Oct. 17 69 4 pcf's came out of the song dam doi???
This was my 1st look at a PG , lovely [I tried to get on one]
I thought that she was just what we needed!!! We could see over the trees,
well back to work!!
We made a right on to the song cua long and fell into a line with the PG
She gave us permission to go ahead on to sea float. [she being senior]
We were about 1 K ahead when!!GIRDLINE13!!!!GIRDLINE13!!!!B40.....
I looked at my OINC LTJG Ken Trynor and pulled a bat turn.
They call me SWABIE[ at ]UMACS.NET but that's a tale in it's self.
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THE PATROL GUNBOAT
PHOTO ALBUM
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CLICK ON A THUMBNAIL
FOR FULL SIZE IMAGE
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Patrol Gunboat Photos, Charts, Operations and Patches
From the Patrol Gunboat (ASHEVILLE PG-84 Class) Association.
USS CROCKETT PG-88
THE FOLLOWING USS CROCKETT PG-88 PHOTOS
ARE THE COURTESY OF DAVE DONALDSON
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
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PHOTO 100
Closeup of rocket damage to hull and
Commanding Officer Paul Bennitt
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PHOTO 101
Closeup of rocket damage to hull from inside
The Power Control for the 3inch 50 gun was impacted.
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PHOTO 102
USS Crockett At Sea
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USS Crockett PG-88 Attack 17 Oct 1969:
USS CROCKETT (PG-88) while underway on the Cua Lon
came under fire from a VC ambush.
4 rockets were fired at her starboard side;
2 causing no damage. 1 detonated on the lifeline
by the 3"/50 mount, wounding 2 crewman;
1 was medevaced and 1 treated onboard.
The 4th rocket penetrated the hull just below main deck level
and detonated, blowing up the 3"/50 220
volt power box; no casualties resulted.
Recovered shrapnel revealed the rockets were made in the USA.
This Info is courtesy of Dave Donaldson
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
Patrol Gunboat Patch
USS CROCKET - PG-88
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Patrol Gunboat Patch
USS CROCKET - PG-88
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Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson.
USS ANTELOPE PG-86
Photos, Info and Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
USS Antelope PG-86 at Sea.
Photos, Info and Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson
USS ASHEVILLE PG-84 at Sea.
US Navy photo by PH3 Eugene Black
USS Asheville PG-84 Attack 15 Jun 1970:
USS ASHEVILLE (PG-84) while exiting the Cua Lon was ambushed
with small arms fire and 7 rockets, 2 of which hit.
1 detonated in the 3"/50 Power Supply Room disabling the gun.
The only casualty, the Engineering Officer, received a wound in the knee
of the right leg and was medevaced to SEAFLOAT.
INFO FROM JAMES S THOMAS
EMAIL: jamethomas[ at ]InfoAve.Net
I was station on the USS ASHEVILLE PG 84,and up the river at SEA FLOAT in 1970,
We patroled the river durning the day and supplied gun fire support at night for h and i,
The ship was hit right before being relieved to return to GUAM,
While in NAM,ship was based in Cam ron Bay.
USS GALLUP PG-85
Photos, Info and Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
USS GALLUP PG-85 Attack 23 Aug 1970:
USS GALLUP (PG-85) while anchored just west of SEAFLOAT
was attacked bya team of VC swimmer sappers.
The roving skimmer watch detected 3 sappers 15 yards off the bow.
The swimmers were forced to the surface by a concussion grenade
blast and 1 was shot by the forecastle watch.
The other 2 disappeared below the surface after being grenaded a half-dozen times.
The ship weighed anchor immediately and saturated the area
with concussion grenades.
A few days later 2 bodies were recovered where
GALLUP had been anchored.
The body of the shot VC was not recovered.
Patrol Gunboat Patch
USS GALLUP - PG-85
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Patrol Gunboat Patch
USS CANON - PG-90
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Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson.
USS CANON PG-90
Photos, Info and Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
USS CANON PG-90 at Sea.
USS CANNON PG-90 CREW.
USS CANON PG-85 Attack 11 Aug 1970:
USS CANON (PG-90) while underway on the Cua Lon was ambushed
at 0920 from both banks of the river.
The ship received 8 B-40 rocket hits to port & starboard resulting
in extensive damage to the bridge and 14 personnel casualties,
including the CO.
Escorted by 2 PCF's and an LSSL, CANON returned to SEAFLOAT
where 5 personnel were medivaced.
Before allowing himself to be removed from the ship,
the CO, LCDR David B. Robinson, had himself strapped to a stretcher
so that he could inspect the ship to assure himself the ship and crew
were safe and ready for further combat.
He then turned the ship over to the XO and was medevaced.
As a result of the action the CO and WO/SO, LTJG Robert S. Herbert
were awarded the Navy Cross. 3 Silver Stars & 5 Bronze Stars
were awarded to other crew members.
SECTION OF THE SONG CUA LON
From Navigation Chart
USS MARATHON PG-89
Photos, Info and Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
USS MARATHON PG-89 off the Coast of Vietnam.
USS MARATHON (PG-89) is last PG to engage
in SEAFLOAT operations when
she departs the Song Bo De on 5 Oct 1970.
Patrol Gunboat Patch
USS MARATHON - PG-89
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Patrol Gunboat Patch
USS READY - PG-87
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Patch Courtesy of Dave Donaldson.
USS READY PG-87
Photos, Info and Patches Courtesy of Dave Donaldson
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
USS READY PG-87 at Sea.
THE FOLLOWING PATROL GUNBOAT
SEAFLOAT OPERATIONS SCHEDULES
ARE THE COURTESY OF DAVE DONALDSON
EMAIL: rctfdd[ at ]worldnet.att.net
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USS ASHEVILLE (PG-84)
11 Jul - 23 Jul 1969
9 Aug - 16 Aug 1969
11 Sep - 14 Sep 1969
11 Mar - 26 Mar 1970
5 Jun - 15 Jun 1970*
USS GALLUP (PG-85)
23 Jul - 10 Aug 1969
17 Aug - 12 Sep 1969
15 Dec - 22 Dec 1969
14 Jan - 26 Jan 1970
15 Jul - 24 Jul 1970
7 Aug - 11 Aug 1970
Escorted CANON back to
Cam Ranh Bay
17 Aug - 26 Aug 1970*
22 Sep - 4 Oct 1970
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USS ANTELOPE (PG-86)
30 Jan - 15 Feb 1970
28 Feb - 11 Mar 1970*
4 Apr - 17 Apr 1970*
25 Apr - 11 May 1970*
14 Jun - 2 Jul 1970
USS CROCKETT (PG-88)
1969 & 1970 Histories
missing; following taken
from Family Grams, which
don't go beyond Sep 1969.
26 Jun - 11 Jul 1969
14 Sep - 25 Sep 1969
? Oct - ?*
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USS CANON (PG-90)
9 Jul - 14 Jul 1970 *
9 Aug -10 aug 1970 *
USS READY (PG-87)
1Mar - 10 Mar 1970
13 Apr - 6 Jun 1970
? May - ? Jul 1970
USS MARATHON (PG-89)
? Aug 1970 - 5 Oct 1970
Last PG used at SEAFLOAT
Painted in camouflage
21 Aug for SEAFLOAT ops,
1st combatant to be so
painted since WWII.
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*See action notes above
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