MRF Summary Report - February 1967
MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE SUMMARY
ComRivFlotOne / ComRivSuppron - Seven
Command History
February 1967
On the 1st of February 1967, ComRivFlotOne/ComSuppRon-Seven, Captain Wade C. Wells,
USN,
and the major portion of his staff were at the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado preparing
for their deployment to Vietnam. The advanced echelon of the command divided between the
USS Whitfield County. LST 1169, and the Headquarters for Commander Naval Forces Vietnam,
Saigon. Under the leadership of Chief Staff Officer Captain Edwin P. Smith Jr.
USN, this
advanced group of ten officers and 15 enlisted men was preparing for the arrival of the
staff of River assault Flotilla One and was overseeing the training of River Assault
Squadron Nine 4 Officers and 9 enlisted men. And River Assault Division Ninety-One 2
officers and 135 enlisted. Both of which were embarked on the Whitfield County. Serving as
temporary support ship, Whitfield County was anchored in Vung Tau Harbor, one mile from
Vung Tau.
Elements of River Assault Squadron Nine (RAS-9) and River Assault Division Ninety- One
(RAD-91) continued training with the 9th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade, using boats
borrowed from the Vietnamese Navy (VNN) RAS-9 and RAD-91 were exercising with the Army in
LCM operations. This training followed a four-day cycle set up by ComRivFlot One
personnel.
Day 1. Movement to the ship, lectures by ship and flotilla personnel.
Day 2. Wet net training and beaching and gunnery exercises.
Day 3. Day and night exercises with several insertions and extractions at selected areas
in the RSSZ.
Day 4. Another exercise in the RSSZ with insertion and extraction, at various operation
areas, and a return to the support ship. By February 5, five such cycles had been
completed. Other elements of the squadron and division were undergoing training as
observers aboard VN RAG boats at Can Tho and My Tho.
During the TET holidays from 9-12 February training operations were secured and the time
was used for boat maintenance and repairs. On the 12th of February, RAS 9 and RivDiv-91
began working with the 3rd/47th 2nd Brigade 9th Infantry Division. In the first four-day
cycle "A" and "B" Company participated. On February 16, 1967,
"C" and "E" Companies were scheduled to start the same four-day cycle
That "A" and "B" Companies had just completed. Increased enemy
activity in the Long Tau channel of the RSSZ caused a change. ComNavForV on 16 February
1967, ordered RAS-9 and RAD-91 to support two companies of the 3rd Battalion in the Rung
Sat Special Zone (RSSZ). This message marked the end of training and the beginning of
combat operations for River Assault Flotilla One…. At 0800 hours, units of RAD-91
landed "A" and "B" companies of the 3rd/47th in the RSSZ, thus began
Operation River Raider One, the First U.S. Riverine Assault operation since the Civil War.
Also on the 16th of February, the arrival of the USS Askari (ARL-30) gave Commander River
Assault Squadron SEVEN, a repair capability. The following morning at 0800, Army and Navy
personnel gathered at the Command Post in the RSSZ for a brief on the already-commenced
operation. On the 18th of February, a Joint Tactical Operation Center (JTOC) was
established on the Whitfield County. Search and destroy and ambush attempts by the Army
failed to produce and significant contact with the enemy. However, positive evidence of
his recent presence was ascertained.
On the 23rd of February, the staff of ComRivFlot One arrived in Danang and was transferred
to Vung Tau on the 25th. The USS Henrico (APA-45) stood in Long Tau Harbor on the 24th of
February to relieve the Whitfield County as interim support ship for ComRivFlot One.
Captain Wells arrived in Saigon on the 27th of February after participating in briefing at
CinPacFlt Headquarters. RAD-92 arrived in Saigon on the 28th and was shuttled to Vung Tau
and USS Henrico during the day. At 0801 (local time) on 28 February Riverine Assault Force
(TF-117) was activated under the command of Captain Wells. Units assigned to TF-117 were
River Assault Flotilla One / River Support Squadron Seven Staff / River Assault Squadron
Nine Staff, River Assault Division Ninety-One and Ninety-Two and the USS Askari (ARL-30).
Captain Wells flew to Vung Tau on the 28th and broke his pennant at 1010 (local Time) in
USS Henrico.
Significant among February 1967 activities for ComRivFlot One was (1) the change of
operational status on the 16th, (2) the arrival of ComRivFlot One on the 27th and, (3) the
activation of TF-117 on 28 February 1967.
