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bjohnson
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 22 Aug 2004
Posts: 49
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 Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:41 am Post subject: Question: How did Swift Boats communicate with each other? |
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Is it significant with respect to knowing what was happening on another swift boat if you were not actually a crew member of that other boat? Or did the crew members of one boat simply have to raise their voices to be heard over the water by crew members on a nearby boat, for example? If so, did such inter-boat conversations occur often enough that the fact that the crews were on separate boats irrelevant at times?
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kmf
Seaman Recruit
Joined: 25 Aug 2004
Posts: 23
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:52 am Post subject: |
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They had these things called radios.
I would not be surpirsed to find out that they used bullhorns/loudspeakers in some situations also. |
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Wing Wiper
Rear Admiral
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 664
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:53 am Post subject: |
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| Radio. They were designed for offshore patrol, not for close-proximity ops like a river. Each boat had 2 big diesels, so they were loud, plus the skipper was inside an enclosed cabin. If you want to know exactly what kind of radio, or what frequency, I don't know, but somebody on this site will. Definately not by yelling boat-to-boat, though, or by flags or lights. I'd guess VHF radio, but don't quote me on that. |
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Wing Wiper
Rear Admiral
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
Posts: 664
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 6:54 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, bullhorns/loudspeakers probably, too, but you wouldn't want to be limited to something like that at night for an ambush. Let's say "primarily radio". |
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rbshirley
Founder
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 394
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| Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Question: How did Swift Boats communicate with each othe |
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| bjohnson wrote: | | How did Swift Boats communicate with each other |
Take A Tour of a Swift Boat and have all your questions answered.
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Herb
Lieutenant
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 213
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 2:46 am Post subject: Re: Question: How did Swift Boats communicate with each othe |
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| rbshirley wrote: | | bjohnson wrote: | | How did Swift Boats communicate with each other |
Take A Tour of a Swift Boat and have all your questions answered.
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EXCELLENT reference.
A couple of more questions (I am an Army guy but familiar with river deltas and boats of this size)
1) LCU (Landing Craft Mechanized) at the Cambodian boarder -- precise type, pictures, etc -- any surving pictures of the Cambodian border circa 1968-70 with the SIGN and LCU blockade?
2) There appear to be TWO river channels at the Cambodian border, correct? -- were both blocked?
3) Did the Swifts have on-call air support, choppers or fixed, time to respond? Only by arrangement? What about during the "fishing weir" epsidoe when 3-boat was damaged?
4) What about on call artillery, ships guns, mortars?
If I had a boat damaged and had to PARK for over an hour under "HEAVY A/W & S/A fire from both banks" some air support seems in order, or indirect fire?
(I am just starting to read "Tour of Duty")
5) Is there a better/another book about Swifts in Vietnam?
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Herb |
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rbshirley
Founder
Joined: 07 May 2004
Posts: 394
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 3:17 am Post subject: Re: Question: How did Swift Boats communicate with each othe |
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| Herb wrote: | | A couple of more questions |
More than just a couple. Certainly more than can be addressed here.
If you are really interested, start off by "exploring" more of the site
where your found A Tour of the Boat. The link is Patrol Craft Fast
The sections on SEALORDS, Ha Tien, Sa Dec, Silvermace, YRBM-16 and
Sea Float are all very pertinent to your questions about Swift Boat ops.
Then I would recommend two other books:
1. "Brown Water, Black Berets" by Thomas Cutler
2. "Unfit for Command" by John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi
The first is the "bible" on US Naval operations inside Vietnam. The second
is, of course, the truth about the short four months that Kerry spent there.
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Herb
Lieutenant
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 213
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Question: How did Swift Boats communicate with each othe |
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| rbshirley wrote: | | Herb wrote: | | A couple of more questions |
More than just a couple. Certainly more than can be addressed here.
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I never expected that you alone would answer all of them but wanted to get them out there for anyone who might know one or two or a good reference to them.
| rbshirley wrote: |
If you are really interested, start off by "exploring" more of the site
where your found A Tour of the Boat. The link is Patrol Craft Fast
The sections on SEALORDS, Ha Tien, Sa Dec, Silvermace, YRBM-16 and
Sea Float are all very pertinent to your questions about Swift Boat ops.
Then I would recommend two other books:
1. "Brown Water, Black Berets" by Thomas Cutler
2. "Unfit for Command" by John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi
The first is the "bible" on US Naval operations inside Vietnam. The second
is, of course, the truth about the short four months that Kerry spent there.
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Thanks for the advice. I bought "Brown Water, Black Beret" for 1.99 on Amazon.
I have, and have read, "Unfit for Command" twice.
What do you think of:
Papa Bravo Romeo : U.S. Navy Patrol Boats at War in Vietnam
by WYNN GOLDSMITH
Man of the River: Memoir of a Brown Water Sailor in Vietnam, 1968-1969
by Jimmy R. Bryant
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Herb |
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Herb
Lieutenant
Joined: 11 Aug 2004
Posts: 213
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 9:27 pm Post subject: Re: Question: How did Swift Boats communicate with each othe |
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| rbshirley wrote: | | Herb wrote: | | A couple of more questions |
More than just a couple. Certainly more than can be addressed here.
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Yes, and I appreciate your help and suggestions -- I didn't mean that YOU should answer them all, but just wanted to get them out there for anyone who could help -- or for others just to think about while they are searching the net.
| rbshirley wrote: |
If you are really interested, start off by "exploring" more of the site
where your found A Tour of the Boat. The link is Patrol Craft Fast
The sections on SEALORDS, Ha Tien, Sa Dec, Silvermace, YRBM-16 and
Sea Float are all very pertinent to your questions about Swift Boat ops.
Then I would recommend two other books:
1. "Brown Water, Black Berets" by Thomas Cutler
2. "Unfit for Command" by John O'Neill and Jerome Corsi
The first is the "bible" on US Naval operations inside Vietnam. The second
is, of course, the truth about the short four months that Kerry spent there.
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I have read and re-read "Unfit for Command" and will obtain "Brown Water, Black Berets".
Thanks.
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Herb |
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