TF-211/Dong Tam - August to December 1970
Vietnamese Alpha boats
tied alongside the Benewah in September of 1970. When not supporting troop
movements, the VN alpha boats would go in patrols of two, similar to PBR
patrols. It is my understanding that this was quite different from their roll
when they were US boats.
This is me (a lot younger and thinner) in fall of 1970 on the first VN boat I was assigned to. We are tied up to one of the Benewah's pontoons. It was anchored about 3 miles from the Cambodian border. The alpha boat had "HQ5166" on the hull. The HQ was for "Hai Quan" which is Vietnamese for "Navy". I don't know if the 5166 had any significance and I don't know what the American hull number was. I know the boat came from a unit at Dong Tam. My first outing was a real revelation. After about 80 years of war, the Vietnamese were in no hurry to make contact. They were content with staying in the widest part of the river and sit in their deck chairs.
Looking down into the forward 20MM turret on the HQ5166 boat.
"The ammo guy". I wish I could remember his name. Maybe someone can identify him for me. The Benewah had an ammo barge tied to it trailing about 150 yards downstream when it was anchored near Tan Chau in 1970. This picture is taken from the stern of the HQ5166 boat as we and another VN boat are taking on ammunition.
This is also near the
Benewah. This is a good view of the 3.5 inch rockets that were fitted on the
forward 20MM mount on the ASPBs during 1970-71. The 2 guys in green are Gunners
Mates from the Benewah. They were sighting in the new tubes before a patrol. The
shell seen on the shoulder on one of the GMs has two copper rings on it. They
made contact with two copper protrusions in the tube. The rocket was fired
by selecting the tube with a rotary switch in the turret and stepping on the
trigger, which sent an electric charge to the shell. The range was short, about
200 yards maximum and we only had the anti-tank shells, which were good for
bunkers, but it would have been
nice to have some anti-personnel type shells.
One shot firefight. Our partner boat got hit by what was put on the Vietnamese battle report as a B40 rocket. No one was in the turret at the time and no one was hurt. It could not have possibly been a B40 because we were too far from shore for even a B41 hit. It was either a mortar or some sort of recoilless rifle. We never saw the VC, could not find them, and no other shots were fired.
Vietnamese heavies in Dong Tam, 1970.
Main gate at Dong Tam.
ATSB Kien An. This
picture was taken from the top of the water
tower. The bank of the Cai Long river can be seen on the right. About
once a week the VC would fire at the base from the tree line. Notice the
mortar hits in the building roofs.
The dock at ATSB Kien
An. It was safer on patrol than tied up
at this dock.
My bunk in one of the
two enlisted hootches in the ATF-211
compound at Dong Tam.
Anyone who was at Dong
Tam in Summer/Fall of 1970 will remember
the dog. He spent much of the day at either the Chow Hall or the Enlisted
Mens club, then go sleep in the ATF-211 compond. The building in the
background is the ATF-211 staff building.
Standing on top of the cockswains flat with the boat captain of the HQ5116 boat. The mast in the background with the Vietnamese flag is the Benewah.
Leaving for a patrol with a Vietnamese PBR.
Looking into the Cockswain's flat on Alpha HQ5173. With the door open you can see the inner and outer bulkheads. The theory was that the outer bulkhead was supposed to detonate any incoming rounds and the inner bulkhead stopped the shrapnel. Notice the bullet holes at the base of the antenna.