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Riverine Squadron 2 Returns Home

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080522-26
Release Date: 5/22/2008 5:58:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Jen Smith, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Public Affairs

NORFOLK (NNS) -- Approximately 130 Sailors from the Navy's Riverine Squadron (RIVRON) 2 returned home here from its nearly eight-month deployment, May 22.

The squadron conducted its primary mission of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) along rivers and other inland waterways, to deny the use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack, as a haven for insurgent activities or the illegal transportation of weapons, people or materials.

"We provided support for ground forces in the country," said Lt. j.g. David Caffrey, the assistant officer in charge for Det. 1. "We essentially were a presence on the water to deter any hostility."

The squadron's three detachments conducted security patrols in various rivers, lakes and other waterways in Iraq to include the Haditha Dam, Euphrates River, Lakes Thar Thar and Habbiniyah.

"While we were in Habbiniyah, our mission was to work with the Marine Corps' 2nd Recon unit," said Quartermaster 2nd Class (EXW) Joshua Sikes, a member of the ground combat element, Det. 2. "They were a bunch of great guys. We learned a lot from them and adopted a lot of their tactics."

Sikes also worked with Iraqi soldiers of the Provincial Security Force.

"They were very motivated and receptive," he said. "They wanted to make a difference in their area."

For the Intelligence Specialist 1st Class (EXW/SW) Josh Mazer, his deployment began with security patrols at Haditha Dam.

"After our time at the dam, we started working with the Marines, which was a whole other ballpark," said Mazer. "At the dam, we had our own boat ramp that we were able to walk to. Once we started working with the Marines, we had to drive a convoy, which was a little more dangerous compared to the relative calm at Haditha."

During the deployment, the squadron conducted combat missions and shoreline sweeps in support of coalition and Iraqi security forces. They also discovered 43 weapons caches buried by insurgents, which reduced their ability to conduct attacks against coalition and Iraqi forces.

"I'm very excited with what we were able to accomplish," said Cmdr. Glen Leverette, RIVRON 2's commanding officer. "RIVRON 1 set the set the [initial] standard, when we got out there, we proved that we could do it too. With 600 combat missions, 430 Riverine combat patrols, 196 combat convoys, we set a new standard. The Navy enemy had a bad day. So I think we did everything we could do. I'm happy to have everyone home in one piece."

The Navy's riverine heritage reaches back to the Revolutionary War, when American Sailors used small boats against Royal Navy warships operating on colonial waterways. However, riverine warfare's most notable chapter in history was during the Vietnam War, when the Navy's River Patrol Force and Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Force operated along the Mekong Delta and other rivers and canals in South Vietnam. The Navy's modern Riverine force began with the creation of Riverine Group and RIVRON 1, May 25, 2006. RIVRON 2 became the second Riverine unit to deploy when it left Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va. on Oct. 2.

RIVRON 3, commanded by Cmdr. Greg Sandway, relieved RIVRON 2 earlier this month to conduct MSO in Iraq.

The Navy's Riverine force is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, a global force provider of adaptive force packages of expeditionary capabilities to joint warfighting commanders.

For more news from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command,visit www.navy.mil/local/necc/.