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Riverine Craft

Naval forces in a riverine environment may be organized into a river flotilla to give ground units an afloat base facility, furnish combat and combat service support, and patroI waterways. A typical naval river flotilla may consist of a river support squadron and from two to five river assault squadrons.

In Vietnam tbe river support squadron was composed of barracks, repair, salvage, and supply ships to support Army and Navy units operating from an afloat base. Such a base, located near tbe area of operations (AO), provided a suitable launching point for waterborne operations and minimizez the impact on civilians. Ships of the support squadron included: APBs - barracks ships, self-propeiled, or APLs - barracks craft, non-self-propelled, to provide billets for ground force and naval personnel, and command and control facilities for flotilla, brigade, and battalion commanders and staffs; ARL's - landing craft repair ships to provide maintenance facilities for naval and ground units; LJW's - landing ships, tank, for supply support; and various smaller craft for security, salvage, and tug services. Anchoring these ships adjacent to airfields, and being able to move them as required, considerably increased tactical flexibility.

The tactical element of the naval river flotilla was the river aseault sqnadron. A squadron was composed of enough troop carriers, command craft gunboats, escort boats, and refuelers to support a reinforced infantry battalion conducting offensive tactical operations in a riverine area. Watercraft of a typical river assault squadron included: armored troop carriers (ATC's) for transporting troops and equipment; command and communications boats (CCB'S) to provide command and control facilities for embarked forces; Monitors (gunboats) to provide fire support during water movements and ground operations; assault support patrol boats (ASPB's) for fire support, minesweeping, and patrolling; and a refueler which is an ATC with portable fuel tanks installed in the cargo well. Tbe ATC can also be used for combat resupply and as a floating medical aid station.

All these watercraft, except the ASPB'S, were converted landing craft mechanized (LCM's). Each river assault squadron was organized into two river assault divisions. Each division supported one or two reinforced companies the same way the squadron supports a battalion.