US Navy - Vietnam
PBR River Division 515
BRIEF HISTORY OF RIVER DIVISION 515
iver Division 515 was formed on 2 October 1968 with a division roster of 5 officers and 51 enlisted men. After a week of orientation patrols with 10 new Mark II Alpha PBR's, operations offically commenced as River Division 515 relieved River Division 552 and started a regular patrol of the Rung Sat Special Zone. Based out of Nha Be and under the command of Lt. D. W. Simmons, River Division 515 continued its operation in the swampy delta area just southeast of Saigon until December.
On the eighth of December six boats were deployed to the YRBM-18 at Tan An for participation in Operation Giant Slingshot. During this operation the division administration remained at Nha Be while the boats staged out of Tan An. River Division 515 accounted for 14 VC killed (body count), 7 probable kills, and 7 "Chieu Hois" who rallied to the government. In addition, River Division 515 also participated in joint Army-Navy operations which yielded in total weapons captured 5 AK-47 rifles, 1 SKS rifle, 2190 rounds of .51 Caliber ammunition, 106 rounds of 75 MM recoiless rifle, 278 rifle grenades, 420 rounds of 60 MM mortor, 229 rounds of 82 MM mortor, 20,193 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, 461 Chinese grenades, 24 B-40 rockets, 100 tank grenades, 12 land mines, 5 anti-tank mines and numerous explosives and booby traps.
On the 8th of April 1969 River Division 573 relieved River Division 515 and River Division 515 departed Operation Giant Slingshot. After a two day rest period in Nha Be, all 10 of the division's PBR's were loaded on the USS Jennings County (LST-846) and set sail for the lower Bassac River. Through the 20th of May operations were conducted on the wide rivers and estuaries of the Lower Bassac Region. During this period psychological warfare operations proved extremely successful, with a total of eight VC rallying to the side of the government.
On 15 May 1969 River Division 515 along with the USS Jennings County (LST-846), shifted it's operations to the upper Bassac River. Patrols commenced upon arrival in Chau Doc Harbor and the Tri Ton Canal. After 15 days of these operations River Division 515 shifted it's area of patrols from the Tri Ton to the Vinh Te Canal. In addition to the division's normal patrols several Medical Civic Action Programs were conducted in which 412 Vietnamese patients were treated.
Midway through the month of June, River Division 515 received word that it was to participate in one of the most challenging and interesting missions ever conducted in the "Brown Water Navy". On 20 June an Army CH-54A "Skycrane" helicopter began airlifting 6 of the division's PBR's into a new patrol area which was inaccessible by water - the Cai Cai Canal. Six crews were also air-lifted into the area by Army CH-47A "Chinook" helicopters. During operations in the Cai Cai, the division was based out of the Cai Cai Special Forces Camp with food and supplies flown in from the Jennings County. Operations in the Cai Cai were brief and continued until the middle of July. During their stay River Division 515 succeeded in destroying numerous enemy bunkers, capturing several weapons and in general provided successful interdiction operations.
On 21 July PBR's and crews were again air-lifted out of the Cai Cai to the Mekong River to the Support Ship USS Jennings County (LST-846) and commenced operations on the Grand Canal as part of Operation Barrier Reef. River Division 515's role in Operation Barrier Reef proved very successful. In one instance 2 River Division units were in a routine Water Borne Guard Post (WBGP) on the canal when a force of about 50 VC were spotted attempting to cross the canal. Allowing the enemy to cross to an open field of fire 4 units of River Division 515 opened fire and co-ordinated Seawolf and Black Pony airstrikes into the area. A sweep at first light revealed 3 AK-47 rifles, 558 rounds of AK-47 ammunition, numerous blood trails. Successful actions such as this all but proved the worth of PBR's in Vietnam.
Throughout the month of August operations continued on the Grand Canal. On 1 September 1969 Lt. Thomas F. O'Conner relieved Lt. Douglas W. Simmons as Commander of River Division 515. Operations continued in this area until the 21st of November when River Division 515 moved to the YRBM-16 at Chau Doc and again commenced operations on the Vinh Te Canal. While on the Vinh Te the boats staged out of ATSB Vinh Gia. Operations at Vinh Gia in the Vinh Te consisted of mainly night Water Borne Guard Posts in an effort to stop enemy infiltration into South Vietnam from Cambodia. During this period of operation River Division 515 had the opportunity to work with Mobile Strike Force Troops. This joint operation proved to be a highly successful means of halting border interdiction and in one instance yielded 11 enemy kills (body count), 3 prisoners and numerous weapons and documents. On February 7, 1970, as operations continued in the Vinh Te Canal, Lt. Robert G. McClure relieved LCDR Thomas F. O'Conner as Commander of River Division 515.
On the 5th of March 1970, River Division 515 ceased operation in the Vinh Te Canal and transited to Ha Tien via Rach Gia. Upon arrival at ASTB Ha Tien on 8 March COMRIVDIV 515 assumed duties as Deputy Commander to LCDR Que, VNN and commenced operations on the Rach Giang Thanh River, providing Border Interdiction on the western-most portion of the Cambodian border. During operations in this area River Division 515 operated with Vietnamese Junks, U. S. Navy Swift Boats, Mine Sweeping Craft and 1 U. S. Navy Monitor equipped with a 105 howitzer.
On the 27th of April River Division 515 was relieved by River Division 513 as the division moved to Rach Soi to (1) commence operation in the Search Turn AO and (2) to prepare for turnover of the division to the Vietnamese Navy.
During the months of April and May operations were carried out with two-fold missions. (1) to continue interdiction operations and (2) to finalize training of the Vietnamese personnel for the upcoming turnover.
On 31 May 1970 preparations were finally completed and the division turned over to the Vietnamese Navy forming half of River Patrol Group 58. Of the remaining personnel in the division about 16 remained with RPG 58 as advisors while the remaining men were transferred to other U. S. River Divisions.
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