Museum of the American G.I in College Station, Texas - Image of Museum American GI

Vietnam War Patrol Boat, River Mark II

Number Produced: 290+
Crew: 4
Main Armament: M2HB .50 caliber Machine Gun (2)
Other Armament: M60 .30 caliber Machine Gun (2)
Mk 18 40mm Grenade Launcher
Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V53N
Horsepower: 216
Speed: 28.5 knots (32 mph, 53 km/h)
Displacement: 8.9 tons
Length: 32’ (9.8 m)
Beam: 11’6”” (3.5 m)
Draft: 2’ (.61 m)

With poorly developed road and rail systems, the South Vietnamese depended on the country’s vast network of shallow inland waterways. As the Vietnam War progressed, the US Navy realized the importance of securing these waterways from the Vietcong. In 1965, it established Task Force 116, codenamed Operation Gamewarden to patrol the waterways. The Patrol Boat, River (nicknamed Pibber from its initials) was designed for this mission. Highly maneuverable and light, it could traverse waters as shallow as 2 ½ feet (.76m), but at the expense of substantial armored protection. Because of the nature of its mission, Task Force 116 servicemen experienced some of the highest mortality rates of the war, but were also some of the most decorated.