ARTICAL & STORIES OF RAD-595/153.

ARTICALS & STORIES OF THE RAD-595/153

"THE DELTA DESTROYERS"

ARMY LCM's MINED AT TUYEN NHON

On 1 April 1970, two U.S. Army LCM's were mined at the advaced Tactical Support Base (ATSB) Tuyen Nhon. The had apparently been placed by sappers between the LCM's and appoximately fifteen feet forwad of the sterns. PBR's immediately attempted to assist the LCM's to dewater, but the damage was too extensive. Both boats sank at their moorings. Divers investigating found that one boat had a 7 foot by 2 foot hole in the side and bottom, and the other boat had a 3 foot by 2 foot hole in the side and bottom. EOD personnel estimated that 50 pound charge of C-4 would be required to produce such extensive damage.

( What I remember as an eye witness to this attack, as I was standing on an ASPB morred to the starbord side of one of the LCM's. That the boats were loaded with full loads of ammo for the boat and base. There was an explosion and the two LCM's lurched into the air at the sternsand sank, swoosh. I donn't remember any casualties, but it scared the bageebee out of this river rat. End of story.

BM3 R.L. McDevitt (Mack)).

OPERATION DEEP CHANNEL ll

In addition to other duties, CTG 194.9 assumed the opcon, on 5 January 1970, of all elements assigned to Operation Deep Channel II, one of the largest combat demolition jobs in the history of the Navy. The purpose of this operation is to connect the Kinh Gay and Kinh Lagrange Expansion, using military explosives. This will in turn provide a patrolling route for river patrol craft in a formerly inaccessible area and established a cordon to enemy infiltration from the tip of the "Parrot's Beak" southwest along the Kinh Bo Bo - a known enemy infiltration route. The new six mile channel when completed will have the added benefit of providing the civilian population in the area with a shot cut between Tuyen Nhon and Tra Cu, thus making it easier for them to transport products to the Markets in Saigon, Tay Ninh City, and elsewhere. By the end of January, Detachment Delta of Underwater Demolition Team Twelve (UDT-12) and a detachment Vietnamese Navy Frogmen, all under LTJG Walter R. Harvey, were well on their way to completion of the channel blasting. In addition, other units were involved as seen on the following Task Orgaization Chart.

Chart Break Down

A) TG-194.9 , GIANT SLINGSHOT , COMMANDER GIANT SLINGSHOT ,Provide overal coordination.

B) TG-115.9 , COASTAL SURVEILANCE GROUP , COMMANDER, TG-115.1. Provide UDT personnel.

C) TG-115.7 , SOLID ANCHOR , COMMANDER, TG-115.7 Provide UDT personnel.

D) TU 194.9.1 TRA CU INTERDICTION UNIY, COMRIVDIV 552 , Provide support as requested by CTE 194.9.3 .

E) TU 194.9.5 , TUYEN NHON INTERDICTION UNIT, COMRAD 153 , Coordinate employment of USA infantry platoons. ( also provided Alpha boats in support and transport).

F) TE 76.0.6.2 , UDT TWELVE, COMMANDER, UDT TWELVE, Provide one officer / ten enlisted to CTE 194.9.9.3 .

G) TE 194.9.93 , Kinh Gay SPECOPSGRU , OINC, KINH GAY SPECOPSGRU , Assume opcon UDT perssonel. Direct extending and clearing operations. Coordinate between USA and USN.

H) TE 194.9.5.3 USA INF PLT AS ASSIGNED , CO, USA INF PLT AS ASSIGNED , Provide direct suport to CTU 194.9.5 .

I) NAVAL SUPORT ACTIVITY, SAIGON , COMNAVSUPPACT SGN , Provide logistics support.

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE

UDT CARRYING EXPLOSIVES

UDT FLOTING EXPLOSIVES.

" BOOM"

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