T-151-5 

The River Queen

We Have Not Forgotten

David Land on the Left and an unknown Sailor

CONFIDENTIAL

FIRST ENDORSEMENT on Commander River Assault Squadron FIFTEEN ltr 3000

ser 02-69 of 20 JAN 69

From:  Commander Task Group 117.2

To:      Commander U. S. Naval Forces, Vietnam

Via:     Commander Task Force 117

Subj:   Combat After Action Report (MACVJ 3-32) (U)

1.  (U) Forwarded.

2.  (C) This operation saw the first loss of a Program V river assault

craft to the enemy.  At 140940H, January 1969, T-151-5 was sunk by a

command detonated mine at coordinates WR 438769 on the Rach Cai Nhut in

Chuong Thien Province.  Local intelligence indicates that the mine may

have been a dudded 750 pound U.S. bomb converted to a command detonated 

water mine.  The degree of destruction of the boat indicates that a mine

of considerable size must have been used.  The area in which the explosion

occurred had been swept prior to the passage of the MRC but it is apparent

that the sweeping had not been effective.  An analysis of the event

indicates that sweep craft must be as close to the banks of the stream

as possible in order to destroy the command detonation cables.  The act

taken by other craft of the transit group was instrumental in speedy evac-

uation of the wounded.  The hulk of T-151-5 was completely destroyed by

an UDT/EOD element during the afternoon of 2 February.  The hulk no longer

presents a hazard to navigation.

3.  (C) In order to improve the communication capabilities of the CCB

action is underway to procure two AT-292 antennae for use by CTG 117.2.

In addition, an effort will be made to position antennae used by embarked

Vietnamese Marines in locations where they will not shield the installed

antennae aboard the CCB.

4.  (C) The fast action taken by Z-152-1 in coming alongside T-152-3 is

noted.  There is no doubt that the boat would have sunk as a result of

flooding caused by a rocket hit had not it been expeditiously dewatered.

5.  (C) The continued difficulties being experienced with Lister Generators

aboard the CCB is noted.  It has been proposed by personnel of CTG 117.2

that the starting circuitry which is in fact part of the attached generator 

be immobilized in order to prevent electrical derangement of the equipment.

The prime mover for the Lister system can be started easily with a hand

crank and it is felt that the proposed action will indeed prolong the life

of the equipment and the associated radios which it serves.

DOWNGRADED AT 3-YEAR INTERVALS                            CONFIDENTIAL

  DECLASSIFIED AFTER 12 YEARS

[ This is typed from an authentic "After Action Report" ]