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MOREO 08-08-03 SIR, I'M WRITING TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON THE FIRST SEAL SUPPORT CRAFT USED IN VIETNAM. I TOO SERVED IN COUNTRY FROM 1966-1969 WITH MST-1,MST-2 AND MST-3. YES THERE WAS A MST-3. WE WERE THE FIRST GROUP DESIGNATED AS SUCH. LATER IT WAS CHANGED TO MST-2 DE T ALPHA, ETC. LTJG GALLAGER WAS OUR OIC. I SERVED IN BSU-1 FROM 1965-1969 FROM EN-3 TO EN-1 AND STATESIDE DUTIES INCLUDED LCSR ENGINEER SIMULATING TORPEDO ATTACKS ON THE FLEET. I WENT TO THE "SITE" IN DANANG 65-66 AND WAS ON THE PTF TRAINING TEAM, TRAINING SOC MEMBERS IN NASTY CLASS ENGINEERING SYSTEMS AND 40MM GUNNERY. I WENT STATESIDE ASSIGNED TO PTF-13 WHERE WE WERE USED AS A PLATFORM TO TEST THE RED EYE SHOULDER FIRED MISSILE AT PT. MUGU. AN A-4D SKYRAIDER CAME IN TO LOW ON A TRACKING EXERCISE AND CLIPPED OUR RADIO ANTENNA. WE WERE LUCKY BECAUSE HE MISSED THE BRIDGE BY 5 ONLY FEET. I DEPLOYED TO NHA BE, MEKONG DELTA WITH LTJG GALLAGER AS OUR OIC. OUR LCM SIX HAD EVERY THING YOU DESCRIBED PLUS A 106MM RECOILLESS RIFLE MOUNTED ON THE TOP OF THE WELL DECK WHICH WE ENCLOSED WITH AIRCRAFT REVETMENT AND SANDBAGS. WE ALSO HAD A 81MM MORTAR IN THE WELL DECK. WE ALSO HAD CLAYMORES ATTACHED TO THE ARMOR PLATING PORT AND STBD, 3 EACH SIDE FOR CLOSE IN AMBUSHES. THE LCPL'S WERE CORRECT, BUT YOU FAILED TO MENTION THE BOSTON WHALERS WE HAD, MYSELF AND RANDY (BEAR) MILLER DROVE THE BOSTON WHALERS WITH A SEAL TEAM 1 FIRE TEAM IN EACH BOAT, I DROVE THE LEAD BOAT AND WAS VECTORED BY THE MIGHTY "MO" TO THE SMALL CANAL OFF THE MAIN RIVER AND THAN BY MAP TO THE INSERTION POINT. MOST OPS WERE AT NIGHT. THE BOATS WERE 16 FOOT WHALERS WITH 105 HP CHRYSLER ENGINES. A GUNNER WAS IN THE BOW WITH A M-60.THAT WAS THE REST OF 1966 AND PART OF 67. I THEN WENT STATE SIDE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO GRAFTON BOAT COMPANY IN ALTON ILL. TO TEST, DEVELOP AND EVALUATE THE FIRST LSSC, LIGHT SEAL SUPPORT CRAFT. THE GROUP CONSISTED OF 8 ENLISTED AND LTJG GALLAGER AS OUR OAK. RICK SHEPARD AND I LEFT TRAVIS AFB ON BOARD A C-133 STARLIFTER WITH THE FIRST TWO LSSC'S, IN THE FALL OF 67 WE LANDED IN CAN THO AND COMMENCED INSERTIONS AND EXTRACTIONS WITH SEAL TEAM-2. THE BOATS HAD M-60'S PORT AND STBD AND A 60MM HONEYWELL GRENADE LAUNCHER AFT. THE ENGINES WERE (2) FORD 427'S DRIVING JACUZZI WATER JET PUMPS. THE BOAT WAS 24 FOOT LONG WITH CERAMIC ARMOR STRIPS AND SELF SEALING FUEL TANKS, AND THE BEST THING WAS A RAYTHEON RADAR BELOW THE DRIVER'S SEAT, SOMETHING BEAR AND I COULD HAVE USED IN NHA BE. I WENT STATESIDE FALL OF 68 ASSIGNED TO LCSR'S. THEN I RETURNED TO LSSC DUTY IN CAN-THO AND MY-THO MEKONG DELTA. WITH OVER 100 SEAL INSERTION AND EXTRACTION MISSIONS IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO TRY SOMETHING ELSE SO I TRANSFERRED TO NATO FORCES EUROPE IN LATE 1969. IF YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THESE BOATS PLEASE CONTACT ME. |
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