The Bonding of Warriors
A Unit History
The Years 1968-1971
Ch 22
1968 - Compiled by Brent Gulick
Many thoughts raced through Lieutenant Walker's mind as he waited in the Naval Operations Center at Ben Luc, Vietnam. The young Engineer officer was contemplating the mission with which he was soon to be involved. He was waiting to meet Lieutenant Toschik, Operations Officer, Company E (Ranger), 75th Infantry. The Rangers had a special interest in Walker; his company could furnish them with small, fast boats (Kinner Ski Barges) which they needed for their operation AQUABUSH. Although he had never participated in the operation, Walker had heard many stories about the missions. Tonight he was going to accompany the Rangers on an "Aquabush" to get a feel of the mission and to determine how his boats and crews would fit into future operations.
Toschik soon arrived and wasted no time in introducing Walker to the aquabush concepts. He began the briefing on the way to the wharf: "We've been giving Charlie hell along his sampan highways and in his Nipa Palm sanctuaries. The Regional and Popular Forces and our 'ground pounders' haven't let the enemy out of the Nipa lately. The 'old man' got with the Navy and worked out a combined operation -the Aquabush- whereby we can go after the VC in their own back yard."
As the two officers reached the waterfront, Toschik pointed to a cluster of small outboard motor boats, similar to those used for fishing and water skiing back in the States. "It took much work to get our boats rigged like we want them, and to get our techniques worked out with the Navy. All of our men are swimmers and each is cross-trained as a pilot; in fact, each man is cross- trained in many other skills. These boats are the Navy's Boston Whalers with fiberglass hulls and twin 40 HP engines which can attain a speed of 30 knots and get on a plane in 10 meters. One boat has its own electric starter - a necessity in our operation. We tried a big 85 HP engine, but it didn't have the power of two 40s, nor did it have a reserve propulsion capability. We designed that M60 mount to give a low silhouette for the machine gunner and to keep the center of gravity down. The pilot's PRC-77 is strapped to the steering console. Thus far, a shortage of repair parts has been our greatest problem. We resorted to cannibalization in an effort to keep two boats operational at all times. Now, the Navy is pulling out of this immediate area. That's why we need your help - they are going to take their boats with them."
Walker thought about his Kinner Ski Barges and compared them with the Whalers. The Ski Barge has a metal hull and is a little larger craft; the capabilities are about the same. His boats also used twin 40s and each boat had an electric starter. The Ski Barges' machinegun mounts were taller than the Navy ones - they'd have to be shortened. He explained to Toschik that the boats would interchange, and that there should be no difficulty making the switch. The Engineers had an outboard motor mechanic, by MOS, and a Prescribed Load List. Maintenance should be no problem. He was intrigued by the mission, however, and quizzed Toschik for more information.
"The whalers are always used in pairs for mutual support. The Navy provides two crewmen -a pilot and a machine gunner. We split a six-man Ranger team between two boats, and we're ready for action. Each Ranger wears camouflaged fatigues, a black shirt, a black hat or head band, and some captured equipment to confuse Charlie, who is rather easily fooled in his watery haven. Virtually all of our boat ambushes are sprung at extremely close ranges. One night while we were listening and waiting to move inland, a VC walked up to the boat and squatted down into the muzzle of a shotgun. We keep plenty of grenades handy on our load bearing equipment and in the boat; all the guys have 50-round magazines filled with tracers for the initial impact - we don't stick around very long after the first magazine."
Toschik explained that even though the Rangers carried a shotgun and an M79 in each boat, they seldom used the grenade launchers: "The Nipa is nearly always too close and thick. We carry Claymore Mines rigged on long stakes but, in many cases, contact is made before we have a chance to put them out."
The Rangers checked load bearing equipment, weapons, Claymore mines, radios and boats before departing on Aquabush missions. "When departing for a mission, we usually follow in the wake of patrol boats or whatever crafts the Navy has going our way. Actually, we don't really need the noise screen because these engines can cut back to a troll speed with less noise than a motorized sampan. Charlie listens for the big boats and makes his crossings as they pass around a bend; we have had a few early evening contacts, on our way to a night location, by following about 500 meters behind big boats," Toschik related.
He explained that the Navy had long known many of Charlie's favorite crossing sites and often received good targets from agent reports of enemy activity along the river. Third Brigade, 9th Infantry Division had patternized NVA infiltration routes which included water paths as well as numerous fords and shuttle points. Also, when airmobile units witnessed Charlie's disappearing act during day sweeps, the small Navy/Ranger task force reacted by slipping back into the area after dark and after Charlie crawled from his crawfish hole.
Walker listened intently as the Ranger Lieutenant explained the actual ambush technique: "The ATL (Assistant Team Leader) sets-up his boat in a supporting position where the stream or canal junctions with the river. The TL (Team Leader) has his pilot slowly back his Whaler up the tributary - never more than 50 meters. That flat bottom boat sounds just like a sampan as the water laps at its hull in the darkness. Once in position, and after a short listening period, the Rangers wade inland about 30 meters and set-up. As movement is detected, the old heart rate accelerates. You would be surprised how freely and boldly the enemy moves in that mud and Nipa after dark - flash lights, whistles, shouts. . .
"The TL initiates the ambush when shadowed figures move up to his position - many times talking or signaling to him. The center Ranger tosses grenades and saves his weapon to cover the hasty movement back to the boat where the machine gunner is firing in support. Once the Rangers tumble into the idling boat, which the pilot starts at the sound of the first shot, the machine gunner shifts to the target. He then signals the support boat to open fire on the tracer impact area.
"The pilot keeps the boat in position against the tide and current by holding onto Nipa branches until his machine gunner opens fire. Then it takes a skilled pilot to steer and throttle a low draft boat into a pick-up position. With all aboard, little time is lost in making a speedy get-away to open water." Walker thought about the Aquabush and mentally evaluated his personnel and their ability to perform this type of mission. His people were good and they had experience, but he would have to devote initial training time to refining extraction techniques.
Toschik broke his thought: "You will have to evaluate tide data. We learned that lesson the hard way; getting stuck in Charlie country can be a nerve-racking experience. Also, you'll want to be aware of moon position - to take advantage of bank shadows.
"The team leader can call for gunship, artillery, or gunboat support with his PRC-77; we will have your support boat radio monitor headquarters' frequency at all times. Prior to each mission, the team leader coordinates directly with artillery, naval gun ships, naval gunboats, and with any units, such as SEALs or Riverine Forces, operating on the river the night of his operation."
"To avoid setting a pattern, we make full use of the hundreds of miles of connecting waterways accessible to us, and we make all reconnaissance by air - never by boat! We never ambush the same location! We use Ranger teams which alternate their nights between ambushing and drying out from the previous sleepless night spent in mud and water.
"Occasionally, we react to a Navy contact as an assault element or blocking force. Also, we have had some luck reacting to radar sightings of sampans crossing the river. We like to leave a sniper on the ATL's boat to scan the opposite bank for easy targets on foot or in sampan. A little light reflection off the water considerably increases a starlight scope capability. The sniper can fire at will; sound direction is not well detected over water."
"The best way to break you into our operation is to show you. I will take Team 17 out tonight and give Sergeant Bryant a rest. He has a knack for this type of operation and has been very successful with it. It takes a team leader with steady nerves to execute the ambush in a timely way and not be caught in a compromising situation. As you will see, this is a risky mission; however, surprise and firepower are our equalizers. You will have to be my machine gunner. The Whaler will carry only five and retain minimum safe power. Don't worry, we'll check you out, and Chief Slater, who helped pioneer our techniques, will pilot and give you assistance if you need it."
After chow, Walker joined the little task force as it checked weapons, motors, radios and equipment. With everything ready, it headed north in the vanishing wake of an Assault Support Patrol boat escorting two Tango boats of Vietnamese Marines. Lieutenant Walker tried to visualize the target, previously briefed as one of several canals in an area of numerous, recent DUFFLEBAG activations. Brigade Operations radio reported that the radar sight at Thu Thua Canal junction reported a sampan crossing into the Eagles Beak from the Plain of Reeds-right on target. The two small craft quickly pulled along-side the Tangos and the pilots prepared to slip into the bank shadows.
The target canal identified and the support boat positioned, Toschik's Whaler sleekly glided under the low hanging Nipa branches. The three Rangers gingerly slid into the water and moved into the pitch stillness of the Nipa grove. Soon, only the slapping of the walking fish could be detected around the Ranger position. Dim lights appeared and slowly moved to- ward the blackened bushwhackers. The radios suddenly came to life.
"17, this is Sword Fish, over."
"Fish, this is 17, over"
"This is Fish, I have a sampan, about thirty meters out, moving in my direction toward 17-ALFA's position."
"This is 17; hold off, I have three lights converging on my position. Standby to blow and make it, wait."
"17 ALPHA, 17, are you monitoring, over?"
"17 ALPHA, roger, over."
Suddenly the blank void of the night became a psychedelic happening as the three Rangers opened fire and took the opportunity to hurriedly splash back to their impatiently waiting cohorts. After clearing the canal, Lieutenant Toschik directed fire and adjusted illumination and HE while awaiting the Navy gun ships which were previously alerted by his ATL.
He remarked to his new friend, "Well Lieutenant Walker, you did a good job shooting up that sampan. Now that you have had a first hand look, what do you think of our Aquabush?"
"A little hairy but it is hard to complain about success," was the reply.
The following incident happened sometime 1970 east of Tan An Vietnam. It involved one ambush team from Echo company 75th Infantry (Airborne Rangers) of the 3rd Brigade 9th Infantry Division and a couple of small navy boats from the Mobile Riverine Force assigned to Tan An along with their navy drivers. To best of recollection each vessel was about 18 feet long, had twin outboard engines and a machine gun turret in middle of each boat.
We boarded the boats in Tan An and headed down river east of Tan An for several miles in broad daylight. After an uneventful ride of several miles the navy dropped us off on the river bank next to a hooch that had a clear beach where we could climb off without difficulty. I say this as opposed to being dropped off of PBRs in the nippa bushes and mud which was a difficult exercise and it could take one or two guys just to assist another person back onto a boat.
After disembarking the navy boats left us and returned to Tan An. Chuck Watson our team leader immediately called in a marker round to verify our location. Also with us on this night was Lt. Gulick, our platoon lieutenant. We waited on the river bank until dark then moved out across a dry rice paddy eventually getting to our ambush location where we set up in typical fashion. As it turned out it was an uneventful evening and in the morning we moved back to the same location where the navy boats had dropped us off.
We ended up spending most of the day on the river bank waiting for the navy boats to return. I have no idea why it took them all day to return but the day ended up to be one of pleasure for us. We spent the day relaxing on the river bank and taking photos of each other. We also kept cool by swimming in the river most of the day just waiting for our ride to return.
Eventually at dusk the boats showed up and off we headed back to Tan An. It got pitch dark right away and navigation became difficult. The first boat turned on a strobe light for the second boat to follow. To this day the wisdom of the first boat displaying a strobe light for the second boat to follow has bothered me for at the time I remember thinking how fortunate I was to be in the second boat. I was also wondering how the driver of the first boat could tell where to go and then realized he was following the silhouette of the tree line on both sides of the river. Between the trees on either side of the river was a beautiful sky full of bright stars or it was this path of stars we were following back to base.
Suddenly the strobe light went out. Immediately the navy driver slowed our boat down and with the decrease in rpms the engine noise became lower and we could hear the guys in the first boat yelling excitedly but we couldn't see anything. Suddenly we hit a rice paddy dike head on just as the boat ahead of us had but at a much reduced speed. The first boat had hit the dike at full speed and went over the dike stopping flat against a second dike. The boat was literally wedged in between two dikes. Fortunately no one had been hurt but they were sure shook up. As it turned out there was no tree line to follow where they hit the dike because the rice paddy came right down to the river's edge and the two dikes separated the river from the paddy. As a result the driver drove into it head on.