need a little help from the experts. this vessel is on display at Battleship memorial park in Mobile, Alabama. what type of craft is this?
thanks in advance.
I believe that is a Vietnam PBR (Patrol Boat, River) Gun Boat
It is a MKIII PB used in the 80’s and early 90’s. They were operated by enlisted SWCC NEC 9533 guys at Special Boat Squadrons / Special Boat Units in support of Special Warfare operations. Boat Captains were usually a 1st Class Petty Officer ( E-6) or a Chief. They were [U]not [/U]operated by SEALS. Deployable many different ways and frequently steamed independently in pairs (or more) for long distances. World wide service, they accomplished a lot in the Persian Gulf, Panama, etc…
SWCC Special Warfare Combatant Craft / Crewman
NEC Naval Enlisted Classification / code
[QUOTE=78BM98;146251]It is a MKIII PB used in the 80’s and early 90’s. They were operated by enlisted SWCC NEC 9533 guys at Special Boat Squadrons / Special Boat Units in support of Special Warfare operations. Boat Captains were usually a 1st Class Petty Officer ( E-6) or a Chief. They were [U]not [/U]operated by SEALS. Deployable many different ways and frequently steamed independently in pairs (or more) for long distances. World wide service, they accomplished a lot in the Persian Gulf, Panama, etc…
SWCC Special Warfare Combatant Craft / Crewman
NEC Naval Enlisted Classification / code[/QUOTE]
You may very well be correct but the hull number listed at the park in Mobile (31RP7331) is a Vietnam era MKII.
I think that is this one on display inside hanger.
Correct. The green one in the hanger is a PBR.
Looks like a Seafox to me…
This is a SEAFOX http://www.warboats.org/seafox.htm SWCL Special Warfare Craft Light. They were not around until 1981. Trust me.
Seafox guranteed…we did cast & recovery drills with those in BUD/S in 1990.
The green one in the hanger with the red hull is a PBR it is not a Seafox. To the untrained eye, they may look similar. When working “cast and recoveries”, things happen pretty quickly and it is dark. As you obviously know. I have done them on the boat side, while you were on the water side, with the F-470 Zodiac for you to bounce into. I was around Seafox’s from 1986-1990. EVERY DAY. Might have even seen you !
[QUOTE=78BM98;146251]It is a MKIII PB used in the 80’s and early 90’s. They were operated by enlisted SWCC NEC 9533 guys at Special Boat Squadrons / Special Boat Units in support of Special Warfare operations. Boat Captains were usually a 1st Class Petty Officer ( E-6) or a Chief. They were not operated by SEALS. Deployable many different ways and frequently steamed independently in pairs (or more) for long distances. World wide service, they accomplished a lot in the Persian Gulf, Panama, etc…
SWCC Special Warfare Combatant Craft / Crewman
NEC Naval Enlisted Classification / code[/QUOTE]
exactly…it’s a MkIII boat
Displacement: 82500 lbs light, 82500 lbs full load
Length: 64’ - 10 3/4"
Beam: 18’ - 0 3/4"
Height: – Exclusive of Masts, Antenna, Etc. -18’ - 6 1/2"
Draft: 5.5’
Props: 3 - RH, 3 blade, 32" diameter x 35’ pitch (cupped), bronze Columbian Bronze Corp., “Crew boat” style
Propulsion: Three General Motors 8V71T1 diesel engines with 2:1 reduction gear, starboard, center, and port engines. Detroit Diesel model 7082-7399Each engine develops 650 HP @ 2300 RPM (600 SHP @ 2300 RPM)
Generator: One 15 KW, 120/108v, 60 cycle A.C. three phase ONAN model 15MDJF4R type “YD”
Electrical System: 24v DC provided by two 28.5v alternators, Motorola model 85A3006P, 120v AC provided by diesel auxiliary generator
Speed: 26 knots
Range: 450n. miles at full speed, 2000n. miles at slow speeds.
Crew: Officers / Enlisted 1 / 4
Guns: See chart below…
Hoisting Weight — Full Load + Bands 83000 lbs
Total Potable Water Capacity 100 gal.
Total Fuel Capacity -1800 gal
Construction: Longitudinally Framed Aluminum Hull V-bottom
At this time, the 65 ft. PB is the newest, most advanced small Patrol Boat in the USN inventory. It was designed as a high speed weapons platform for the Naval Inshore Warfare forces, capable of carrying a variety of U.S. or foreign weapons in a number of alternate locations. A modular payload concept is incorporated, allowing the craft to be adapted to a variety of missions in deep rivers, harbors, coastal or open sea environments. Missions envisioned include patrol, surveillance, interdiction, fire support against ashore and afloat targets and insertion / extraction of NIW units. The main deck of the craft is reinforced in vital areas so that future mission capabilities, dependent upon the development and/or availability of the necessary systems hardware, may include anti-submarine sonar or torpedoes, mine laying, mine detection and mine sweeping.
The craft is powered by three high power, lightweight diesels providing speeds significantly higher than any other USN patrol boat of this size. Fuel and Accommodations will permit unsupported missions of up to five days or 450 NM (2000 NM at reduced speeds). Multi-frequency communications, high resolution surface search radar and reasonable stability in moderately heavy seas will permit day/night, all weather operations. The all aluminum craft was designed with a low silhouette, low radar cross section and extremely low acoustic noise levels to preclude ready detection.
Builders: Marinette Marine, Wisc. and Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc.
The PB Mk III was developed as a multi-mission inshore warfare craft for U.S. and foreign naval service. The U.S. craft are operated by the active SBUs.
Classification: These craft are also designated as Special Warfare Craft, Medium (SWCM). The Naval Systems Command designates these craft as PB Mk 3l however, they are listed as Mk III in the Fleet.
Design: The Mk III is a modified commercial craft used to support offshore drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. These craft are of all-aluminum construction with their pilot house offset to starboard to provide maximum deck space for weapons and equipment. The craft has low radar cross-section and quiet engines for clandestine operations. Mission duration is up to five days.
Guns: These craft generally are fitted with an automatic 40-mm gun forward and up to four .50-cal machine guns on pintle mountings. These are also hard points on the deck for fitting larger guns as well as missiles. They can also be rigged to carry mines, torpedoes, or minesweeping gear.
One unit was used to evaluate the 25-mm Bushmaster cannon.
Missiles: The PB III was used to evaluate the Norwegian-developed Penguim SSM with four stowage/launcher containers being fitted on the after portion of the deck.
best of my knowledge most if not all are out of the Navee’s inventory already…obviously not expensive enough!
We did cast & recovery with the Seafox & an IBS (not a Zodiac) along side.
Guranteed.
That’s correct in training. However, if you made it out of buds you know the F470 Zodiac is used in real world operations.
Yes, I am aware of that.