Republic of Vietnam Navy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The VNN was the naval forces of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1952 to 1975.

Vietnamese Navy officers and CPOs board their new ship (the cutter Bering Strait, which was transferred to the South Vietnamese Navy)

The early fleet consist of boats from France and consisted of 'Dinassaut' (Division Navale d'Assaut or Naval Assault Division). After 1955 and transfer of republican forces to South Vietnam, the fleet was supplied from the United States.

In 1974, the Republic of Vietnam Navy was involved in the Battle of Hoang Sa with China.

1 Fleet
2 List of Republic of Vietnam Navy Ships
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Fleet

Commodore Tran Van Chon, Chief of Naval Operations of the Republic of Vietnam Navy, (left) and Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, USN, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations, (left center). Inspect some of the Vietnamese Sailors who will take over river patrol operations from the U.S. Navy, circa September 1969. Note the M1 (Garand) rifles held by the Sailors.

The fleet before 1973:

2 Destroyers (DER)
7 Frigates (WHEC) - former USCG High Endurance Cutters
9 Patrol Craft (PCE)
7 Mechanized Mine Sweepers (MSM)
6 River Mine Sweepers (MSR)
20 Motor Patrol Gunboats (PGM)
26 Coastal Patrol Boats (WPB)
2 Coastal Minesweepers (MSM)
6 Landing Ships (Tank) (LST)
5 Landing Ships (Medium) (LSM)
2 Hospital Ships (LSMH)
7 Landing Ships (Support, Large) (LSSL)
5 Landing Ships (Infantry, Large) (LSIL)
2 Landing Support Ships (AGP)
1 Landing Craft Repair Ship (ARL)
6 Yard Oilers (YOG)
5 Utility Boats (UB)
4 Combat Salvage Boats (CSB)
138 Swift Patrol Boats (PCF)
293 River Patrol Boats (PBR)
84 Assault Support Patrol Boats (ASPB)
22 Mechanized Landing Craft (LCM)
100 Armored Troop Carriers (ATC)
2 Auxiliary Personal Lighters (APL)
42 River Monitors
250 Motor Junks

Prior to the fall of Saigon, Captain Kiem Do secretly planned and quietly carried out the evacuation of thirty-five ships and some thirty thousand at-risk South Vietnamese Navy sailors out of the country to Subic Bay, Philippines.