Ships of the Republic of Vietnam Navy
Encyclopedia
This list of ships of the Republic of Vietnam Navy
, commonly known as the Vietnam Navy (VNN), includes all ships commissioned into service from its foundation in 1955, until its dissolution in 1975.
These s were 280 ton, 174 feet (53 m) vessels, with a crew of 65. They had a top speed of 20.2 knots (11 m/s). The main armament was one 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm and 20 mm guns.
Originally built as s for the U.S. Navy
, these 2,040 ton, 310 feet (94.5 m) vessels were transferred to the Coast Guard
after World War II, and reclassified as s. With a crew of 151, they had a top speed of 18 knots (9.8 m/s) and a range of 20000 nmi (37,040 km). The main armament was a single 5"/38 caliber gun. In Vietnamese service they were classified as frigate
s.
The Patrol Craft Escorts were 903 ton, 184 feet (56.1 m) vessels. With a crew of 99, they had a top speed of 15.7 knots (8.5 m/s). The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm guns, and depth charges.
The s were 625 ton, 184 feet (56.1 m) ships. With a crew of 104, they had a top speed of 15 knots (8.2 m/s). The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm guns, and depth charges.
, Stockton, California
, and were assigned hull numbers, but not commissioned into the United States Navy. They were 370 ton, 152 feet (46.3 m) vessels. With a crew of 38, they had a top speed of 14 knots (7.6 m/s). Their only armament was two 20 mm guns.
USS LSIL-710 was also transferred to South Vietnam in 1956, but it's name and number are not recorded.
(LSIL) were 234 ton, 158 feet (48.2 m) amphibious assault ships, designed to land large numbers of troops directly onto beaches. It could transport 188 men and 65 tons of cargo. With a crew of 28, they had a top speed of 16 knots (8.7 m/s), and a range of 4000 nmi (7,408 km) at 12 kn (23.5 km/h). Armament consisted of five single 20 mm guns, with additional .50 caliber machine guns.
s.
The LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium (LSM) were amphibious assault ships designed to carry men and vehicles onto a hostile shore. They were 530 ton, 203 feet (61.9 m) vessels, with a crew of 58, and a top speed of 13.3 knots (7.2 m/s). They were capable of carrying between three to five tanks, and 54 troops. Their armament consisted of two 40 mm guns, and four 20 mm guns.
Two further ships - USS LSM-355 and USS LSM-58 - were also transferred to the VVN, though their names and numbers are unknown.
Note: YFR-889 is one of two of the type deployed to Vietnam according to Navsource. The other, YFR-888, was struck in 1985, and disposed of in 1987, according to the NVR database.
The Landing Ship, Tank (LST) was a vessel created to support amphibious operations by landing vehicles, cargo, and troops directly to shore. These 1,625 ton, 327 feet (99.7 m) vessels had a crew of around 120 men, and a top speed of 12 knots (6.5 m/s). It could transport 140 troops and between 1,600 and 1,900 tons of cargo in the form of various vehicles, as well as six LCVP
s. The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with a number of 40 mm and 20 mm guns, and .50 and .30 caliber machine guns.
(LCU) were 314 ton, 119 feet (36.3 m) amphibious assault ships designed to land tanks on beachheads. They were originally classified as the Mk.6 LCT
. With a crew of 13, they had a top speed of 10 knots (5.4 m/s), and a range of 700 nmi (1,296.4 km) at 7 kn (13.7 km/h). They were capable of carrying three or four medium or heavy tanks, or 150 tons of cargo, while armament consisted of two twin 20 mm guns and two .50 caliber machine guns.
. With a crew of 16, it had a top speed of 7 knots (3.8 m/s), and was armed with two .50 caliber machine guns.
The ships were transferred to the VNN under the United States Coast Guard's SCATTOR (Smallcraft Assets: Training/Turnover Of Resources) programme; numerically they were the largest class of the VNN. By 1972, most were in poor condition and mothballed due to lack of fuel and spares. Ngô Văn Quyền (HQ-718) was still active and in good condition when South Vietnam fell in 1975, she was taken into the Vietnam People's Navy
and served for many more years. A few other Point-class ships reportedly participated in a final defense of Saigon, firing at North Vietnamese troops from the Saigon River in April 1975. Some may have been damaged or sunk in action. Huỳnh Văn Đức (HQ-702) rendezvoused with other surviving South Vietnamese warships off Côn Sơn Island
and fled to the Philippines, and was scrapped there. The rest of the former South Vietnamese fleet was presumably scrapped by Vietnam in the early 1980s.
s for patrol craft flotillas. They were 1,625 ton, 328 feet (100 m) vessels with a top speed of 12 knots (6.5 m/s).
", were LCM-6 landing craft
modified for riverine patrol missions. The front ramps were retained for loading and offloading troops, and an armoured superstructure was added. They were 66 ton, 56.5 feet (17.2 m) vessels, with a crew of 7. They had a top speed of 8.5 knots (4.6 m/s) and were armed with four M1919 Browning machine gun
s, two or three Mk 16 20 mm guns
, and one Mk 19 grenade launcher
. Variants included the "Zippo" equipped with flamethrowers, the "Monitor", which as well as the usual armament had a 81 mm (3.2 in) mortar and 105 mm (4.1 in) howitzer mounted in a bow turret, and the "Charlie" a command and communications boat.
Associated with the Tango boats were the Assault Support Patrol Boat (ASPB), known as the "Alpha Boat". This was a 50 foot patrol boat armed with two Mk 16 20 mm guns or one Mk 16 and two .50 Browning machine guns, with eight 3.5-inch rocket launchers (on forward turret), and two Mk 21 7.62mm Brownings aft.
Republic of Vietnam Navy
The Republic of Vietnam Navy was the naval force of the former Republic of Vietnam from 1955 to 1975. The early fleet consisted of boats from France. After 1955 and the transfer of the armed forces to Vietnamese control, the fleet was supplied from the United States...
, commonly known as the Vietnam Navy (VNN), includes all ships commissioned into service from its foundation in 1955, until its dissolution in 1975.
Hull numbers
All VNN ship hull numbers began with the letters HQ (Hải quân, "Navy") followed by a number. Note that six patrol craft were designated HQ-01 to HQ-06, while two destroyer escorts and four high endurance cutters were designated HQ-1 to HQ-6. Also the designation HQ-225 was used twice, first for the LSSL Nguyen Van Tru from 1954 until 1957, and after it was broken up for spare parts was given to the LSSL Nỏ Thần, later renamed Nguyen Van Tru in 1970.Patrol craft
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Chi Lăng (HQ-01) | Unknown | USS PC-1144 | Scrapped 1961. |
| RVNS Đống Đa (HQ-02) | Unknown | USS PC-1130 | Scrapped 1961. |
| RVNS Vạn Kiếp (HQ-03) | Unknown | USS PC-1167 | Scrapped 1965. |
| RVNS Tuy Dong (HQ-04) | January 1956 | USS PC-1143 | Scrapped 1971. |
| RVNS Tay Cây (HQ-05) | Unknown | USS PC-1146 | Scrapped 1965. |
| RVNS Van Don (HQ-06) | 23 November 1960 | USS Anacortes (PC-1569) | Scrapped 1974. |
Destroyer escort
The was a 1,253 ton, 306 feet (93.3 m) vessel, with a crew of 186. It had a top speed of 21 knots (11.4 m/s) and a range of 10800 nmi (20,001.6 km). The main armament was three 3"/50 caliber guns, along with torpedo tubes, depth charges, and 40 mm and 20 mm guns.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Trần Hưng Đạo (HQ-1) | 13 February 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Rajah Lakandula (PS-4). |
|
| RVNS Trần Khánh Dư (HQ-4) | 25 September 1971 | Captured by North Vietnam, 29 April 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Navy The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva... as VPNS Dai Ky (HQ-03). |
|
Frigate
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, these 2,040 ton, 310 feet (94.5 m) vessels were transferred to the Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
after World War II, and reclassified as s. With a crew of 151, they had a top speed of 18 knots (9.8 m/s) and a range of 20000 nmi (37,040 km). The main armament was a single 5"/38 caliber gun. In Vietnamese service they were classified as frigate
Frigate
A frigate is any of several types of warship, the term having been used for ships of various sizes and roles over the last few centuries.In the 17th century, the term was used for any warship built for speed and maneuverability, the description often used being "frigate-built"...
s.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Trần Quang Khải (HQ-2) RVNS Tran Quang Khai (HQ-02) RVNS Tran Quang Khai was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1971 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time.... |
1 January 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as . |
|
| RVNS Trần Nhật Duật (HQ-3) RVNS Tran Nhat Duat (HQ-03) RVNS Tran Nhat Duat was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1971 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time.... |
1 January 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. | |
| RVNS Trần Bình Trọng (HQ-5) RVNS Tran Binh Trong (HQ-05) RVNS Trần Bình Trọng was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1971 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time.... |
21 December 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . | |
| RVNS Trần Quốc Toản (HQ-6) RVNS Tran Quoc Toan (HQ-06) RVNS Tran Quoc Toan was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1971 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time.... |
21 December 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. | |
| RVNS Phạm Ngũ Lão (HQ-15) RVNS Pham Ngu Lao (HQ-15) RVNS Pham Ngu Lao was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1972 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time.... |
15 July 1972 | Captured by North Vietnam, 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Navy The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva... as . |
|
| RVNS Lý Thường Kiệt (HQ-16) RVNS Ly Thuong Kiet (HQ-16) RVNS Lý Thường Kiệt was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1972 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time.... |
21 June 1972 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . | |
| RVNS Ngô Quyền (HQ-17) RVNS Ngo Quyen (HQ-17) RVNS Ngo Quyen was a South Vietnamese frigate of the Republic of Vietnam Navy in commission from 1972 to 1975. She and her six sister ships were the largest South Vietnamese naval ships of their time... |
21 June 1972 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . | |
Patrol craft escort
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Đống Đa II (HQ-07) | 29 November 1961 | USS Crestview (PCE-895) | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as . |
| RVNS Ngọc Hồi (HQ-12) | 11 July 1966 | USS Brattleboro (PCE(R)-852) | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . |
| RVNS Van Kiếp II (HQ-14) | 1970 | USS Amherst (PCE(R)-853) | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as . |
Fleet minesweeper
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Chi Lăng II (HQ-08) | 17 April 1962 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Magat Salamat (PS-20). |
|
| RVNS Kỳ Hòa (HQ-09) | 21 August 1962 | Believed captured by North Vietnam, 1975. | |
| RVNS Nhut Tảo (HQ-10) | 24 January 1964 | Sunk in the Battle of the Paracel Islands, 19 January 1974. | |
| RVNS Chí Linh (HQ-11) | 24 January 1964 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Datu Tupas (PS-18). | |
| RVNS Hà Hồi (HQ-13) | 4 June 1970 | Captured by North Vietnam, 29 April 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Navy The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva... . |
|
Harbor minesweeper
The YMS-1-class auxiliary motor minesweepers were 270 ton, 136 feet (41.5 m) vessels. With a crew of 32, they had a top speed of 15 knots (8.2 m/s). The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 20 mm guns, and depth charges.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Hàm Tử (HQ-111) | 12 February 1954 | USS YMS-28 | Scrapped 1958. |
| RVNS Chương Dương (HQ-112) | 11 February 1954 | USS YMS-83 | Scrapped 1964. |
| RVNS Bạch Đằng (HQ-113) | 11 February 1954 | USS YMS-78 | Scrapped 1963. |
Coastal minesweeper
These vessels were built for South Vietnam by Stephens Brothers, Inc.Stephens Bros. Boat Builders
Stephens Brothers Boat Builders and Designers company , an American boat designer, began in the back yard of brothers Theodore and Robert Stephens. Their boatbuilding firm in Stockton, California operated from 1902 to 1987...
, Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, and were assigned hull numbers, but not commissioned into the United States Navy. They were 370 ton, 152 feet (46.3 m) vessels. With a crew of 38, they had a top speed of 14 knots (7.6 m/s). Their only armament was two 20 mm guns.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Hàm Tử II (HQ-114) | 26 June 1959 | MSC-281 | Scrapped 1974. |
| RVNS Chương Dương II (HQ-115) | 21 August 1959 | MSC-282 | Scrapped 1974. |
| RVNS Bạch Đằng II (HQ-116) | 18 September 1959 | MSC-283 | Scrapped 1970. |
Motor Launch Minesweeper
The motor launch minesweeper (MLMS) was a 40 to 60 foot motor launch fitted with basic minesweeping equipment suitable for clearing river channels and harbours.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-150 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-151 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-152 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-153 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-154 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-155 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-156 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-157 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-158 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-159 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-160 | ? | ? | ? |
| RVNS HQ-161 | ? | ? | ? |
Landing Ship Support Large
The Landing Ship Support (Large) (LSSL) were 250 ton, 158 feet (48.2 m) amphibious assault ships primarily used to provide close fire support for troops. With a crew of 71, they had a top speed of 16.5 knots (9 m/s). The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with 40 mm and 20 mm guns, and .50 caliber machine guns.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Nguyen Van Tru (HQ-225) | 12 October 1954 | USS LSSL-2 | Transferred to Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following... for spare parts, 1957. |
| RVNS No Than (HQ-225) | 1957 | USS LSSL-105 | Renamed Nguyen Van Tru, 1970. Sunk, 30 July 1970. |
| RVNS Le Trong Dam (HQ-226) | 1955 | USS LSSL-4 | Sunk, 3 October 1970. |
| RVNS Le Van Binh (HQ-227) | 15 September 1956 | USS LSSL-10 | Sunk, 2 October 1966. |
| RVNS Đoàn Ngọc Tang (HQ-228) | 15 September 1956 | USS LSSL-9 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP La Union (LF-50). |
| RVNS Lưu Phú Thọ (HQ-229) | ? | USS LSSL-101 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. |
| RVNS Nguyễn Ngọc Long (HQ-230) | ? | USS LSSL-96 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Sulu (LF-49). |
| RVNS Nguyễn Đức Bóng (HQ-231) | 19 February 1966 | USS LSSL-129 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Camarines Sur (LF-48). |
USS LSIL-710 was also transferred to South Vietnam in 1956, but it's name and number are not recorded.
Landing Ship Infantry (Large)
Landing Ship Infantry (Large)Landing Craft Infantry
The Landing craft, Infantry or LCI were several classes of sea-going amphibious assault ships of the Second World War utilized to land large numbers of infantry directly onto beaches. They were developed in response to a British request for a vessel capable of carrying and landing substantially...
(LSIL) were 234 ton, 158 feet (48.2 m) amphibious assault ships, designed to land large numbers of troops directly onto beaches. It could transport 188 men and 65 tons of cargo. With a crew of 28, they had a top speed of 16 knots (8.7 m/s), and a range of 4000 nmi (7,408 km) at 12 kn (23.5 km/h). Armament consisted of five single 20 mm guns, with additional .50 caliber machine guns.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Long Dao (HQ-327) | ? | USS LSI(L)-698 | Sunk, 1974. |
| RVNS Thần Tiên (HQ-328) | 1955 | USS LSI(L)-702 | Sunk, 1974. |
| RVNS Thiên Kích (HQ-329) | 1956 | USS LSI(L)-872 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... . |
| RVNS Loi Cong (HQ-330) | 1956 | USS LSI(L)-699 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy. |
| RVNS Tam Sat (HQ-331) | 1956 | USS LSI(L)-871 | Unknown |
Landing Ship Medium - Hospital
The LSM-1-class Landing Ship Medium (LSM-H) were amphibious assault ships designed to carry men and vehicles onto a hostile shore. They were 530-ton, 203 feet (61.9 m) vessels, with a crew of 58, and a top speed of 13.3 knots (7.2 m/s). In this case they were modified to act as hospital shipHospital ship
A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating medical treatment facility or hospital; most are operated by the military forces of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or near war zones....
s.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Hát Giang (HQ-400) | Unknown | USS LSM-335 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Western Samar (LP-66). |
| RVNS Hàn Giang (HQ-401) | October 1955 | USS LSM-110 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy and cannibalized for spare parts. Scrapped, 9 June 1976. |
Landing Ship Medium
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Lam Giang (HQ-402) | October 1956 | USS LSM-226 | Scuttled to prevent capture by North Vietnam, 2 May 1975 |
| RVNS Ninh Giang (HQ-403) | October 1956 | USS LSM-85 | Captured by North Vietnam, 30 April 1975, and to Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Navy The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva... . |
| RVNS Hương Giang (HQ-404) | 1 August 1961 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Batanes (LP-65). |
|
| RVNS Tiền Giang (HQ-405) | 20 June 1962 | USS LSM-313 | Captured by North Vietnam, 30 April 1975, and to Vietnam People's Navy. Scrapped 1990. |
| RVNS Hậu Giang (HQ-406) | ? | USS LSM-276 | Scuttled May 1975. Raised and to Vietnam People's Navy until 1989. |
Two further ships - USS LSM-355 and USS LSM-58 - were also transferred to the VVN, though their names and numbers are unknown.
- USS LSM-58 was transferred to South Vietnam in April 1956, but was returned to U.S. custody on 29 May 1956.
- USS LSM-355 was transferred to South Vietnam in December 1955, escaped to the Philippines on 30 April 1975, and served in the Philippine Navy until 1989.
Gasoline barge
The YOG-5-class self-propelled gasoline barge was a 1,235 ton, 174 feet (53 m) vessel, with a crew of 23.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-470 | ? | USS YOG-80 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. |
| RVNS HQ-471 | ? | USS YOG-33 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. |
| RVNS HQ-472 | ? | USS YOG-67 | Unknown. |
| RVNS HQ-473 | ? | USS YOG-71 | Unknown. |
| RVNS HQ-474 | ? | USS YOG-131 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. |
| RVNS HQ-475 | ? | USS YOG-56 | Unknown. |
Water Barge
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-480 | ? | ? | Sunk in Saigon Navy Yard, June 1969 |
Refrigerated Covered Lighter
This 300 ton, 310 feet (94.5 m) vessel was used to transport food supplies to floating barracks and bases. They had a crew of 17 and were unarmed.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-490 | ? | Possibly YFR-889 | Unknown. |
Note: YFR-889 is one of two of the type deployed to Vietnam according to Navsource. The other, YFR-888, was struck in 1985, and disposed of in 1987, according to the NVR database.
Landing Ship Tank
LCVP
The Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel or Higgins boat was a landing craft used extensively in amphibious landings in World War II. The craft was designed by Andrew Higgins of Louisiana, United States, based on boats made for operating in swamps and marshes...
s. The main armament was a single 3"/50 caliber gun, along with a number of 40 mm and 20 mm guns, and .50 and .30 caliber machine guns.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Cam Ranh (HQ-500) | 12 April 1962 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Zamboanga Del Sur (LT-86). |
|
| RVNS Đà Nẵng (HQ-501) | 12 July 1962 | Captured by North Vietnam, 29 April 1975. To Vietnam People's Navy Vietnam People's Navy The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva... as PRVS Tran Khanh Du (HQ-501). |
|
| RVNS Thị Nại (HQ-502) | 17 December 1963 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Cotabato Del Sur (LT-87). | |
| RVNS Vũng Tàu (HQ-503) | 4 April 1969 | Unknown, possibly captured by North Vietnam, April 1975. | |
| RVNS Qui Nhơn (HQ-504) | 8 April 1970 | Unknown. | |
| RVNS Nha Trang (HQ-505) | April 1970 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Agusan Del Sur (LT-54). | |
Landing Craft Utility
Landing Craft UtilityLanding Craft Utility
The Landing Craft Utility is a type of boat used by amphibious forces to transport equipment and troops to the shore. They are capable of transporting tracked or wheeled vehicles and troops from amphibious assault ships to beachheads or piers....
(LCU) were 314 ton, 119 feet (36.3 m) amphibious assault ships designed to land tanks on beachheads. They were originally classified as the Mk.6 LCT
Landing craft tank
The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...
. With a crew of 13, they had a top speed of 10 knots (5.4 m/s), and a range of 700 nmi (1,296.4 km) at 7 kn (13.7 km/h). They were capable of carrying three or four medium or heavy tanks, or 150 tons of cargo, while armament consisted of two twin 20 mm guns and two .50 caliber machine guns.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-533 | 1954 | USS LCU-1479 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-534 | 1954 | USS LCU-1480 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-535 | ? | ? | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-536 | ? | USS LCU-1466 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-537 | 1954 | USS LCU-1501 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-538 | 1956 | USS LCU-1502 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-539 | 1956 | USS LCU-1594 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-540 | ? | USS LCU-1475 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-541 | ? | USS LCU-1477 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-542 | ? | USS LCU-1494 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-543 | ? | USS LCU-1493 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-544 | ? | ? | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-546 | ? | USAV LCU-1582 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-547 | ? | USS LCU-1482 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-548 | ? | USS LCU-1498 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-549 | ? | ? | |
Harbor Salvage Craft
The Salvage Lift Craft, Light (YLLC), was a 400 ton, 119 feet (36.3 m) salvage craft with a lift capacity of 25 tons, based on the hull of the Mk.6 Tank landing craftLanding craft tank
The Landing Craft, Tank was an amphibious assault ship for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the British Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of versions. Initially known as the "Tank Landing Craft" by the British, they later...
. With a crew of 16, it had a top speed of 7 knots (3.8 m/s), and was armed with two .50 caliber machine guns.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-560 | ? | USS YLLC-1 | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-561 | ? | ? | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-562 | ? | ? | Unknown |
Patrol Gunboat Medium
The PGM-9-class gunboats were built in the U.S. and transferred on completion to South Vietnam. They were assigned hull numbers, but not commissioned into the United States Navy. They were 122 ton, 100 feet (30.5 m) vessels, with a top speed of 17 knots (9.3 m/s) and armed with one 40 mm gun, two 20 mm guns and an 81 mm mortar.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Phù Du (HQ-600) | ? | PGM-64 | Unknown |
| RVNS Tiền Mới (HQ-601) | ? | PGM-65 | Unknown |
| RVNS Minh Hòa (HQ-602) | February 1963 | PGM-66 | Unknown |
| RVNS Kiến Vàng (HQ-603) | ? | PGM-67 | Unknown |
| RVNS Kéo Ngựa (HQ-604) | ? | PGM-68 | Destroyed |
| RVNS Kim Qui (HQ-605) | ? | PGM-59 | Unknown |
| RVNS Mây Rút (HQ-606) | ? | PGM-60 | Unknown |
| RVNS Nam Du (HQ-607) | ? | PGM-61 | Unknown |
| RVNS Hoa Lư (HQ-608) | 1 May 1963 | PGM-62 | Unknown |
| RVNS Tổ Yến (HQ-609) | ? | PGM-63 | Unknown |
| RVNS Duyên Hải (HQ-610) | April 1964 | PGM-69 | Unknown |
| RVNS Trường Sa (HQ-611) | ? | PGM-70 | Unknown |
| RVNS Thái Bình (HQ-612) | 1966 | PGM-72 | Unknown |
| RVNS Thi Tự (HQ-613) | ? | PGM-73 | Unknown |
| RVNS Song Tự (HQ-614) | ? | PGM-74 | Unknown |
| RVNS Tây Sa (HQ-615) | 2 June 1966 | PGM-80 | Unknown |
| RVNS Hoàng Sa (HQ-616) | ? | PGM-82 | Unknown |
| RVNS Phú Quý (HQ-617) | ? | PGM-81 | Unknown |
| RVNS Hòn Trọc (HQ-618) | ? | PGM-83 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975, and to Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Basilan (PG-60). |
| RVNS Tô Châu (HQ-619) | ? | PGM-91 | Unknown |
Patrol boat
The Point class cutter was a 70 ton, 82 feet (25 m) patrol vessel. It had a crew of 10 men, and a top speed of 16.8 knots (9.1 m/s). Armament consisted of five M2 Browning machine guns and an 81 mm mortar.The ships were transferred to the VNN under the United States Coast Guard's SCATTOR (Smallcraft Assets: Training/Turnover Of Resources) programme; numerically they were the largest class of the VNN. By 1972, most were in poor condition and mothballed due to lack of fuel and spares. Ngô Văn Quyền (HQ-718) was still active and in good condition when South Vietnam fell in 1975, she was taken into the Vietnam People's Navy
Vietnam People's Navy
The Vietnam People's Navy is part of the Vietnam People's Army and is responsible for the protection of national waters, islands, and interests of the maritime economy, as well as for the coordination of maritime police, customs service and the border defense force.-History:Following the Geneva...
and served for many more years. A few other Point-class ships reportedly participated in a final defense of Saigon, firing at North Vietnamese troops from the Saigon River in April 1975. Some may have been damaged or sunk in action. Huỳnh Văn Đức (HQ-702) rendezvoused with other surviving South Vietnamese warships off Côn Sơn Island
Con Son Island
Côn Sơn Island is the largest island of the Côn Đảo archipelago, off the coast of southern Vietnam. The island is also known after its Malay name as Pulo Condore , while its French variant Poulo Condor was well-known during the times of French Indochina.-Early modern era:In 1702, the British...
and fled to the Philippines, and was scrapped there. The rest of the former South Vietnamese fleet was presumably scrapped by Vietnam in the early 1980s.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Lê Phước Đức (HQ-700) | 16 May 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Lê Văn Ngà (HQ-701) | 16 May 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Huỳnh Văn Đức (HQ-702) | 15 September 1969 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. Scrapped Subic Bay Subic Bay Subic Bay is a bay forming part of Luzon Sea on the west coast of the island of Luzon in Zambales, Philippines, about 100 kilometers northwest of Manila Bay. Its shores were formerly the site of a major United States Navy facility named U.S... , 19 May 1976 |
|
| RVNS Nguyễn Đao (HQ-703) | 11 November 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Đào Thức (HQ-704) | 17 November 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Lê Ngọc Thanh (HQ-705) | 9 December 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Nguyễn Ngọc Thạch (HQ-706) | 11 December 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Đặng Văn Hoành (HQ-707) | 11 December 1969 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Lê Đình Hùng (HQ-708) | 12 January 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Trường Tiền (HQ-709) | 14 February 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Phạm Ngọc Châu (HQ-710) | 14 February 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Đào Văn Đặng (HQ-711) | 14 February 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Lê Ngọc Ẩn (HQ-712) | 21 February 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Huỳnh Văn Ngan (HQ-713) | 16 March 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Trần Lo (HQ-714) | 16 March 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Bùi Viết Thành (HQ-715) | 27 March 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Nguyễn An (HQ-716) | 29 April 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Nguyễn Hấn (HQ-717) | 29 April 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Ngô Văn Quyền (HQ-718) | 26 May 1970 | Captured by North Vietnam, 1975. Scrapped Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam... , 1987 |
|
| RVNS Vân Điền (HQ-719) | 26 May 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Hồ Đăng La (HQ-720) | 15 June 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Đằm Thoại (HQ-721) | 15 June 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Nguyễn Kim Hưng (HQ-722) | 14 July 1970 | Unknown. | |
| RVNS Huỳnh Bộ (HQ-723) | 14 July 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Hồ Duy (HQ-724) | 15 August 1970 | Scrapped. | |
| RVNS Trương Ba (HQ-725) | 15 August 1970 | Scrapped. | |
Patrol Craft Tender
These ships were built as LST-542-class tank landing ships (LST) and modified to act as tenderTender
-Transportation:* Tender , a type of railroad car hauled immediately after the locomotive and used to carry fuel and water* Water tender, fire truck tanker-Boats/ships:* Buoy tender, used to maintain Aids to Navigation including buoys...
s for patrol craft flotillas. They were 1,625 ton, 328 feet (100 m) vessels with a top speed of 12 knots (6.5 m/s).
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS My Tho (HQ-800) | 12 October 1970 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57). |
|
| RVNS Can Tho (HQ-801) | 23 April 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy as BRP Kalinga Apayao (LT-516) |
|
Landing Craft Repair Ship
The (ARL) was a mobile repair ship based on the same hull as the LST. It was a 4,100 ton, 328 feet (100 m) vessel, with a top speed of 12 knots (6.5 m/s) and a crew of 255. Armament consisted of two quad and two twin 40 mm guns, and six twin 20 mm guns.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Vinh Long (HQ-802) | 30 September 1971 | Escaped to the Philippines, April 1975. To Philippine Navy Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines".... as BRP Yakal (AR-617). |
|
Armored Troop Carrier
The Armored Troop Carrier (ATC), better known as the "Tango boatTango (boat)
The Tango is also known as the Armored Troop Carrier . It was used by the Mobile Riverine Force in the United States army in the Vietnam War. Tangos were mounted with 30 and 50-caliber machine guns, Mk 19 rapid fire grenade launchers, and 20-millimeter cannons. They were used to transport the...
", were LCM-6 landing craft
Landing Craft Mechanized
The Landing Craft Mechanized or Landing Craft Mechanical was a landing craft designed for carrying vehicles. They came to prominence during the Second World War when they were used to land troops or tanks during Allied amphibious assaults....
modified for riverine patrol missions. The front ramps were retained for loading and offloading troops, and an armoured superstructure was added. They were 66 ton, 56.5 feet (17.2 m) vessels, with a crew of 7. They had a top speed of 8.5 knots (4.6 m/s) and were armed with four M1919 Browning machine gun
M1919 Browning machine gun
The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...
s, two or three Mk 16 20 mm guns
Hispano-Suiza HS.404
The Hispano-Suiza HS.404 was an autocannon widely used as both an aircraft and land weapon in the 20th century by British, American, French, and numerous other military services. The cannon is also referred to as Birkigt type 404, after its designer. Firing a 20 mm caliber projectile, it delivered...
, and one Mk 19 grenade launcher
Mk 19 grenade launcher
The Mk 19 Grenade Launcher is a 40 mm belt-fed automatic grenade launcher or grenade machine gun that entered U.S. military service during the Cold War, first seeing action during the Vietnam War and remaining in service today.-Overview:...
. Variants included the "Zippo" equipped with flamethrowers, the "Monitor", which as well as the usual armament had a 81 mm (3.2 in) mortar and 105 mm (4.1 in) howitzer mounted in a bow turret, and the "Charlie" a command and communications boat.
Associated with the Tango boats were the Assault Support Patrol Boat (ASPB), known as the "Alpha Boat". This was a 50 foot patrol boat armed with two Mk 16 20 mm guns or one Mk 16 and two .50 Browning machine guns, with eight 3.5-inch rocket launchers (on forward turret), and two Mk 21 7.62mm Brownings aft.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Type | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Vam Co Tai (HQ-1204) | ? | ? | ATC | Salvaged in small canal near Vam Co Ty. |
| RVNS HQ-1209 | ? | ? | ATC | Salvaged near Ben Luc. |
| RVNS HQ-1224 | ? | ? | ATC | Salvaged July 1969 Tra Cu. |
| RVNS HQ-1234 | ? | ? | ? | Salvaged November 1969 at Dong Hung. |
| RVNS HQ-1236 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk by enemy mine 22 March 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1238 | ? | ? | ? | Demolished 1970 at Song Ong Doc. |
| RVNS HQ-1240 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1268 | ? | ? | ATC | Mined by VC sapper December 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1278 | ? | ? | ? | At Solid Anchor 31 October 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1572 | ? | ? | LCM-6 | Salvaged at Ben Tre, then demolished at Rach Soi, March 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-5125 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-5129 | ? | ? | ASPB | Salvaged 1970 Dong Hong. |
| RVNS HQ-5135 | ? | ? | ? | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-5144 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk by mine, 19 March 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-6527 | ? | ? | Monitor | Sunk 1 April 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-6529 | ? | ? | ATC | Sunk by mine south of Kien An. |
| RVNS HQ-9170 | ? | ? | Zippo Refueler | Sunk by mine, September 1970. |
Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge
The YRBM-16-class Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge was a 2,700 ton, 261 foot vessel designed to provide support and accommodation for riverine forces.| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS HQ-9612 | October 1971 | USS YRBM-16 | Unknown |