On Station Tet Edition. USS Mattaponi, AO Repel Boarders Team

Transcription

1 AO-41 Fletcher class destroyers fueled by Mattaponi /38 was the preferred round of allied troops in South Vietnam. USS Radford DD-446 USS Jenkings DD-447 USS Nicolas DD-449 USS O Bannon DD-450 USS Waller DD-466 USS Taylor DD-468 USS Philip DD-498 USS Cony DD-508 USS Eaton DD-510 USS Walker DD-517 On Station Fletcher class destroyer, 369 ft, 175 built during WW2, armament 5-5 /38, mm anti-aircraft guns, 7-20 mm anti-aircraft guns, torpedo tubes, & six depth charge stations. USS Fletcher DD-445 Fletcher painting by digitalnavy.com 1968 Tet Edition USS Mattaponi, AO SS Kalkay - Mattie - Mad Mattie - Mad Poni - USNS Marine Serpent - Angel of Market Time USS Mullany DD-528 USS Prichett DD-561 USS Stoddard DD-566 USS Braine DD-630 USS Cogswell DD-651 USS Hopewell DD-681 USS Porterfield DD-682 USS Wedderburn DD-684 USS Uhlmann DD-687 USS Preston DD-795 Repel Boarders Team Sometime in Jan 68 Captain William L. Foster secretly formed the 50 man Repel Boarders Team in response to captured information from North Vietnam. Capt. Foster told us Ho Chi Minh put a bounty for capture on four US ships Mattaponi AO-41, Neches AO-47, Liberty AGER-1, and Pueblo AGER-2. AO-41 and AO-47 were selected from Janes Book of WW2 warships for lack of defense. Neches AO-47 was not in West Pac at this time. Mattie, with cargo became a prize of war. Our story becomes more relevant when you consider the ease today s pirates capture jumbo tankers. Mattaponi had discipline, but lacked experience in small arms combat. The threat from the North Vietnam mercenaries (fishermen) was boarding from fishing boats. The planned attack would last 15 minutes because naval air support would arrive in 20 minutes. Slowing to 4 kts, Foster s plan was let them board in waves followed by throwing hand grenades from the cargo deck into the boats below thus creating more confusion and buy time. The rest of the fight was with BARs, Thompson submachine guns, M-1 Grands, 45 s and possibly M-60 machine guns. The Captain said its better to take them on at our convenience than be surprised at a later date. HMAS Perth D-38 was on station to rescue Mattaponi. U.S Navy ships were limited by Congress to operations below the 20th parallel at this time. Capt. Foster enhanced the possibility of capture by telegraphing his moves with the concept of an unrep holding area and slowing to 4 knts. However, deck logs don t disclose when the Repel borders team was formed. Deck logs do show an unrep holding area, Tonkin Gulf, being implemented on the 16th, 17th, 18th, 28th, 30th and 31st of Jan 68. High Noon on 28 Jan 68, Mattaponi goes above the 19th parallel with the same right angle and east west and west east course changes as before. We weren t surprised by Pueblo s capture. Key Dates 23 Jan 68, USS Pueblo AGER-2 was captured by North Korea. 30 Jan 68, I Corps cities and Marine bases were attacked early in the morning., US Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam was attacked early in the morning. On North Vietnam s calendar, Tet started on 30 Jan 68. On South Vietnam s calendar, Tet started on. An error that neither side was aware. An error that tipped their hand, a quite costly error. The Tet 68 Offensive started on the 30 Jan 1968 and ended 31 Jan On the Tet 68 Counter Offensive started and ended 1 April 68. Mattaponi was involved both the Tet 68 Offensive and the Tet 68 Counter Offensive. Mattie played her support role in the Counter Offensive until 19 March 68. Mattie sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge on her way to Hunters Point, San Francisco, USA on 17 April This is the new look of On Station. Over time shipmate readership should increase, then decline. We intend to all known shipmates, post to website, and the color is free! Text & photo pages may be printed on legal paper in landscape mode. Maps are printed in portrait mode. Operating Above the 19th Parallel Jan 68 USS Pueblo AGER-2 is hijacked by North Korea Military USS Mattaponi AO-41 Captain William L. Foster, USN Unrep holding area in Tonkin Gulf ( 5 sq. miles in 5 hours) 28 Jan 68 HIGH NOON - Point of the Spear (1) speed 16 kts 1213 change speed to 4 kts 1657 change speed to 12 kts Under the watchful eyes of North Vietnam, Russia, and China radar How to read maps: High Noon and Point of the Spear (1) Point of the Spear (1) The ship s Navigator enters ship s position at,, and. I mark three positions with dots and label to time of day is plotted from forward to 0000 and plotted backwards from. They should meet, if they don t, find error or adjust for wind and waves - certainly enough of that. This is easy to do. One right angle and four 180 degree course changes are south, east & west, and west & east. We can t tell if the ship is making circles or as shown on maps. Course changes are plotted using a clear 360 degree compass. Distance is figured with a nautical slide rule and distance scale. The big map is best read with help from Ships, Boats & Underway Replenishment Schedules. From High Noon, Point of the Spear (1) is armed by USS Chicago CG-11, The most powerful guided missile cruiser in the world to port and a big guided missile destroyer to starboard. A world class show of naval surface to air power Nautical miles Arriving from Subic Bay R.P.I

2 Mig 21 ORTH Attempted hijacking of USS Mattaponi AO-41 by orth Vietnam Mercenaries (Bounty hunters) Unrep 28 holding Jan 68 area Unrep holding HIGH HIGH OO Point of the Spear (1) DLG 26 CG 11 DD 716 DD 866 Hon Me Island S of BIG GU S of SLA D HO MAT ISLA D ced buy are silenced by DLG 14 DLG rsey BB USS 62 ew Jersey ov 68 Point of the Spear (2) DD 727 BB 62 1 ov DD Stationed DD 722. DLG 267 Repel DLG Boarders Team Hon Mat Policing Policing AO-41 ship kts 4 Kts kts 1605 Vinh. Feb Combat Payday DD 716 DLG 10 DD 716 DLG 10 DLG 10 C H I A VIET AM & 2 Feb cont. 18 HMS HMAS DD D38 38 DD Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan Jan 68 Unrep holding area Various courses and speeds 18 Don Hoi Unrep holding area AO-41 Start here 25 Jan 68 Underway from Subic Bay, R.P.I. as precipitated by the capture of USS PUEBLO by orth Korea 23 Jan DMZ 17 Arriving from Subic Bay R.P.I. 1 AH 16 SOUTH DD 718 Market Time One. LST 1168 DER 251 Hue DD 852 DD717 Nautical Miles VIET AM Da ang PGM 85 PGM 34 DDG 13 LPD 7 LSD

3 Description of Ships, Boats & Underway Replenishment Schedules USS Chicago CG-11 launched in All gun cruiser was converted to most powerful guided missile cruiser in the world. DLG s big destroyers, helicopter landing pad, guided missile destroyer, later classified as CG s. DD 700 s & 800 s Gearing class destroyers were the last refinement of Fletcher class destroyers during WW2 14 ft longer for additional fuel bunker. USS Hoel DDG-13 guided missile destroyer, 1959 to HMAS Perth D-38 ex-us DDG-27 built for Royal Australian Navy in USS Camp DER-251, destroyer escort radar. Market Time picket ship (board & search) commissioned PGM /PG Patrol Gunboat Motor were powered by F4 Phantom engine geared down or two diesels for endurance. PG s also had variable control pitch on twin propellers and some had rocket launchers on the fantail. Captain Foster held a race between PG s on 29 Jan 68, top speed 45 knots per hour with Hai rooster Phong tails. USS Repose AH-16 Haven class hospital ship, 1945 to USS Cleveland LPD-7 landing platform Red dock, River large well deck and landing pad big enough for six CH-46 helicopters. USS Wexford County LST-1168 tank landing ship, Delta commissioned June USS Comstock LSD-19 dock landing ship, commissioned USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 Essex class aircraft carrier listed after hits by two kamikazes 21 Jan AO-145 commissioned Jan 68 12:08 unrep holding area 17:10 USS Chicago CG-11 17:18 USS Belknap DLG-26 18:45 USS Wiltsie DD :24 USS King DLG-10 19:56 USS Cone DD :00 USS Dewey DLG-14 21:14 USS Dehaven DD :42 USS Reeves DLG-24 Vinh Hon Mat Island 29 Jan Market Time One ops area 10:27 USS Hamner DD :35 USS Repose AH-16 12:16 USS Wexford County LST :35 USS Mason DD :39 USS Chandler DD :36 USS Camp DER :17 USS Gallop PGM-85 16:32 USS Cleveland LPD-7 19 NORTH 2140 DD 716 DLG Don Hoi VIETNAM DMZ SOUTH DD 788 DD 881 CVA 14 VIETNAM 17:23 USS Asheville PGM-84 17:56 USS Hoel DDG-13 18:19 USS Comstock LSD Jan 68 07:20 HMAS Perth D-38 07:26 USS Bordelon DD :00 unrep holding area to Continued Operations 1 & 2 Feb 1968 Start here 0652 DDG 13 Hue AO 145 AO 145 Market Time 1 DD 743 CVA 14 and again at 13:50 15:44 Stationed Repel Boards Team 17:50 USS Belknap DLG-26 19:57 USS Reeves DLG-24 20:08 USS Dehaven DD :55 USS Wiltsie DD :05 USS King DLG-10 21:55 USS Wiltsie DD :05 USS King DLG-10 1 Feb 68 05:15 USS Hollister DD :20 USS Ticonderoga CVA-14* 09:44 USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 10:04 USS Southerland DD :38 USS Hassayampa AO-145** 2 Feb 68 07:51 USS Bordelon DD :44 USS Hassayampa 18 AO :16 USS Hoel DDG-13 Subic Bay, R.P.I. On the big map Captain Foster takes the back door from above the 19th Da parallel Nang to Market Time 1. On the day before Tet 68 Offensive we supply fuel oil, jet fuel for helicopters, and various bottle gasses to USS Repose AH- 16, hospital ship. Fortunately for ships on station in Market Time 1, Mattaponi made a timely 16 run. *On 1 Feb 68 Mattaponi hooks up twice at Ticonderoga s (CVA 14) and escorts convenience. Aircraft carriers adjust to go into the wind to launch and recover aircraft. Winds come primarily from southwest during typhoon season. Early morning on the 2nd day of Tet 68 Counter Offensive, Ticonderoga moves from Yankee Station to Market Time 1 in support of Marines engaged in major attacks in Hue City, Ke Sanh, Da Nang and other I Corps bases. 1 Feb 68 underway replenishments are accomplished under extreme foul weather conditions. Deck log s course changes would have us run aground in North Vietnam 3 times while heading south to fuel and while fueling CVA 14. Remember, maps are most accurate three times a day;,, and. One hell of a blow! **Hassayampa and Mattaponi, AO s hook up twice. Mattie must consolidate fuel and add ballast for final underway replenishments.

4 HMAS (Her Majesty s Australian Ship) Perth D 38 refueled 8 Oct 67 Photo 30 Jan Mar 68 HMAS Vampire D 11 both refueled 14 Mar 67 & 18 Mar 67 HMAS Aisne D 22 By Jim McLain

5 Cargo of two PT Boats Something but what?

6 HISTORY OF USS MATTAPONI New cargo deck & winches Scanned in part from original document found in basement of US Navy Historical Center There are 10 winches visible in photo by Cecil Faircloth

7 Lower left: Bottled gasses are held between pallets of canisters of black powder. Upper right: Boatswain chair is returning. 30 man Manila highline is surrounded by ammunition. Ships are being refueled port and starboard. Near the horizon a small boat is steering a course to come between ship to port and Mattaponi. Under the tri-pod you can see how close highline personnel are to a steam powered winch; same to rear. No time to panic! Highline personnel will hide behind ammunition.

8 Mattaponi marching in Coral Sea Celebration Sydney, 1969

9 Golden Gate Bridge in distant fog Coming Home Shipmate locaters: Cecil Faircloth & Anthony Bono Senior Editor: Dennis C. Miller