[4] The MAAG's Navy Section was initially assigned eight officers and men that were tasked with processing naval material for delivery to the French forces.

The Navy Section of MAAG also was responsible for supplying spare parts for ships and aircraft as well as the establishment of base facilities in Saigon and Haiphong harbors.

[3] After the defeat of the French forces at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu on 7 May 1954 by the Viet Minh, the Navy Section of MAAG coordinated the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese on ships of the Seventh Fleet.

The movement named Operation Passage to Freedom lasted from August 1954 to 18 May 1955 and required hundreds of U.S. Navy and Military Sea Transport Service ships (partially provided by Task Force 90).

The Navy Section of the MAAG was responsible for adequate port facilities in the south half of the newly partitioned county to receive the ships transporting displaced refugees.

[5] Upon the departure of the French in 1955, the U.S. became directly involved with the Vietnamese government in the south partition and MAAG, Vietnam (MAAGV) was established.

[8] In 1959, North Vietnam began a long-term campaign to overthrow the South Vietnamese government through political subversion and armed conflict.

As the actions of the North Vietnamese-backed Viet Cong intensified, MAAG, Vietnam was called upon to provide even more training assistance to the South Vietnamese armed forces.

[9] Navy Section MAAGV advisors began accompanying the RVNN's River Assault Groups on combat missions in the field during this period.

At the end of 1964 there were 235 sailors assigned to MACV duties which included support functions in the Saigon area, construction and medical activities, and advising the South Vietnamese Navy and the marine corps.

Market Time continued, with the addition of U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft, high speed PCF (Swift) coastal patrol boats, and U.S. Coast Guard Point-class cutters.

In addition, mine countermeasures forces were to be employed, both on the main ship channels to Saigon and in the harbor and coastal areas.

In addition, the presence of the Commanding General, III MAF was almost continually required in the I CTZ, a 340 miles (550 km) separation from COMUSMACV Headquarters in Saigon.

Under this proposal, COMNAVFORV would have the additional duty of CHNAVADVGRP because of the prestige and possible political gain to the RVNN and Marine Corps.

On 14 March CINCPACFLT forwarded the proposed tasks for COMNAVFORV, and recommended that the transfer of Naval Component Commander functions and the activation of NAVFORV be effected on 1 April.

[12]: 5 On 1 April, in ceremonies aboard USS Lowe in Saigon Harbor, Rear Admiral Norvell G. Ward established and assumed command of NAVFORV.

During the first week of April the first of ten graduates of the Army's special basic intelligence course for Vietnam, conducted at Fort Holabird, arrived in country.

Coincident with the formation of NAVFORV, the daily intelligence summary was sent to out-of-country commands and was forwarded to CINCPACFLT and the Chief of Naval Operations.