Mobile Riverine Force

It was modeled after lessons learned by the French experience in the First Indochina War of Dinassaut and had the task of both transport (of soldiers and equipment) and combat.

Foremost were the surplus World War II US naval craft; LCMs, LCVPs, LSMs, PGMs, LSSLs, etc., as well as post-war Nasty class patrol boats.

One of the most popular riverine craft was the all-steel LCM converted into a naval Monitor, and was used by the French during the first Indochina war; and later by the US and South Vietnamese Navies.

However, The French, during their war in Vietnam (1945–1954), had been heavily inspired by the US Navy LCVP, which they had received from the US, as part of the United States massive assistance program to fight communism.

The Mekong Delta Mobile Riverine Force concept paired newly created assault boat units with a brigade of Army infantry.

Certain equipment specified in the tables, such as tents, mess facilities, 106mm recoilless rifles, antitank wire-guided missiles, and all wheeled vehicles except artillery prime movers were to be deleted from the force requirements.

Nonetheless, the Navy created a floating Mobile Riverine Base (MRB) by assigning barracks ships, and barrage barges (non-self propelled) to house both Army and Navy personnel, provide communications and staff support, mooring and support facilities on Ammi pontoons alongside, and refit, rearm and resupply stores.

Thus, the entire force could move throughout the major rivers of the Delta, and launch troops, on boats, into assault operations deep into the narrowest rivulets and canals.

Eventually, the MRF included Army floating artillery and mortar barges, which could be moved throughout the Delta and positioned to support the planned area of each assault operation.