This book examines U.S. riverine operations in the Vietnam
War. With the current drive to establish a riverine capability within the U.S.
Armed Forces as an integral part of the GWOT and small wars of the future, the
evolution and operation of the U.S. riverine force during the Vietnam war
serves as an effective blueprint for the conduct of modern riverine warfare.
American riverine forces in Vietnam operated in a diverse
range of brown and green water environments, successfully conducting a wide
variety of missions. The evolution of these forces reflected the continuing
need to develop the capabilities necessary for these operations. Their success
was largely derived from experience which resulted in the creation of a variety
of discrete riverine task forces specially configured for their specific
missions as the situation dictated. U.S. riverine operations in Vietnam
illustrate the complex nature of operations in brown and green water and the
inherently joint requirement of the forces involved. The lessons learned as a
result of these operations should be incorporated as a fundamental part of the
creation of any modern riverine force.
