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GMG3 Jack Batcheller making some early morning coffee for the crew of PCF15. DaNang, Vietnam, 1968.

Charlie Eggleston, JO3, [Journalist] receiving Navy Commendation Medal from Rear Admiral Ward. Charlie Eggleston joined the United Press International (UPI) as a photographer in Vietnam in 1966. Previously, he received two Bronze Stars for Valor,…

Swift Boats, including PCF 9, alongside APL-55 (Barracks Craft) in An Thoi. On June 10, 1966, PCF Division 101 moved the base from tent camps to afloat APL-55.

Official Navy photograph showcasing PCFs 9, 10, 11 & 12 as they race across the harbor after being unloaded from the U.S.S. Catamount just offshore of Phu Quoc. They arrived on Christmas Eve December 24, 1965 at their new home in An Thoi.

PT (Patrol Torpedo) Boat

Photograph of Frederick Armbruster, Sr. on board PCF 25, possibly in Cat Lo. It appears they are transporting prisoners.

Wall map depicting the conflict in Vietnam.

Gun Fire Support - RD2 Tom Noble and GMG3 Jack Batcheller, PCF 15 sending Charlie some 81mm mortar rounds north of Da Nang South, Vietnam, 1968.

"The Last Patrol - Our crew was sitting around the barracks in Da Nang taking it easy. We were going home in the morning. We got the word to muster down to the boats. We took the man in the dark grey coveralls up the Cua Dai River and let him off.…

GMG3 Larry Wright and RD3 Tom Carter aboard PCF 13, rendezvous with PCF 15 somewhere north of Da Nang, South Vietnam, 1968.

"It's naval war at close-in, point-blank range; a throwback to the days of the Civil War river patrols." page 4

"A U.S Navy Swift boat (PCF) was hit by enemy fire and sunk in shallow water June 25 near the mouth of the Ganh Hao River off the Mekong Delta. Swift boat sailors exacted revenge later in the day when they killed 13 enemy, destroyed four bunkers…

The USS New Jersey changing the landscape with her 16in guns north of Cua Viet, 1968. We had gone close to her for a look see. Awesome sight.

PCF15 tied up at Vietnamese Navy base at the mouth of the Cua Dai river, 1968. RD3 McNinch in gun tub and LPO Tom Noble by pilot house hatch.

Gunners mate "A" School Great Lakes Naval Training Center 1967. Out of a class of 20 all but one either got orders to the USS New Jersey or Swift Crew training at the Naval Amphibious Base in California.

Swift Boat sailor keeping an eye on detainees destined for Chu Lai, 1968.

Part of the crew of PCF15 DaNang Vietnam, 1968.

GMG3 Jack Batcheller cleaning twin 50's after a patrol. DaNang, Vietnam, 1968

Vietnamese fishermen north of DaNang, Vietnam, 1968.

Crew member of PCF 13 watches the horizon during a shelling of Cap Mui Batangan. PCF 13 operates out of NSAD Chu Lai.

Personal recollections written by Jack Batcheller, GMG3 during the time period of February 1968 through February 1969. "This particular patrol was like many that we had made to Alpha area, the farthest patrol area north of DaNang which was bordered…

Due to the speed of the deployment of the Swifts to An Thoi in late 1965, conditions at the base as the boats arrived were sparse. The available accommodations ashore for the crews and support personnel consisted of tents scrounged from wherever the…

The strength of the Sewart aluminum Swift Boats is obtained through careful design and bracing of the frames as evidenced by these views of the production line. These are all boats for use in Vietnam, in various stages of construction.

On October 18, 1966, Gale J. Hays (EN2), Eugene L. Self (QM3) and Hubert Tuck, Jr. (BM2) died aboard PCF 9 due to a mortar accident.

On November 8, 1968, Richard C. Wallace (LTJG), Peter P. Blasko, Jr. (BM3) and Stephen T. Volz (BM3) were killed by an accidental double loaded mortar aboard PCF 89.

On July 2, 1969, Albert M. Fransen, Jr. (EN3) and Glen Cameron Keene, Jr. (GMG3) were killed in a mortar accident aboard PCF 87. The remains of Glen Cameron Keene, Jr. were recovered. The remains of Albert M. Fransen were not recovered.

On May 15, 1969, Dewey R. Decker (EN3) and Richard W. Stindl (GMG3) were killed aboard PCF 51 by a VC attack in Song Bay Hap.

On November 15, 1966, Harry G. Brock (BM3), Bruce A. Timmons (RM3) and Willy S. Baker (MRC) were killed in action when PCF 77 was lost in heavy seas. Harry G. Brock’s remains were recovered by the crew on board PCF 22, Bruce A. Timmons’ remains were…

The first Swift Boat Sailors killed in action were on February 14, 1966 aboard PCF 4 when a mine detonated killing David J. Boyle (SN), Thomas E. Hill (BM2), Joaquin C. Rodriquez (EN2) and Dayton L. Rudisill (GMG2).

On June 16, 1968, Billy S. Armstrong (GMG2), Frank Bowman (QM2), Anthony G. Chandler (BM2) and Edward C. Cruz (EN2) were killed in action when PCF 19 sank due to gunfire by an aircraft. The remains of Billy S. Armstrong and Edward C. Cruz were…

Views of PCF 71, PCF 23 and PCF 94.

Selection of notes detailing Swift Boat activities.

Portrait of Irvin Turnbull, RM2.

Irvin Turnbull's account of his military service with particular attention to his time aboard Swift Boats. This 158 page "...is a story about the inception and purpose of the 110 United States Navy 'Swift Boats' used to patrol the coastal and inland…

PCF-78 with OIC Ens. Sonny Barber at the after helm approaches the shore in the Cua Dai River 1 April 1969 to support a MEDCAP (Medical Civic Action Patrol) at the Xuyen Long refugee village. PCF-58 provided cover while the COSDIV 12 corpsman, HM1…

PCF-78 with OIC Ens. Sonny Barber at the after helm approaches the shore in the Cua Dai River 1 April 1969 to support a MEDCAP (Medical Civic Action Patrol) at the Xuyen Long refugee village. PCF-58 provided cover while the COSDIV 12 corpsman, HM1…

PCF-78 with OIC Ens. Sonny Barber at the after helm approaches the shore in the Cua Dai River 1 April 1969 to support a MEDCAP (Medical Civic Action Patrol) at the Xuyen Long refugee village. PCF-58 provided cover while the COSDIV 12 corpsman, HM1…

Hydrofoil patrol gunboats Flagstaff (PGH-2) and Tucumcari (PGH-1) tied up in the fall of 1969 near the YFNB that served as headquarters for Coastal Division 12 in Da Nang. The radar site atop Monkey Mountain can be seen in the background. The…

COSDIV 12 maintenance personnel prepare PCF-101 for shipment to NAVBASE Subic for repairs after the boat was hit by enemy recoilless rifle fire on 19 March 1969 in the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang. OIC Ens. Sonny Barber and crewman QM2 Bill…

COSDIV 12 maintenance personnel prepare PCF-101 for shipment to NAVBASE Subic for repairs after the boat was hit by enemy recoilless rifle fire on 19 March 1969 in the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang. OIC Ens. Sonny Barber and crewman QM2 Bill…

COSDIV 12 maintenance personnel prepare PCF-101 for shipment to NAVBASE Subic for repairs after the boat was hit by enemy recoilless rifle fire on 19 March 1969 in the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang. OIC Ens. Sonny Barber and crewman QM2 Bill…

COSDIV 12 maintenance personnel prepare PCF-101 for shipment to NAVBASE Subic for repairs after the boat was hit by enemy recoilless rifle fire on 19 March 1969 in the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang. OIC Ens. Sonny Barber and crewman QM2 Bill…

COSDIV 12 maintenance personnel prepare PCF-101 for shipment to NAVBASE Subic for repairs after the boat was hit by enemy recoilless rifle fire on 19 March 1969 in the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang. OIC Ens. Sonny Barber and crewman QM2 Bill…

COSDIV 12 maintenance personnel prepare PCF-101 for shipment to NAVBASE Subic for repairs after the boat was hit by enemy recoilless rifle fire on 19 March 1969 in the Cua Dai River south of Da Nang. OIC Ens. Sonny Barber and crewman QM2 Bill…

PCF-78 with OIC Ens. Sonny Barber at the after helm approaches the shore in the Cua Dai River 1 April 1969 to support a MEDCAP (Medical Civic Action Patrol) at the Xuyen Long refugee village. PCF-58 provided cover while the COSDIV 12 corpsman, HM1…

Mr. Read's first hand account of the beginning phases of Swift Boats in Vietnam.

U.S. Navy Cruise Books are an old U.S. Navy tradition dating back to the late 1800s. They are unofficial publications published by a ship's crew to document a cruise or deployment. This page is from the Cruise Book for the base at Qui Nhon…

U.S. Navy Cruise Books are an old U.S. Navy tradition dating back to the late 1800s. They are unofficial publications published by a ship's crew to document a cruise or deployment. This page is from the Cruise Book for the base at Qui Nhon…