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September 27, 2007
First Deployed Navy Riverine Unit Since Vietnam War
Navy’s MIO joins Corps in ground combat operations
HADITHAH DAM, Iraq
For decades, Marines have protected and fought for the United States and her allies on the ground, utilizing stealth and skill to become known as one of the world’s most elite fighting forces. Now, the U.S. Navy is striving toward that goal in the Corps’ footsteps with their new riverine force.
The Navy officially stood up the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, responsible for fielding a new Riverine force in Iraq, Jan. 13, 2006, in Little Creek, Va. Sailors in the new command began training June 2006, in preparation for their upcoming deployment. Less than a year later, during March 2007, Riverine Squadron 1, Riverine Group 1, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, deployed to Iraq’s waterways in support of Regimental Combat Team 2, in Al Anbar Province.
The numerous islands, wadis (oases), inlets and coves throughout Iraq’s waterways posed a problem to the naval patrol unit, but they were prepared. The squadron has a Maritime Interdiction Operations Team attached to each of its three detachments as support for ground combat operations.
“Basically, our team covers anything within range of the boat’s crew-served weapons,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Garrick A. Bowles, the lead petty officer with the MIO team attached to Detachment 3. “Our purpose is to deny enemy access to the shoreline and islands, find and destroy caches, and search and sweep buildings near or on the coastline.”
“We’re proud to carry on the tradition of riverine warfare. The last time the Navy had this type of specialized unit, other than the Seals, was during Vietnam, but we’re hoping it sticks around for a while this time,” said Bowles, a Virginia Beach, Va., native.
A Riverine Patrol Boat with Riverine Squadron 1, Riverine Group 1, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, in support of Regimental Combat Team 2, powers down the Euphrates River as the sun goes down. As the first deployed Navy riverine unit since the Vietnam War, the squadron had the responsibility to not only accomplish the mission, but to also pave the way for future riverine forces.
When the riverines began operations along the Euphrates River, their huge level of success was a surprise even for those within the unit.
“Those guys found so much stuff it was incredible,” said Chief Petty Officer Michael E. Bennett, a boat captain with the detachment. “They got a lot of weapons, huge caches with anti-aircraft guns, arty shells and a lot of dangerous stuff.”
“This is going to sound unbelievable,” explained Bowles, “but we probably destroyed over a ton of weapons and ordinance, literally a ton. We searched over 150 clicks (about 94 miles) of islands and shoreline, all the way from the (Hadithah) dam to the Syrian border.”
As the first deployed Navy riverine unit since the Vietnam War, the squadron had the responsibility to not only accomplish the mission, but to also pave the way for future riverine forces.
“Although we got rid of weapons and did the usual ground combat thing, we also created (standard operating procedures) to help the guys who come along after we leave,” said Bowles, who is serving on his fifth deployment.
Wild Thing's comment........
This is great and it is making another differnce for all our troops.
Posted by Wild Thing at September 27, 2007 12:50 AM
Comments
A powerful picture of GOD'S sun in the birthplace of civilization! GO NAVY & USMC... beat Army... but lose to the USAFA Falcons in 2007 !
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at September 27, 2007 05:07 AM
I served in the southern Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Many times, as an Army Aviation crewman, I supported the Brown Water Navy in it's riverine and offshore operations. I was there before the PBRs arrived in force, but I worked with Swift Boats, the Junk Force and US Coast guard cutters and patrol craft. Their operations were quite varied. It was time consuming and dangerous work.
I liked supporting Navy ops because they often stirred up hornets nests of VC and that gave me lots of targets to shoot up.
Posted by: TomR at September 27, 2007 10:09 AM
Darth, that is interesting how you put that about the photo.It takes on a whole different feel to it.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2007 11:09 PM
Tom, that is so interesting, thank you so much for sharing about that. It means a lot Tom, and it helps to understand even more what they do and how important everything is to work together.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 27, 2007 11:12 PM
Was in Nam 67-68,river div 91.sent care packages to our troops boat div #1 &3.this is the first post seen of our new troops-Thankyou-Go Navy.Chief Oldanchors
Posted by: dan at September 29, 2007 12:11 PM
