U.S. NAVY OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF COMBAT SWIFT BOATS VIETNAM RIVERINE OPERATIONS PCF 43454

The U.S. Navy film, U.S. Navy Operations and Maintenance of Combat Boats USNA, is a color film made in 1971 as a training film. It was produced by Vignette Films Inc. Vignette Films was founded by Floyd Norman and Leo Sullivan in 1966. Floyd Norman was an American animator and had worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios before starting Vignette Films. Leo Sullivan was also an award winning animator. This unclassified film taught the differing kinds of combat boats and how to care for them.
The film starts with Swift boats, PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) boats, cruising down a river to music (0:13-1:10), followed by aerial view of rivers and coastal waters, probably Vietnam since these boats were used in that war (1:11-1:31). Patrolling the delta (1:32-1:52). The Naval Inshore Operations Training Center for the small boats (1:53-2:08). The 50 foot Assault Support Patrol (ASPB) boat shooting a 50 caliber machine gun (2:09-2:31). An Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) which carries troops in and out (2:33-3:05). 61 foot Command and Communications boat is the mobile communications center (3:06-3:32). Two kinds of heavily armed 60 foot Monitor Support Boats. One type carries a gun-Howitzer and the other type a flame thrower to shoot controlled fire (3:33-4:00). 31 foot PBR River Patrol boat, or Riverine, used in the Vietnam War (4:10-4:18) and the 50 foot PCF patrol craft, or the Swift boat (4:19-4:27). PBR, Riverine, boat (4:47-5:00). Twin diesel engine with water jet pump (5:08-5:12). Maneuverability of the PBR (5:18-5:50). PBR radar (5:54-5:59) and radio (6:00-6:12). Machine gun mounts (6:20-6:47). PCF, Swift boat (7:16-7:50). Swift boat radio, radar, photometer, and phone (7:51-8:11). 50 caliber machine gun (8:17-8:30). Swift boat, PCF (8:31-8:47). 50 caliber machine gun (8:58-9:00). Seaman steering the boat and engine control levers (9:06-9:32). Checks for operation of PCF: operation and service manual (9:48-9:55), fill water tank (9:56-10:06), check fuel tanks (10:07-10:21), fuel return valves opened (10:28-10:30), sea water cooling system valves open (10:38-10:48), check oil (10:56-10:59), coolant (11:00-11:09), check fuel filters (11:14-11:21), crankcase breather must be clean (11:22-11:42), primary and backup gun circuit switches ready (12:04-12:12). Engine control levers (12:21-12:22). Diesel engine (13:11-13:27). PBR check: similar to the PCF. River Patrol Boat Manual (14:06-14:12), check Jet pump (14:19-14:20), grease the fittings (14:23-14:28). Indicator panel (15:24-15:30). Boat Engine (15:34-15:38). Water Jet pump (16:06-16:20). Docking the PCF (17:29-17:43). Clean and inspect the bilge pump (17:46-18:02). Filling fuel tank (18:17-18:20). Major work on boat done at a maintenance yard where hoist removes the boat from the water for repairs (19:37-20:10). PBR and PCF in action (20:13-22:53).
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[@publicmail2]

The Music at end is like a pleasure boat craft commercial, hardly the case.

[@blingbling574]

Stuck out in the open water like that makes my hands sweat and the pleasure music doesn't do a damn good. Yeah, being a grunt sucks, but at least you can kiss the dirt. Hats off to the brave sailors👍🏻

[@davidsanders1991]

Thank you, Grunt Friend. I appreciate your words.

[@chucklubchenko4661]

I like the lounge music.

[@UAL320]

That SEAL team must have a pretty serious mission there in San Pablo Bay…..

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Good video. You take care of your bus motor powered boat, it'll take care of you. Good old Detroit Diesels!

[@mebell1948]

Holly shit.. we didn't follow procedure at 13':32. Ya know, I guess there's something about being shot at that just makes you feel like getting the hell out of there.. Most of us Swifts knew the lessons taught at Coronado were book lessons and the real lessons would be learned in Country. Mark Bell RD2 PCF-69 Semper Swift

[@desertduck10]

A trip memory lane I was stationed at that PBR/PCF base Pier 21 N.I.O.T.C.Mare Island Ca. I did maintenance on the electrical components.

[@hckyplyr9285]

Where's the part about Lurch's (John Kerry) incredible one man war against the entire NVA in Cambodia? He's reporting for duty!

[@francisbusa1074]

Yeah, Kerry... I remember that guy from USS Gridley DLG-21. Of course that was before he became such a "hero" and a national treasure. What a specimen... I had to blink and rub my eyes the first time I saw him as a senator at a news conference in the early '70s. At the time I could not understand how he got voted into office.

[@Mk18_40mm]

​@francisbusa1074, what was he like?

[@timmensch3601]

6v53 detroits in the pbr and dual 12v71 detroits in the swift boat it must be fast af

[@chrisylink]

Im pretty sure that opening scene at 0:50 is around mare island maybe suisun slough. They held a training center there called NIOTC

[@rgphomes2475]

I miss my 3 rolls Royce babies..loved driving her

[@Dryootube]

love the music

[@jerrynewberry2823]

This must be from up north or VERY early in the war. Buddy was in the north while i was on the toot in Nha Be in 71. Overhauling engines.

[@joelgalvan8358]

Hot. Stuff

[@williamwyckoff3963]

We had a lot of PCFs next to us at VungTau and Anthoi I was on the Tutuilia ARG- 4 I was a gunnersmate or in 3rd Division we done a lot of repair work for the boats. Our ship that is .myself I had forward gun mount # 31 that's 3 inch .

[@alexanderbalian8057]

Yup. I was there alongside on PCF 41. Later on 22 May 1966 we were hit and Ambushed. Lost the Boat. One dead and all of us wounded. Capt Alex Balian,

[@49woodie]

Umm, those eucalyptus trees in the background, not the Mekong Delta. Looks like Montezuma Slough, used by COSRIVDIV 11 for training. PBR had two Detroit Diesel 6-71's, with Berkeley Jet pumps. Which were ironically made in Berkeley, Ca. How many anti war demonstrations in Berkeley at the time?

[@mebell1948]

Interesting video... as far as I know... PCF-104 never made it to Vietnam. She was a training boat. I'm looking at the video at 4:19. Currently PCF-104 is a monument at Coronado Naval Station. Mark Bell

[@molotov9502]

Why do they feel the need to add audio in post production of a helicopter or piston airplane to aerial footage when it is readily obvious the film is being taken from some sort of an aerial platform, Maybe they want to prove they weren't using a blimp.

[@anthonyborg826]

detroit diesel 12v71N

[@MrSlugny]

If it's not leaking oil it's running wrong

[@jerrynewberry2823]

Mine were not allowed to leak. Tutilia ARG 4 Nha Be, 71. 6-71s, 8-71s, 12-71s overhaul and instillation. Where is Skinner on the damned Dino.?

[@matthewkashnig3061]

I have 2 -871s. There are so many ports and inlets where oil can leak it's crazy keeping everything tight torqued and sealed

[@franklinbrown8710]

Detroit diesel have air box drains, 2 cycle like a chainsaw or weed wacker. They are maid to leak oil!

[@TxDragon55]

When I went into the Navy this was the type boat I wanted on by the Navy decided a different type for me and that was the USS Nautilus SSN 571.

[@jimeditorial]

That's about as different a vessel humanly possible in any navy.....but the Nautilus? Historic. Was it livable?

[@HD-tb8rz]

Music in the beginning? Artist or Track Name Pls. Thanks

[@leecoleman822]

🇺🇸

[@montysmith6355]

it might have been my mission,but it sure as shit the chief,s boat......gee wizz what movie did that come from?

[@ronenfe]

2:19 is he shooting blanks? otherwise how did they film it, he is shooting right into the camera.

[@sk8anddestroy792]

definitely aimed towards the stoner crowd

[@ct1762]

"pumps are great for maneuverability"... well yes but at a cost. the cost of efficiency. if they could do 25kts with a pump, a prop would've given them 35+kts and much more stability. i doubt the need to turn 20% faster was really worth it, of course the draft is reduced which i suspect is the main reason jet pumps were used. still, a stable gun platform with greater speed would've been interesting to try back then.

[@markmartin6365]

Alot easier to unplug jetdrives at strainer then fouled props.

[@TheSpritz0]

Those 20mm cannon must have been devastating to Viet Cong on the shore- anyone have any stories????

[@stevelong5999]

Sure.. my 20 mm gunner swung around on a VC and fired a single round before the gun jammed. No issue though the single round hit the VC in the head and left him very very dead.

[@TheSpritz0]

@@stevelong5999 I hope he got the 20mm working again especially if the battle was not over!

[@richardnailjr9863]

Take the damn timer off the video

[@PeriscopeFilm]

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