Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase III Campaign (67-68)
From Month/Year
June / 1967
To Month/Year
January / 1968
Description This Campaign period was from 1 June 1967 to 29 January 1968. By mid-1967, the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service operated a fleet of 527 reactivated World War II Reserve Fleet ships and chartered vessels under U.S. and foreign registry. Throughout this period, MSTS shipping carried over 40,000 U.S. and allied combat and support troops to South Vietnam. The allied requirements for transportation were passed from MSTS representatives in the ports of Danang, Chu Lai, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Vung Tau, Phan Rang, and Vung Ro through the MSTS office in Saigon to the MSTS Far East, headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and finally to Commander MSTS in the United States. Many types of vessels sailed in the MSTS fleet, including converted escort carriers Core, Card, Point Cruz (T-AKV 19), and Kula Gulf (T-AKV 8), which served as aircraft ferries. Corpus Christi Bay (T-ARVH 1), formerly seaplane tender Albermarle (AV 5), operated as a helicopter repair ship for the Army. In addition to the great number of standard cargo hulls, the service operated ships that carried cargo stowed in easily handled containers and new roll-on/roll-off ships that could quickly load and unload vehicles through rear or side ports. Arriving at Danang on 1 August 1967, Bienville was the first such container vessel to reach South Vietnam. Fuel tankers included the 190,000-barrel capacity Maumee (T-AO 149), the 140,000-barrel Cache (T-AO 67), and the 30,000-barrel Chattahoochee (T-AOG 82), the latter of which was used for storage and shuttle services in-country.
MSTS also controlled as many as 16 troop transports in the Pacific during the buildup of forces in South Vietnam. A fleet of LSTs, the number of which increased from 17 to 42 by mid-1968, handled cargo shuttling along the coast. In-port lighterage and terminal duties were accomplished by the MSTS-contracted Alaska Barge and Transport Company, which operated 19 tugs and 33 barges. The total MSTS effort ensured that the 550,000-man U.S. contingent in South Vietnam was well supplied, armed, and prepared to stay in the battle against the determined enemy.
Naval Support Activity, Saigon, which the Navy activated on 17 May 1966, two days after HSAS ceased operations, was charged with providing logistic support to naval units in the II, III, and IV Corps Tactical Zones. The newly created NAVFORV directed the operations of NSA Saigon. The support activity supplied the Navy's Coastal Surveillance Force, River Patrol Force, Riverine Assault Force, and the various specialized headquarters, offices, and detachments operating in the three southern corps areas. NSA Saigon provided the commands with ammunition, weapons, and communications equipment; transported cargo and personnel; repaired and maintained ships and craft; stocked spare parts; and built bases and facilities. Finally, NSA saw to the quartering, messing, payroll, and recreational needs of the naval officers and enlisted personnel in Vietnam.
The Saigon activity developed subordinate support bases for the combat forces similar to those of NSA Danang's. NSA Saigon detachments at Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh Bay, An Thoi, Cat Lo, and Vung Tau primarily served the Market Time operation, although the last two bases were home to other naval combat units as well. The concentration of the Task Force 115 headquarters, naval air units, and other large contingents at Cam Ranh Bay required greater command authority and logistic resources. As a result, in September 1967, NSA Saigon upgraded the detachment to the Naval Support Facility, Cam Ranh Bay. Detachments were also established at Can Tho (and later moved to nearby Binh Thuy), Nha Be, Vinh Long, Sa Dec, My Tho, Tan Chau, and Long Xuyen. These units saw to the special needs of the Task Force 116 PBR commands. The Naval Support Activity, Saigon, Detachment Dong Tam, supplied only the Mobile Riverine Force naval units.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
June / 1967
To Month/Year
December / 1967
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
People You Remember Jack Adams AOAN VF-74, Gene Siburn ADJAN VF-74 Plane Captain #200, LT. H.T. Wood VF-74 Ordnance division officer, AOC Tomas Lawler VF-74 Ordnance, and LTCDR John McCain VA-46 (US Senator)
Memories July 29, 1967 Gulf of Tonkin Viet Nam flight deck USS FORRESTAL. Just prior to the second launch of the day Jack Adams and I were working together at the end of the waist cats on elevator #2 checking for stray voltage on and arming Zunni rocket pods loaded on a VF-74 Phantom. On the aft of the ship a Zunni Rocket misfired, hitting LCDR John McCain's aircraft and starting a massive fire. When we saw two fire hoses racing across the deck we joined one of the hose teams. As we came abreast of the aft end of the island we ran out of hose and stopped, the other hose team continued towards the fire. Seconds later a 1000lb. detonated wiping out the other hose team and knocking us to the deck. Jack and I went towards the fire, when we were about 150 feet away the second and third explosions ocured knocking us down again. As we attempted to escape the fourth bomb exploded. We ran forward on starboard side of the island across elevator #1 and into the #1 catapult room. When the major explosions stopped we returned to the flight deck. VF-74 Phantom # 200 was burning on the port side, port landing gear blown out, there was a Sidewinder missile on the starboard side. As Jack and I removed the missile and firefighters sprayed water on us the ejection seat fired from the intense heat. I was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal. Jack Adams AO VF-74 got nothing, what we did was not worthy of a medal but we both should have been recognized equally.
