Vietnam River Patrol Boats (PBR's)

During the Vietnam War, U.S. Navy river patrol boats, known as PBRs (Patrol Boat, River), were crucial for controlling the waterways of the Mekong Delta and preventing the movement of Viet Cong forces and supplies. These small, highly maneuverable boats were typically armed with twin .50-caliber machine guns, a grenade launcher, and occasionally additional armaments like M60 machine guns or mortars. Made from fiberglass and powered by water-jet propulsion, PBRs could operate in shallow, narrow rivers and quickly reverse direction, making them ideal for the dense and winding rivers of Vietnam. Crewed by four sailors, they conducted search-and-destroy missions, disrupted supply routes, and patrolled for hidden enemy positions. Despite the high risk of ambushes, PBRs were effective in limiting enemy operations and were central to the U.S. Navy's "brown-water" operations in Vietnam.