51st River Patrol Group Patch

51st River Patrol Group patch, handmade, RVNHS Archive.

    The 51^st River Patrol Group was formed in June of 1968, and was the first Vietnamese navy unit to be outfitted with PBR (Patrol Boat River) vessels. The initial complement for the 51st was eight boats. The river patrol units were responsible for protecting the many waterways that run through Vietnam.  The PBR vessels they operated typically had a four-man crew. The PBR vessels were fast, and their small draft allowed them to move through shallow water passages where most other vessels couldn’t go. Units not only engaged in regular patrols in their respective areas, but also were frequently called upon to provide support for land military operations. Causalities for sailors in the river patrol units were among one of the highest branches of the Vietnamese navy. Shown in this post is a patch for the 51^st River Patrol Group from the RVNHS Archive.

A Vietnamese Navy River Patrol Force PBR (Patrol Boat River) vessel 1960s.

Vietnamese Navy River Patrol Force PBR vessels, 1960s.