NAVYPEDIA

Photo

PCF Mk I type, 1969

Ships

Names	Builders	Commissioned	Losses	Transfers	Discarding
50NS651-659 50NS6510 - 6516 50NS661-669 50NS6610 - 6688	Sewart Seacraft, Berwick: 50NS651-659, 50NS6510 - 6516, 50NS661-6609, 50NS6610 - 6688	1965 - 1966: 50NS651 - 6516 1966 - 1967: 50NS661 - 6688	?	Philippines: 50NS633, 50NS6534, 50NS6683-6686	late 1970s: all but 3 units early 1990s: 3 last units

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement full, t	19
Length, m	15.3
Breadth, m	4.00
Draught, m	1.10
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 General Motors diesels
Power, h. p.	860
Max speed, kts	28
Fuel, t	diesel oil 2.8
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	1 x 2 - 12.7/90, 1 x (1 - 81/12 M29 mortar + 1 - 12.7/90)
Electronic equipment	none
Complement	6

Graphics

Project history

The US Navy, which since 1945 had systematically abandoned coastal warfare, found itself operating a large fleet of very small craft in Vietnamese waters. This fleet was, moreover, extemporised very rapidly. The two principal wartime types were the 'Swift' or PCF and the 'Plastic' or PBR.

The 'Swift' was adapted from a standard commercial boat used to support oil drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. The first 104 units were Mark I, the remainder (of about 200 built), Mark II with less sheer, a broken deck line, and the pilot house set somewhat farther back from the bow. A typical armament was a twin 12.7mm machine-gun above the pilot house, with a combination 81mm mortar and 12.7mm machine-gun mount aft. PCF denoted Patrol Craft, Fast, a typical rated speed being 28 knots. Originally they were rated as PTF, changed to PCF in August 1968.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

No significant events.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015