NAVYPEDIA

Ships

Names	Builders	Commissioned	Losses	Transfers	Discarding
50NS691-699 50NS6910-6913 50NS721-729 50NS7210-7220	Sewart Seacraft, Berwick (Swiftships, Berwick): 50NS691-699, 50NS6910-6913, 50NS721-729, 50NS7210-7220	1969-1970: 50NS691-699, 50NS6910-6913 1972-1973: 50NS721-729, 50NS7210-7220	?	none	late 1970s: all

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement full, t	19
Length, m	15.6
Breadth, m	4.10
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 2.9
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

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