NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Vietnamese RPC 1970

Ships

Names	Builders	Commissioned	Losses	Transfers	Discarding
C13371-13381 C13456-13479	Peterson Builders, Sturgeon Bay: C13371-13381 Birchfield SB, Tacoma: C13456-13479	1965: C13371-13381 1965-1966: C13456-13479	?	late 1960s, South Vietnam: all	none

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement full, t	13
Length, m	10.9
Breadth, m	3.25
Draught, m	1.14
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 diesels
Power, h. p.	450
Max speed, kts	15
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)
Armament	1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 x 1 - 7.6/90
Military load	12 troops
Electronic equipment	none
Complement	6

Graphics

Project history

The RPC was the first craft built specifically for riverine warfare by the US Navy. It began with a Thai request for modified PT boats; they received six overhauled LCVPs while a better design was evolved. A preliminary design was prepared in mid-1961. Ultimately the RPC was based loosely on a projected (but unbuilt) riverine LCVP called the RCVP. It was not particularly successful; the RPC was criticised as noisy, vulnerable (its hull form tended to attract mines), slow, and underarmed. In all, 36 were built under the FY64 programme.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

All were initially transferred to Vietnam, but six were transferred to Thailand in March 1967.

© Ivan Gogin, 2015