River Division 535

• Origins: River Division 535 (RivDiv 535) was part of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Riverine Force, a joint Army-Navy task force that operated in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. • PBRs: The unit was equipped primarily with Patrol Boat, River (PBR) craft—small, fast vessels designed for shallow, jungle-waterway combat and patrols. • Activation: River Division 535 was commissioned in 1967, as the need for specialized riverine units grew in counterinsurgency operations in Vietnam. • Primary Mission: RivDiv 535 conducted patrols, interdicted Viet Cong supply lines, transported troops, and provided fire support along the Mekong River and its tributaries. • Base Location: The division operated out of various bases in the Mekong Delta, notably at My Tho and later at Binh Thuy, adapting to shifting operational needs. • Combat Engagements: River Division 535 participated in numerous engagements, often facing ambushes, mines, and heavy small-arms fire from hidden Viet Cong positions along riverbanks. • Decorations: Members of RivDiv 535 earned several commendations, including Presidential Unit Citations and individual awards for valor, reflecting the hazardous nature of their missions. • Innovation: The unit was among those pioneering the use of “zippo boats”—PBRs equipped with flamethrowers to clear dense vegetation and enemy bunkers along riverbanks. • Casualties and Sacrifice: RivDiv 535, like other riverine units, suffered casualties due to the high-risk environment, but their efforts were pivotal in disrupting enemy operations in the Delta. • Legacy: The experience and tactics developed by River Division 535 contributed to modern riverine operations and are studied in naval warfare schools today. Veterans of the unit often reunite and maintain a strong camaraderie forged in the challenging riverine combat of Vietnam.