TF117, RIVDIV 13, RIVRON 132, R132-1

• TF117 – The Mobile Riverine Force: Task Force 117, also known as the Mobile Riverine Force, was a joint US Navy and Army unit formed during the Vietnam War to conduct operations in the Mekong Delta’s complex river network. • RIVDIV 13’s Role: River Assault Division 13 (RIVDIV 13) was a key component of TF117, operating armored riverine craft to deliver troops, provide fire support, and patrol waterways infested with Viet Cong forces. • RIVRON 132 and Its Boats: River Assault Squadron 13 (RIVRON 13), particularly River Assault Section 132 (R132), operated a variety of boats, including the Armored Troop Carrier (ATC or “Tango boat”), Monitor, and Command and Control boats. • R132-1 – A Specific ATC: R132-1 was the hull number for a specific ATC within RIVRON 132. These boats were essentially floating armored personnel carriers, vital for moving troops through hostile waters. • First Mobile Riverine Force Operation: TF117 conducted its first major operation, “Coronado I,” in June 1967, marking the first large-scale, coordinated Army-Navy assault in the Mekong Delta. • Combat Intensity: The riverine forces, including RIVDIV 13, frequently engaged in close-range firefights with the Viet Cong, sometimes at ranges of less than 50 meters, making river warfare uniquely intense and dangerous. • Innovative Tactics: TF117 pioneered “waterborne mobile operations,” using boats like those of R132-1 to surprise and outflank enemy forces in areas inaccessible to traditional vehicles. • Living Conditions: Members of RIVDIV 13 and R132-1 often lived onboard their craft or on barracks ships anchored in river anchorages, enduring harsh conditions, tropical diseases, and constant threat from enemy ambushes. • Medal of Honor Recipients: Several sailors and soldiers serving with the Mobile Riverine Force, including those in river assault divisions like RIVDIV 13, received high decorations for heroism, including the Medal of Honor. • Legacy: After their Vietnam service, the tactics and experiences of TF117, RIVDIV 13, and R132-1 influenced later riverine and littoral operations, shaping modern US Navy riverine warfare doctrine.