Coastal Division 14 Cam Ranh Bay Vietnam

• Establishment: Coastal Division 14 was one of the U.S. Navy’s key Swift Boat (PCF) units operating from Cam Ranh Bay, established as part of Operation Market Time to interdict Viet Cong supply lines by sea along the Vietnamese coast. • Strategic Location: Cam Ranh Bay was chosen for its deep-water harbor and central location, making it a vital logistics and patrol hub for Coastal Division 14. • Swift Boats: The division primarily operated Patrol Craft Fast (PCF), known as Swift Boats, which were 50-foot aluminum boats designed for high-speed coastal patrols and riverine operations. • Operations: Coastal Division 14 conducted interdiction patrols, stopping and searching thousands of Vietnamese sampans and junks suspected of smuggling weapons and supplies to the Viet Cong. • Joint Missions: The division often worked alongside South Vietnamese Navy units and U.S. Coast Guard Squadron One, fostering close cooperation and combined operations in the region. • Combat Encounters: Swift Boat crews frequently engaged in firefights with enemy forces, and their shallow draft allowed them to chase insurgents into river mouths and estuaries where larger ships could not go. • Living Conditions: Sailors at the Cam Ranh Bay base experienced both the beauty of the bay and the hardships of monsoon weather, constant maintenance, and the threat of enemy attack. • Notable Incident: In 1968, a Swift Boat from Coastal Division 14 was famously attacked by North Vietnamese forces near the Cua Bo De river, resulting in a fierce battle that highlighted the dangers of coastal patrols. • Legacy: Many veterans of Coastal Division 14 have recounted their experiences in memoirs and reunions, emphasizing the camaraderie and unique challenges of Swift Boat duty. • Aftermath: Following the Vietnamization policy, control of Coastal Division 14 and its assets was gradually handed over to the Republic of Vietnam Navy in the early 1970s, marking the end of significant U.S. Navy operations at Cam Ranh Bay.