Brown Water Navy
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The Brown Water Navy was the part of the US Military that patrolled inland waterways and close coastal waters during the Vietnam War. It comprised PBR (Patrol Boat Riverine) units, PACV's (Patrol Air Cushion Vehicles) the Mobile Riverine Force, the YRBMs, advance bases, helicopter and seawolf units, and Naval Support Activity. The "Brown Water Navy" specifically refers to those naval forces operating in country, and did not include naval units in the Vietnam theatre far off the coast at sea, or large naval ships such as aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, cruisers, or battleships as these were considered part of the general "Blue Water Navy". The Brown Water Navy was a joint Army/Navy venture modeled after the earlier French Riverine, and coastal patrols in the First Indochina War. In Vietnam, control of the waterways was essential to controlling the country. Vietnam is criss crossed with rivers, and has a very large coastline. In Vietnam, sampans and boats are similar to cars and trucks in terms of transportation for western countries. The largest of these waterways is the Mekong Delta. The Brown Water Navy was successful in its tactics to combat communist infiltration and weapons smuggling during its existence between 1966, and 1970. In 1970, the last of the Brown Water Navy units were turned over to the South Vietnamese as part of the overall Vietnamization process.