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!!! THE YRBM 18 !!!
US Flag
!!! THE YRBM 18 !!!

!!! THE YRBM 18 !!!

!!! THE YRBM 18 !!!
or APL-55
or APPLE 55



This photo courtesy of Frederick J. McGavran
EMAIL:FMcGavran[ at ]FROJAC.com

HISTORY OF THE YRBM 18

The YRBM 18 was generally located where the My Tho and Ham Loung rivers came together to form the Mekong.. We occassionally ventured down the Ham Loung to Ben Tre. We were once officially known as NAVSUPPACT Saigon - Det. Ben Tre

The YRBM 18 was towed from Subic Bay in January? 1968. Its overhaul was interupted because of the Thankgiving day bombing of the YRBM 16 in Ben Tre. The YRBM 18 replaced the YRBM 16 until the YRBM 16 was repaired and other YRBMs were built.

In November of 1968 the YRBM 18 was towed out into the South China Sea and back up to the village of Tan An on the Vam Co River? A philipine tug boat was used and there was trouble with the tow line and aft anchor. Also the move from Ben Tre may have been a hasty retreat

At Tan An the YRBM 18 had COMNAVFORV (Zumwalt) aboard and spearheaded "Operation Giant Slingshot." The YRBM 18 was sitting on the river in the village of Tan An in January of 69.

In March 1969 the crew of the YRBM 18 was preparing to transfer to a new YRBM, which is believed to have been the YRBM 20 or 21.

The YRBM 18 may have been transfered to the Vietnamese Navy however it has been reported that it was seen in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton Washington in 1987 with the YRBM 16 and YRBM 20.


TALES OF THE YRBM 18

The crew remembers steak and Lobster on Sundays!!!!

EMAIL:mikek13[ at ]ix.netcom.com,
provided much of the history and information presented here and was POIC of the Boston Whaler used for a guard boat.. He and others cruised up and down the river during the hours of darkness looking for swimmers and the such.. A picture is posted on the YRBM20 pages, of a Boston Whaler with a 75hp Johnson which was exactly like the one used on the YRBM 18
The YRBM 18 was normally towed by its' own Mike 6's (LCM6) and Mike 4 (LCM4). IT supported two PBR River Sections (Later designated River Divisions - RivDiv 534 and RivDiv 535) and one SEAL Team.. SEAL Team 1 - Det Alpha. The SEAL's had a nifty little craft.. a LSSC (Light SEAL Support Craft) which was basically.. a California ski boat painted green. (powered by a 427 cu in. Ford Wedge) nice craft.


Outboard crusing with paymaster

Apple 55 Badge YRBM 18 Badge

These badge photos are a courtesy of Frederick J. McGavran
EMAIL:FMcGavran[ at ]FROJAC.com
US Flag
THE YRBM 18
PHOTO ALBUM
US Flag
binoculars
CLICK ON A THUMBNAIL
FOR FULL SIZE IMAGE
binoculars


THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE THE COURTESY OF
FREDRICK MCGAVRAN
EMAIL:FMcGavran[ at ]fbtlaw.com"
YRBM 18
PHOTO 201
YRBM 18.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 202
YRBM 18.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 203
YRBM 18.
YRBM 18 Bow
PHOTO 204
YRBM 18 bow and anchor windlass.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 205
YRBM 18 head on view.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 206
YRBM 18 bow and foredeck area.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 207
YRBM 18 and LCM.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 208
YRBM 18 Apple 55 LCMs.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 209
YRBM 18, flight deck, ammi and LCMs.
YRBM 18 and PBRs
PHOTO 210
PBRs docked at a YRBM 18 ammi.
YRBM 18
PHOTO 212
Covered ammi on the YRBM 18.
YRBM 18 under tow
PHOTO 213
YRBM-18 being towed out to sea and back up river to Tan An at beginning of Operation Giant Slingshot.
LCM towing
PHOTO 214
LCM towing the YRBM 18.
Ammies
PHOTO 215
Ammies are strung out behind the YRBM 18 as it is being towed to Tan An


THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE THE COURTESY OF FREDERICK J. MCGAVRAN
EMAIL:FMcGavran[ at ]FROJAC.com
Jolly Green mail helo
PHOTO 301
Jolly Green mail helo.
Jolly Green mail helo
PHOTO 302
Jolly Green mail helo.
Jolly Green mail helo
PHOTO 303
Jolly Green mail helo.
YRBM 18 Cigarette Lighter
This Cigarette lighter photo courtesy of Frederick J. McGavran
EMAIL:FMcGavran[ at ]FROJAC.com



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This Web Book has become so large I now collect donated Photos and Information
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This Web Book has become so large I do not view some Pages for months at a time.
If you find a part of this Web Book that is not working, please email me
the Lone Webmaster, Kent Hawley. CLICK HERE to Contact
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New Page Created - November 1999
Last Major Edit - February 2001

3 Kids on a Sampan

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YRBM 18 Patch

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*** HAWLEY'S WEB BOOK ***
THE BROWNWATER NAVY IN THE MEKONG DELTA
BROWSE THESE WEB PAGES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Vietnam Campain Ribbon
A 120 PLUS PAGE TOUR OF THE BROWNWATER NAVY IN THE MEKONG DELTA from 1966 - 1971
US Flag MEMORIAL PAGE
The YRBM 16 Memorial Page
It recieved a National 1998 TOP GUN Bronze Award
NEW PAGES OR MAJOR CHANGES
FROM OCTOBER 2003 TO
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Vietnam Campain Ribbon
Guest Book Page

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