

CWDB USA Navy Additions 

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1) USS Benewah (APB-35) Brigade Command Ship 1967-71; Benewah class barracks ship; x4
2) USS Askari (ARL-30); Achelous Class Landing Craft Repair Ship; x5
3) USS St. Francis River (LSM(R)-525); LSM(R)-501 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket); x3
4) YRBM 20 (Yard Repair Berthing and Messing); at least 3 (YRBM-16/17/20)
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USS Benewah (APB-35) 
Benewah class barracks ship

The USS Benewah was a self-propelled barracks ship built on an LST class 542 hull. LST class ships were named after counties in the United States. Built at the Boston Naval Shipyard, she was launched on 6 May 1946. From 1946-1966, Benewahs mission was generally supportive, from housing Seabees in Newfoundland to serving as the Flagship for Commander, Fleet Air Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean in Naples, Italy. She was also home to many recommissioning and decommissioning crews for two decades. The Benewah, herself, was decommissioned and recommissioned three times.

In July 1966, the Benewah entered the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for conversion and modernization prior to her return to active duty. She was specifically modified for use in the river regions of South Vietnam. 
The Green Ship Fleet consisted of a number of World War II LSTs (which were converted into APBs), self-propelled barracks ships and ARLs (which were converted into small boat repair ships). These ships were ideal for use on the brown waters of the Mekong Delta.

Although she retained her designation of APB-35, she was converted to a Brigade Command Ship and served as the Flagship for River Assault Flotilla One. She was recommissioned on 28 January 1967.

An APBs original armament consisted of two 20 millimeter gun mounts. In 1967, Benewah was outfitted with two quad-barreled 40 millimeter mounts, two 3/50 installations and 20 strategically placed 50 and 30 caliber machine guns. In addition, she was equipped with 25 fiberglass assault boats, which were utilized by Army troops who made her their base of operations. A large helicopter landing platform was also built over her superstructure which was used for deploying troops and receiving casualties.

The Benewah was deployed on 22 Feb.1967 to the Far East and the brown waters of Vietnams Mekong Delta.She became the Flagship for Commander, River Assault Flotilla One, Mobile Riverine Force Task Force-117 and Commander, 2nd Brigade, 9th Infantry Division. After a short stay in Vung Tau, the Benewah moved up river and began a series of combat riverine assault operations in the Mekong Delta. When the Navy Boat Crews and the Riverine Infantry embarked, the ships company increased from 160 to 1150 personnel on board. She participated in all Coronado Operations from I-XI, and played a large role during the TET offensive in 1968, moving from one spot to another. The 10,000th helicopter landing was made on her deck in the Fall of 1968 by the 9th Aviation Battalion.

The Benewah operated in Giant Slingshot and numerous other operations on brown waters of the Delta. She was frequently fired on and her guns went into action on many occasions. In June 1970, she participated in an incursion into Cambodian areas to aid forces interdicting the Vietcong supply lines running through the country. The Benewah left Vietnam on 27 Nov. 1970 and headed for Naval Base Subic Bay in the Philippines, after serving for 43 consecutive months in the Mekong Delta. Following her arrival in Subic Bay, an inspection board determined she was unfit for active service and she was turned over to the Naval Station Subic Bay to serve as a station ship.


Service dates 1945 - 1971

APB Specifications: 
Displacement 4,000 t. 
Length 328' 
Beam 50' 
Draft 11' 2" 
Speed 12 kts. 

Complement 
Officers 12 
Enlisted 129 

Troop Accommodation 
Officers 26 
Enlisted 1200 

Armament 
two quad 40mm AA gun mounts 
two 3/50 
twenty .50 and .30 cal machine guns 

Fuel Capacity 
Diesel 2,975 Bbls 

Propulsion 
two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines 
double Falk Main Reduction Gears 
five Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V Ship's Service Generators 
twin rudders
two propellers, 1,600shp

Benewah (APB-35)
Colleton (APB-36)
Mercer (APB-39)
Nueces (APB-40)

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USS Askari (ARL-30)
Achelous Class Landing Craft Repair Ship

The Askari and her sister ships were instrumental in keep the US Brown Water Navy operational.  If ANY repair ship belongs in the CWDB, the Askari does.

Specifications: 
Displacement 2,220 t.(lt) 3,960 t.(fl) 4,840 t.(lim) 
Length 327'9" 
Beam 50'1" 
Draft 16'2" (fully loaded) 
Speed 10 kts. 

Complement 
Officers 21 
Enlisted 232 

Ship's Boats:
two 36' LCVP 
Cranes 
one 25 Ton Fixed Kingpost Crane 
one 5 Ton Bridge Gantry Crane 

Armament 
two MK2 Mod 18 quad 40mm AA gun mounts w/Mk. 51 directors 
two Gun Directors MK5 Mod2 
six .50 cal. Machine Guns 
two Stinger Firing Stations 

Fuel Capacity 
4,715Bbls 

Propulsion 
two General Motors 12-567A Detroit Twelve Cylinder Diesel Engines, combined horsepower 1800 
single Falk Main Reduction Gears
Ship's Service Generators
four Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V A.C.
five Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V D.C. 
two fixed pitch 7' bronze propellers 
twin rudders

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USS St. Francis River LSMR-525 (LFR-52) x3
LSM(R)-501 Class Landing Ship Medium (Rocket):

Service dates: 1945 to  October 1955; 1965 to 1970; Note armament change after Korean War 

The USS St. Francis River and her sister ships played a key role in supporting ground troops in the Mekong delta.  Her shallower draft than the IFS-1 Carronade allowed her to get in closer to the action.

Specifications: 

Displacement light 758 t.; attack 993 t.; fully loaded 1,175 t. 
Length 203' 6" o.a. 
Beam 34' 6" 
Draft light 5'4" (mean) attack 6'9" (mean) fully loaded 7'9" (mean) 
Speed 13 kts. 

Complement 
Officers 6 
Enlisted 137 

Armament (Initial)
1  5"/38 caliber gun
2  twin 40 mm AA guns
4  4.2" (110 mm) mortars (Removed after Korea)
10  twin tube continuous loading 5-inch (130 mm) spin stabilizer rocket launchers (2 launchers removed after Korea)
2  .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns on the forecastle
2  .30 cal machine guns on the bridge wings

Armament (After Korea)
1  5"/38 caliber gun
2  twin 40 mm AA guns
4  twin 20 mm AA guns (Added after Korea)
8  twin tube continuous loading 5-inch (130 mm) spin stabilizer rocket launchers (2 launchers removed after Korea)
2  .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns on the forecastle
2  .30 cal machine guns on the bridge wings


Armor 10-lb. STS on conning station, pilot-house, radio room, radar plot, and rocket control, 10-lb. ASPP around 40 and 20mm gun mounts and directors 

Fuel Capacity 
Diesel 1,225 Bbls 

Propulsion 
two General Motors 16-287A (non-reversing with airflex clutch) Diesel engines, direct drive with 1,440 BHP each @ 720rpm

Ship's Service Generators
four Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
two Diesel-drive 20Kw 120V D.C.
twin screws 2,800 shp

The St. Francis River was joined by two of her sister ships USS Clarion River (LSMR-409) and USS White River (LSMR-536) as part of Inshore Fire Support Division 93 (IFSDIV93), with the USS Carronade (IFS-1) acting as the flagship.

The USS Carronade (IFS-1) (already in the DB) was similiar to, but not identical, to the LSMRs.  It was larger and faster but had a larger draft and was less well armed than the LSMRs.

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YRBM-20 Class Repair, Berthing and Messing Barge

The YRBM 20, known as the Delta Hilton, was a floating Brown Water Navy base in Vietnam during 1969 and 1970. 

In 1969 and 1970 it was located on a wide spot in the Bassac River, the west tributary of the Mekong River a mile south of the town of Chou Doc in Chou Doc Province and very near the Cambodian border. 
Detachments assigned to the YRBM 20 patrolled the French-built border canals nearby. One canal ran between the Bassac River through Tinh Bien to Ha Tien. Another ran to the Mekong River. 

YRBM stands for "Yard Repair Berthing and Messing" It is not self propelled. A barge tied to the stern had diesel outboards to move the YRBM when needed when tugboats were not available. It also functioned not unlike a pocket helicopter carrier supplying fuel and ammo continuously for days in support of nearby air operations. 

Specifications 
Displacement 700 t.(lt) 2,000 t.(fl) 
Length 261' 
Beam 48'; 
Draft 13' (lim) 

Accommodations 
Officers 1 
Enlisted 28  


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