U S Navy Seawolves

Author : Daniel E. Kelly
Publisher : Ballantine Books
Page : 295 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2008-12-10
Category : History
ISBN : 9780307492265

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U.S.Navy Seawolves by Daniel E. Kelly Pdf

There were no dry runs for Seawolves in Vietnam. They put their lives on the line—every time. In the Viet Cong-infested Mekong Delta, where small SEAL teams were always outgunned and outnumbered, discovery brought swift, deadly consequences— and a radio call for backup from the United States Navy’s very best: the Seawolves. The whir of approaching rotor blades signaled their arrival as they tore through the jungle at treetop level, gunners hanging off the skids, shooting M-60s, raining down their lethal mix of high explosives and incendiary death. Seawolf Dan Kelly describes the origins of this extraordinary outfit. Put through a training program unlike any other, these men emerged to perform unparalleled feats of courage. The stories of these elite warriors capture America’s real heroes in all their guts and glory, and demonstrate why the Seawolves are known as the most successful and most decorated unit in the Vietnam War.

Author : Daniel E. Kelly
Publisher : Ballantine Books
Page : 337 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2008-12-10
Category : History
ISBN : 9780307490612

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Seawolves by Daniel E. Kelly Pdf

They called themselves Seawolves . . . The men of SEALs, PBRs, and SF called them saviors . . . Created in 1967, the HAL-3 helicopter squadron--aka Seawolves--provided quick-reaction close air support to SEALs, PBR River Rats, and Special Forces advisers and their troops. During the five years of the unit's existence, the seven detachments of Seawolves amassed stunning statistics: 78,000 missions, 8,200 enemy kills, 8,700 sampans sunk, and 9,500 structures destroyed. These 200 men collected a total of 17,339 medals. This is the story of one of those men. . . . Taking enemy fire while braced against the rocket pod of a Huey gunship and shooting an M-60 freehand in 110 mph winds was just part of Dan Kelly's job in Vietnam. As a gunner in the all-volunteer Seawolves, he served with distinction until three bullets bought him a trip home. Here is his amazing story of the Seawolves--a harrowing tale of unsung heroism and undaunted courage in combat.

Author : Richard C. Knott
Publisher : US Naval Institute Press
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2005
Category : Attack helicopters
ISBN : 1591144477

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Fire from the Sky by Richard C. Knott Pdf

This is the dramatic history of the HAL-3 Seawolves, the U.S. Navy's first and only helicopter gunship squadron of the Vietnam War. The squadron was established "in country" to support the fast, pugnacious river patrol boats of the brown water navy. Flying combat-worn Hueys borrowed from the Army, the mission of the Seawolves quickly expanded to include rapid response air support to any friendly force in the Delta needing immediate, no-holds-barred assistance. Operating in two-plane detachments from specifically configured LSTs, hastily constructed bases, and primitive campsites, the navy gunships and their crews responded to calls within minutes. Flying in all kinds of weather, day and night, they arrived at tree-top level with forward-firing rockets and flex-guns blazing. Door gunners hung outside the violently maneuvering helicopters delivering a hail of fire with their hand-held M-60 machine guns. The Seawolves inserted SEALs deep into enemy territory, and extracted them, often despite savage enemy opposition. They rescued friendly combatants from almost certain capture or death, and evacuated the wounded when Medevac helicopters were not available. Gleaned from historical documents and the colorful recollections of more than sixty Seawolf warriors, this is the first complete history of the most decorated Navy squadron of the Vietnam War. Naval aviator Richard Knott recounts the story of the Seawolves from the dawning of the concept to the moment the last squadron commander turned out the lights.

Author : Edward J. Marolda,R. Blake Dunnavent,Naval History & Heritage Command (U S ),Navy Dept (U S )
Publisher : Government Printing Office
Page : 86 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 2015
Category : History
ISBN : 0945274734

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Combat at Close Quarters by Edward J. Marolda,R. Blake Dunnavent,Naval History & Heritage Command (U S ),Navy Dept (U S ) Pdf

This work describes riverine combat during the Vietnam War, emphasizing the operations of the U.S. Navy’s River Patrol Force, which conducted Operation Game Warden; the U.S. Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Force, the formation that General William Westmoreland said “saved the Mekong Delta” during the Tet Offensive of 1968; and the Vietnam Navy. An important section details the SEALORDS combined campaign, a determined effort by U.S. Navy, South Vietnamese Navy, and allied ground forces to cut enemy supply lines from Cambodia and disrupt operations at base areas deep in the delta. The author also covers details on the combat vessels, helicopters, weapons, and equipment employed in the Mekong Delta as well as the Vietnamese combatants (on both sides) and American troops who fought to secure Vietnam’s waterways. Special features focus on the ubiquitous river patrol boats (PBRs) and the Swift boats (PCFs), river warfare training, Vice Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr., the Black Ponies aircraft squadron, and Navy SEALs. This publication may be of interest to history scholars, veterans, students in advanced placement history classes, and military enthusiasts given the continuing impact of riverine warfare on U.S. naval and military operations in the 21st century. Special Publicity Tie-In: Commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War (Commemoration dates: 28 May 2012 - 11 November 2025). This is the fifth book in the series, "The U.S. Navy and the Vietnam War." TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction The First Indochina War The Vietnam Navy River Force and American Advisors The U.S. Navy and the Rivers of Vietnam SEALORDS The End of the Line for U.S. and Vietnamese River Forces Sidebars: The PBR Riverine Warfare Training Battle Fleet of the Mekong Delta High Drama in the Delta Vice Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. Black Ponies The Swift Boat Warriors with Green Faces Suggested Reading

Author : Richard C Knott
Publisher : Naval Institute Press
Page : 290 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2016-02-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781612513775

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Fire from the Sky by Richard C Knott Pdf

Fire from the Sky is the first complete history of the most decorated Navy squadron of the Vietnam War. Richard C. Knott tells the dramatic history of the HAL-3 Seawolves, the U.S. Navy's first and only helicopter gunship squadron of the Vietnam War. The squadron was established “in country” to support the fast, pugnacious river patrol boats of the brown water navy. Flying combat-worn Hueys borrowed from the Army, the mission of the Seawolves quickly expanded to include rapid response air support to any friendly force in the Delta needing immediate assistance. The Seawolves inserted SEALs deep into enemy territory, and extracted them, often despite savage enemy opposition. They rescued friendly combatants from almost certain capture or death, and evacuated the wounded when Medevac helicopters were not available.

Author : Peter D. Shay
Publisher : Open Road Media
Page : 282 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2019-06-18
Category : History
ISBN : 9781504059312

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Triumphant Warrior by Peter D. Shay Pdf

The true story of Bronze Star recipient Allen Weseleskey and his high-risk rescue mission, carried out under heavy fire in Vietnam. Includes photos. When the going is fast and rough, I will not falter. I will be uncompromising in every blow I strike. I will be humble in victory. I am a United States Navy Flyer. —from “A Navy Flyer’s Creed” Barely a month after the start of the Tet Offensive in 1968, a Navy flyer applied this creed—and dared to risk not only his career but also his and his fellow aircrewmen’s lives in rescuing a wounded US Army advisor only moments from certain battlefield death. The pilot, Lt. Cdr. Allen E. “Wes” Weseleskey, had been assigned to the Navy’s Helicopter Attack (Light) Squadron Three, the “Seawolves,” at the Vinh Long Army Airfield. His controversial mission took place in March 1968 in the Mekong Delta region. Two ARVN companies were being overwhelmed and despite coming under heavy fire, Weseleskey decided to go in and rescue as many survivors as possible. The accompanying Seawolf was forced to turn back after taking hits, but Weseleskey, with the agreement of his crew, persisted—flying so low under the treeline that they were out of reach of the VC rocket launchers. Weseleskey was awarded the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Navy Cross during his service. This is his story, from early assignments, clashes with superior officers, missions and rescues during the Tet Offensive, to homecoming. It is the story of a quintessential flyer, an American hero who was prepared to speak his mind and take risks—and of the vital role of the Seawolves in the Vietnam War.

Author : A. J. Billings
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2004-07-08
Category : Helicopter pilots
ISBN : 1594572992

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Seawolf28 by A. J. Billings Pdf

Billings was awarded over 40 medals and citations including the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a member of the Navy's most decorated helicopter attack squadron in the Vietnam War.--BACK COVER.

Author : Kevin Dockery
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 304 pages
File Size : 44,7 Mb
Release : 2008-11-04
Category : History
ISBN : 9781440652882

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Operation Thunderhead by Kevin Dockery Pdf

The incredible true story of a top secret mission to resuce POWs in Vietnam. In the last year of the Vietnam conflict, even as American troops were leaving for home, there were still those fighting for their lives: prisoners of war being held in the Communist north. There were two operations launched to rescue the POWs. One—the legendary Son Tay Raid—was revealed to the public. The other was classified as Top Secret. This is the incredible true story of that almost-forgotten mission... Among the personnel recruited for Operation Thunderhad was a select group of operators from both the U.S. Navy SEALs and the Underwater Demolition Teams who knew that if they were captured, they would be killed, tortured, or simply disappear. They went in anyway. Here, for the first time, the details of Operation Thunderhead are revealed—the mission, the materials, and the men who put their lives on the line to save their brothers in arms.

Author : Thomas J Cutler
Publisher : Naval Institute Press
Page : 563 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2012-04-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781612511849

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Brown Water, Black Berets by Thomas J Cutler Pdf

The men of the U.S. Navy's brown-water force played a vital but often overlooked role in the Vietnam War. Known for their black berets and limitless courage, they maneuvered their aging, makeshift craft along shallow coastal waters and twisting inland waterways to search out the enemy. In this moving tribute to their contributions and sacrifices, Tom Cutler records their dramatic story as only a participant could. His own Vietnam experience enables him to add a striking human dimension to the account. The terror of firefights along the jungle-lined rivers, the rigors of camp life, and the sudden perils of guerrilla warfare are conveyed with authenticity. At the same time, the author's training as a historian allows him to objectively describe the scope of the navy's operations and evaluate their effectiveness. Winner of the Navy League's Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement in 1988 when the book was first published, Cutler is credited with having written the definitive history of the brown-water sailors, an effort that has helped readers better understand the nature of U.S. involvement in the war.

Author : Tim Clayton
Publisher : Abacus
Page : 436 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2012
Category : World War, 1939-1945
ISBN : 034912289X

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Sea Wolves by Tim Clayton Pdf

* A fascinating book about an otherwise neglected aspect of the First World War

Author : Roger Branfill-Cook
Publisher : Seaforth Publishing
Page : 195 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2020-06-30
Category : Crafts & Hobbies
ISBN : 9781526749079

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Riverine Craft of the Vietnam Wars by Roger Branfill-Cook Pdf

“Provides clear and succinct descriptions of the various craft used not only by American forces but those of the French and South Vietnamese Navy.” —Army Rumour Service (ARRSE) The ShipCraft series provides in-depth information about building and modifying model kits of famous warship types. Lavishly illustrated, each book takes the modeler through a brief history of the subject, highlighting differences between ships and changes in their appearance over their careers. This includes paint schemes and camouflage, featuring color profiles and highly detailed line drawings and scale plans. The modeling section reviews the strengths and weaknesses of available kits, lists commercial accessory sets for super-detailing of the subjects, and provides hints on modifying and improving the basic kit. This is followed by an extensive photographic gallery of selected high-quality models in a variety of scales, and the book concludes with a section on research references—books, monographs, large-scale plans and relevant websites. This volume is something of a departure for the series in covering a wide variety of the types, at first improvised and then purpose-built for the Brown Water conflict. Besides the well-known American involvement, the book also covers some of the craft used by the French in their earlier struggle with Vietnamese guerrillas. With its unparalleled level of visual information—paint schemes, models, line drawings and photographs—this book is simply the best reference for any modelmaker setting out to build one of these unusual craft. “Very well written . . . The author’s interest, knowledge and enthusiasm come through the content and make the title so appealing to the reader.” —Armorama

Author : Michael Green
Publisher : Pen and Sword
Page : 353 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2017-10-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781473894860

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United States Military Helicopters by Michael Green Pdf

The helicopter came on the scene too late to play other than a minor role in the Second World War but by the Korean conflict the Bell H-13 Sioux, OH-23 Raven, and Sikorsky H–19 Chickasaw were in service.It was in Vietnam that the US military helicopters really came into their own and the best known were the Bell UH-1 Iriquois (known as the Huey), the Boeing CH-47 Chinook, and the massive CH-37 Mojave. The USAF combat search and rescue Jolly Green Giant was indispensable.Attack helicopters have evolved from the early Huey Cobra or Snake and the Boeing AH-64 Apache in the late 80s to when the Sikorsky UH-60 series became the military general purpose chopper.All these formidable aircraft and many more are covered in detail in this superbly illustrated and comprehensive book.

Author : Kit Lavell
Publisher : Naval Institute Press
Page : 342 pages
File Size : 46,8 Mb
Release : 2009-09-01
Category : History
ISBN : 9781612515656

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Flying Black Ponies by Kit Lavell Pdf

The tragic, the comic, the terrifying, the poignant are all part of the story of the Black Pony pilots who distinguished themselves in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War. Flying their turboprop Broncos "down and dirty, low and slow," they killed more of the enemy and saved more allied lives with close-air support than all the other naval squadrons combined during the three years they saw action. Author Kit Lavell was part of this squadron of "black sheep" given a chance to make something of themselves flying these dangerous missions. The U.S. Navy's only land-based attack squadron, Light Attack Squadron Four (VAL-4) flew support missions for the counter insurgency forces, SEALs, and allied units in borrowed, propeller-driven OV-10s. For fixed-wing aircraft they were dangerous, unorthodox missions, a fact readers quickly come to appreciate.

Author : Roy A. Grossnick
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 588 pages
File Size : 54,6 Mb
Release : 1995
Category : Airplanes, Military
ISBN : IND:30000139682268

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Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons by Roy A. Grossnick Pdf

Author : Ralph Christopher
Publisher : AuthorHouse
Page : 292 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2005-03-24
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9781463488536

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River Rats by Ralph Christopher Pdf

The United States Navys fight for control of the waters of Southeast Asia. By far the greatest contribution of the narrative is the insight it provides into the hows and whys of United States involvement in Vietnam, and the attempt of that involvement to bring freedom to those who were unable to achieve it by their own efforts. We see the United States more as a caretaker and less as a policeman in terms of motivation for its involvement half a world away. Andwe see the tremendous price paid by those who served to ensure that freedom ordinary men who, by fate, were thrown together in a strange land, and who fulfilled a part of their destiny, and their Nations, on the brown water. Weldon Bleiler