About this Unit
River Division 535 was a unit of the United States Navy’s “Brown Water Navy” during the Vietnam War. Activated in the mid-1960s, the division was part of Task Force 116 and operated Patrol Boat, River (PBR) craft, conducting riverine patrols and interdiction missions primarily in the Mekong Delta. Its missions included disrupting Viet Cong supply routes, providing fire support for ground forces, and supporting SEAL operations. River Division 535 played a crucial role in Operation Game Warden, helping to secure vital waterways until its deactivation as the U.S. military presence in Vietnam drew down in the early 1970s.
Historical Facts
• Origins: River Division 535 (RivDiv 535) was part of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Riverine Force, a joint Army-Navy task force that operated in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War.
• PBRs: The unit was equipped primarily with Patrol Boat, River (PBR) craft—small, fast vessels designed for shallow, jungle-waterway combat and patrols.
• Activation: River Division 535 was commissioned in 1967, as the need for specialized riverine units grew in counterinsurgency operations in Vietnam.
• Primary Mission: RivDiv 535 conducted patrols, interdicted Viet Cong supply lines, transported troops, and provided fire support along the Mekong River and its tributaries.
• Base Location: The division operated out of various bases in the Mekong Delta, notably at My Tho and later at Binh Thuy, adapting to shifting operational needs.
• Combat Engagements: River Division 535 participated in numerous engagements, often facing ambushes, mines, and heavy small-arms fire from hidden Viet Cong positions along riverbanks.
• Decorations: Members of RivDiv 535 earned several commendations, including Presidential Unit Citations and individual awards for valor, reflecting the hazardous nature of their missions.
• Innovation: The unit was among those pioneering the use of “zippo boats”—PBRs equipped with flamethrowers to clear dense vegetation and enemy bunkers along riverbanks.
• Casualties and Sacrifice: RivDiv 535, like other riverine units, suffered casualties due to the high-risk environment, but their efforts were pivotal in disrupting enemy operations in the Delta.
• Legacy: The experience and tactics developed by River Division 535 contributed to modern riverine operations and are studied in naval warfare schools today. Veterans of the unit often reunite and maintain a strong camaraderie forged in the challenging riverine combat of Vietnam.
