About this Unit
**COMNAVFORV** stands for Commander, Naval Forces, Vietnam, a major United States Navy command during the Vietnam War. Established in 1966, COMNAVFORV was responsible for overseeing all U.S. naval operations in the Republic of Vietnam, including riverine warfare, coastal surveillance, and logistics support. The command directed critical operations such as Operation Market Time and Operation Game Warden, aimed at interdicting enemy supply lines and securing the waterways. COMNAVFORV played a vital role in supporting South Vietnamese and allied forces until its disestablishment in 1973, following the drawdown of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
Historical Facts
• Full Name: COMNAVFORV stands for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam, the central command authority for all United States Navy operations in Vietnam from 1966 to 1973.
• Establishment: COMNAVFORV was officially established on 1 April 1966 in Saigon, consolidating various earlier naval commands to streamline U.S. naval operations during the Vietnam War.
• Operation Market Time: One of the most significant missions under COMNAVFORV was Operation Market Time, a coastal surveillance operation to stop North Vietnamese arms smuggling by sea.
• Brown Water Navy: COMNAVFORV commanded the "Brown Water Navy"—riverine forces that patrolled the Mekong Delta using specialized boats like the PBR (Patrol Boat, River) and Monitor.
• Mobile Riverine Force: The unit oversaw the innovative Mobile Riverine Force, a joint Army-Navy task force that brought infantry and artillery deep into the delta via the waterways.
• Swift Boats: COMNAVFORV managed the deployment of the famed Swift Boats (PCFs), which became legendary for their dangerous patrols and direct combat with Viet Cong forces along the coast and rivers.
• Operation Sealords: Launched in 1968, this COMNAVFORV-led campaign aimed to disrupt enemy supply lines in the Mekong Delta, integrating Navy and South Vietnamese forces.
• Naval Advisors: COMNAVFORV provided hundreds of U.S. naval advisors to the South Vietnamese Navy, helping modernize and train their forces throughout the conflict.
• Logistical Challenges: The command was responsible for massive logistical operations, including maintaining river patrol craft in harsh environments and supplying remote bases via river and sea.
• Deactivation: Following the Paris Peace Accords, COMNAVFORV was formally disestablished on 29 March 1973, marking the end of direct U.S. naval involvement in Vietnam.
