About this Unit
Task Force 117, also known as the Mobile Riverine Force, was a joint U.S. Army and Navy formation established during the Vietnam War in 1966. Its primary mission was to conduct riverine operations in the Mekong Delta, a region crisscrossed by waterways and heavily contested by Viet Cong forces. Comprising specially modified boats and army infantry, Task Force 117 executed search-and-destroy missions, troop transport, and fire support in difficult terrain inaccessible to traditional vehicles. The unit played a pivotal role in major operations such as the Tet Offensive and contributed significantly to disrupting enemy supply lines and strongholds in South Vietnam. Task Force 117 was disbanded in 1971 as U.S. involvement in Vietnam decreased.
Historical Facts
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Origins as the Mobile Riverine Force: Task Force 117 (TF 117) was established in 1966 as the core unit of the Mobile Riverine Force (MRF), a unique joint Army-Navy formation designed to conduct operations in the Mekong Delta during the Vietnam War.
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Amphibious Operations: TF 117 specialized in riverine warfare, using specially modified boats such as the Armored Troop Carrier (ATC) and Monitor to move and support troops along the delta’s labyrinth of rivers and canals.
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Unique Joint Command: The unit was a rare example of a joint Army-Navy command, where U.S. Army infantry and artillery units worked closely with U.S. Navy sailors and boat crews under a single operational control.
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Operation Game Warden: TF 117 played a key role in Operation Game Warden, which aimed to disrupt Viet Cong supply and troop movements by patrolling and interdicting the waterways of South Vietnam.
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Largest Riverine Force Since the Civil War: TF 117 operated the largest U.S. riverine force since the American Civil War, with over 120 boats and thousands of personnel at its peak.
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Floating Bases: The force operated from mobile floating bases, including converted tank landing ships (LSTs) and barracks ships, which provided logistics, maintenance, medical, and command facilities.
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Heavy Combat and Casualties: TF 117 frequently saw intense combat, including ambushes and firefights in narrow waterways. The unit suffered significant casualties but was credited with inflicting heavy losses on enemy forces.
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Inspiration for Films and Literature: The experiences of TF 117 and the MRF inspired scenes in films like "Apocalypse Now" and are detailed in books such as "Brown Water, Black Berets" by Thomas J. Cutler.
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Decorations and Honors: TF 117 and its personnel received numerous U.S. and Vietnamese awards, including Presidential Unit Citations and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, for their bravery and effectiveness in combat.
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Legacy: TF 117’s tactics and innovations in riverine warfare influenced modern special operations and littoral combat doctrine, and its legacy is honored in the current U.S. Navy Riverine Squadrons and Expeditionary Combat Command.
