Mobility, Support, Endurance: A Story of Naval Operational Logistics in the Vietnam War 1965-1968 - Pueblo and Lloyd Bucher, Forces Afloat, Seventh Fleet, Inshore and Inland Waterways

Over the years a number of general officers and a few flag officers in positions of responsibility have written their own accounts of what went on during a major war. Quite understandably these have tended to focus mainly on the purely combat features of the war and on overall strategy. The result has often been an unbalanced picture of the total military effort.

To complete the picture, it is necessary to place in proper perspective the logistic support actions upon which the combatant forces and the effectiveness of these forces were totally dependent. It is the coupling of combat strength and logistic support that makes victory possible, whether it be action by a small unit, a major battle, a campaign, a war, or the wide variety of peacetime operations to support the national interest. Thus, along with knowledge of combat activities, one must gain an appreciation of logistics, of its relationship to operations, and the nature of operational logistic actions for a full understanding of a war. Hopefully, this recording of the activities of the Service Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, will advance that appreciation, and contribute to a more complete picture of the Vietnam Conflict.

This volume is a recording of events and of views and experiences gained in thirty-one months as commander of the Navy's foremost operational logistic command.

CHAPTER I - THE VIETNAM CONFLICT * A "Logistic War" * CHAPTER II - THE EARLIER STAGES OF THE CONFLICT * Early Role of U.S. Navy * Republic of Vietnam * Navy Logistic Involvement * CHAPTER III - LOGISTICS AND COMMAND RELATIONSHIPS * CHAPTER IV - THE SERVICE FORCE * Forces Afloat * Shore Activities * Tasking * Principal Logistic Agent * Flexibility and Economy of Resources * CHAPTER V - THE CRITICAL SITUATION IN 1965 * CHAPTER VI - THE SEVENTH FLEET IN ACTION * Sustaining Operations * Underway Replenishment * Fuel * Ammunition * Provisions * New Types * Mobility, Support, Endurance * Hard, Unglamorous Work * CHAPTER VII - COUNTRY-WIDE SUPPORT * CHAPTER VIII - I CORPS TACTICAL ZONE * Amphibious Landing * Naval Support Activity, Danang * Medical * Establishment of the Naval Support Activity * Port and Terminal Operations * Port Development * Harbor Defense * Civil Disturbances * Small Craft Repair * Supplies * Fuel * Provisions * Real Estate * Public Works * New Responsibilities * Security * Civic Action * Award * CHAPTER IX - SOUTHERN I CORPS * Chu Lai * Starlight * Base Development * Duc Pho * CHAPTER X - THE CRUCIAL FIGHT FOR THE NORTHERN PROVINCES * Hue, Tan My and Phu Bai * Tet * Cua Viet and Dong Ha * Enemy Action * Weather * Khe Sanh * Major Military Feat * CHAPTER XI - INSHORE AND INLAND WATERWAYS * Market Time * Game Warden * Naval Support Activity, Saigon * Supply Maintenance * New Tasks * Public Works * Resupply by Water and Air * Mobile Riverine Force * Personal Response Project * CHAPTER XII - BASES FOR THE SUPPORT OF NAVAL CRAFT IN VIETNAM * I Corps * Qui Nhon * Cam Ranh Bay * Vung Tau * Cat Lo * An Thoi * Long Tau River * Nha Be * Bases in the Delta * My Tho * Dong Tam * Vinh Long * Sa Dec * YRBM-16 * Long Xuyen * Binh Thuy * Support Effectiveness * CHAPTER XIII - CONSTRUCTION * Defense Construction Agent * Build-up of Contractual Effort * Controls * Seabees * Seabee Teams * CHAPTER XIV - SALVAGE * Frank Knox * Combat Salvage * Rescue Tows * The Threat of Blocked Channels * Harbor Clearance Unit One * Accelerating Tempo of Salvage Operations * Excellency * River Clearance * Prairie Grove * Mahnomen County * Jamaica Bay * Diversified Operations * Minot Victory * Stoner * Guardfish * CHAPTER XV - SURVEILLANCE AND SPECIAL OPERATIONS * Banner * Pueblo * "Blocking Ships" * Survey Operations * Mobile Communications Support * Other Operations * Postal Services * CHAPTER XVI - WESTERN PACIFIC BASES * Repair