This monograph descrobes U.S. Army Riverine planning and operations in the Republic of Vietnam during the years 1966-1969. Since the personal experience of the author was with preparations for rivering operations and the initial operations themselves, emphasis has been placed on these activities through early 1968. In summarizing operations conducted in the balance of the three-year period, particular attention has been called to significant trends or changes in riverine operations in Vietnam, a co-operative enterprise of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. Looking back from the vantage point of early 1972, this study attempts to reconstruct the events and describe the situation as it was from 1966 through 1969, using official record, reports, and personal interviews.

Includes index.

Background : --Previous American experience -- French river warfare in Indochina, 1945-1954 -- The Mekong Delta -- Enemy forces -- Republic of Vietnam Forces -- The situation in 1966 -- The concept of a riverine force -- Riverine preparations in the United States and Vietnam : -- Review of the Mobile Afloat Force concept -- 9th Infantry Division studies the Mobile Afloat Force -- The Coronado Conference and doctrine -- Final decisions on deployment -- 2d Brigade, 9th Infantry Division arrives in Vietnam -- Rung Sat Special Zone operational training -- Initial delta operations : -- Movement to Dong Tam -- Final Mobile Riverine Force preparations -- 2d Brigade operations -- Mobile Riverine Force campaign plan -- Plans and operational procedures for the Mobile Riverine Force : -- Intelligence -- Planning -- Operational concept and procedures -- III Corps operations and the treat to Dong Tam : -- Can Giuoc operation -- Go Cong operation -- Further Can Giuoc operations -- Dinh Tuong operation -- The Mobile Riverine Force returns to III Corps -- Ben Luc operation -- Cam Son the the Rach Ruong Canal : -- Dinh Tuong Province and Coronado V -- Coronado IX -- Six months in retrospect -- Tet Offensive of 1968 and U.S. reaction -- Pacification and Kien Hoa Province -- Conclusions and summary.