Was looking through my stuff an found a PBR 31 Mk 2
Patrol Boat "Pibber". It was used in Vietnam. Now I was thinking if the boat could be used for a desert dio.
I was thinking of a small base near a river, like the Tigris (iraq). Or it could just be the boat on the river, patroling. Could I use it or is it to far from reallity.
Are there any modells of river patrol boats available?
Does anyone have pics of patrol boats being used in Iraq?

First off, they are/were actually called PBRs (Patrol Boat River). Tamiya is the only one who called it a Pibber with their 1/35 scale kit. PBRs have not been used in Iraq. They were pretty much phased out of active service in the mid to late 1970s. Navy SEALS use simmilar, but updated patrol and attack boats now. The only boats on the rivers in Iraq that I have seen are Engineer boats assisting in bridge rebuilding. There isn't a need for the PBRs. Their purpose in Vietnam was to stop troop, arms, and supplies movement along the river system of the Mekong delta. There is not a large enough river system in Iraq and they are not being used to transport the items that PBRs were used to stop in Vietnam.


As to the model, Tamiya makes an excellent Vietnam era PBR. I have built it, no problems with it. It also comes with a crew and lots of extras to load aboard. If you are looking for modern Brown Water Navy craft, I have seen no others than the Tamiya PBR.

On the other hand if you want to make a "badguy" boat I'm sure the Iraqis bought up as much surplus equipment and used just about anything? You could crew it up with a bunch of enemy troops.

you can always built a "what if" dio

Frank

By 1970, most of the PBR's were turned over to the Vietnamese Navy.
It was a process called Vietnamization, and started back in 68, and by 69 was in full swing.
By 1972, the BWN basicly ceased to exist, having turned over approx 98% of there equiptment to the Vietnamese Navy, with only around 2000 sailors for supply and tech support. These were withdrawn with the signing of the peace accords in 73.
By 1972, most PBR were not operatable due to lack of maintaince. (They really had to be PMSed regularly)

Why? If you want to do that, why ask about historical accuracy at all. Just throw anything together and call it good. For that, you can go to the SciFi Forum.

Sorry, but I just don't get the whole "what-if" theme and reasoning.

However,

There was a joint operation on the Euphrates between the British Blackwatch, US Marines, Navy SWCC Sailors and Iraqi Commandos.

Photos Courtesy of Swift Boat Sailors Association Member

These were the type of boats used in the raids.





Best Wishes
Steve

Nice Pictures Steve, But they certainly are not either a PBR's or Swift boat's. :-) :-) :-) :-)
Judging from the size on the trailer, I'd take a shot at 11 meter RHIB's.
Does any one honestly think the 'Special Boat Squadrons" are using 35 plus year old boats????
I'm off to bed, I'll post a few interesting photos to my gallery tomorrow. Think O got a photo of the new class of Swift boats someplace... have to find it.

Yeah, I know they're not PBRs or a PCF, I thought I would just post them because there was an operation on the Euphrates and thought someone might like to see what the boats looked like.

Just posted 21 photos of the small craft used in OIF, in my gallery.
This ones too pretty not to post here:

Sure is a pretty ship in the background.

Howdy fellas,

Both Grumpy and Gino are dead on with the history of the PBR boat. Although I've known of several that have turned up in other places....
I came across these pics from the Gamewardens of Vietnam site dedicated to the guys who served with Riverine Task Force 116 in the 'Nam and who are corresponding with the Marines of Small Craft Company / 2nd Marine Division / 1st Marine Expeditionary Force serving right now in Iraq and operating out of Camp Taqqadam.
The Platoon sargeant, Gunnery Sargeant Brian A. Vinciguerra submitted these pics of his men cruising down the Euphrates River. Now I know it's not a PBR, but it's pretty darn close I don't know what type of boat that is in particular (I'm sure one of our more 'salty' members could tell us), but to me it looks more like a STAB boat. Officially they are called Riverine Assault Craft.

Here's the pics.....



In this second picture I can swear I hear the Rolling Stones song 'Satisfaction' playing in the background...... :-)



Tread.

Oh, and Steve, thx for your assault boat photos as well. And just so you know, those vessels in your photos also were Marine boats operated by Gunny Vinciguerra's Small Boat Company (he participated in that operation entitled Operation Phantom Fury ), and are designated as Dash-1 SURC boats.....just in case anyone was interested......got a couple more photos of those too.