- Title: SOUTH VIETNAM: UNITED STATES NAVY TRIES OUT BRITISH-DEVELOPED HOVERCRAFT
- Date: 15th May 1966
- Summary: NAVAL BASE IN CAT LO; HOVERCRAFT FROM LAND TO SEA; TRIAL RUNS BY THE CRAFT; NAVAL PATROL BOAT STANDBY; END OF TRIALS VESSELS HEAD FOR LAND. Initials RM/V/MR/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 30th May 1966 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CAT LO, NEAR VUNG TAU, SOUTHEAST SAIGON, S. VIETNAM
- Country: Vietnam
- Reuters ID: LVA8VM8FJOL484CYUFMOCH8Q7N33
- Story Text: THE UNITED STATES NAVY PUT TWO BRITISH-DEVELOPED HOVERCRAFT ON TRIAL IN SOUTH VIETNAM ON FRIDAY AT A NAVAL BASE IN CAT LO NEAR VUNG TAU, ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTH-EAST OF SAIGON. HOVERCRAFT HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN GIVEN A MILITARY ROLE IN THE VIETNAM CONFLICT.
A VEIL OF SECRECY SURROUNDED THE ARRIVAL OF THE HOVERCRAFT LAST WEEK AT VUNG TAU NAVAL BASE. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO START PATROLLING THE WATER-LOGGED MEKONG DELTA STRETCHING SOUTH OF SAIGON SHORTLY.
THE HOVERCRAFT WILL BE USED TO SCOUR THE VAST MEKONG DELTA'S THOUSANDS OF WATERWAYS FOR VIET CONG BOATS CARRYING MEN, ARMS AND SUPPLIES. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SEEK OUT AND, IF NECESSARY, CHASE THE BOATS INTO SHALLOWS AND CANALS WHERE ORDINARY PATROL BOATS CANNOT GO.
THE HOVERCRAFT ARE MODIFICATIONS OF THE BRITISH SR.N5 MADE BY WESTLAND AIRCRAFT. CAPABLE OF SKIMMING OVER LAND OR WATER ON CUSHION OF AIR AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MILES-AN-HOUR, EACH HOVERCRAFT IS MOUNTED WITH A HEAVY-CALIBRE MACHINES GUN AND HAS A FOUR-MAN CREW -- ALL ARMED.
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