(Mine Sweeper Mike (MSM))

Mine Sweeper (Mike) Mechanized (MSM) boats were assigned to Mine Division 113.

The MSM’s were converted Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM) that were equipped with minesweeping equipment and assigned to conduct minesweeping operations. These boats were approximately 56 feet long and were propelled by two General Motors inline six cylinder (671) diesel engines

The MSR’s did not perform operations with the MSM’s. There were some MSM’s assigned to a Navy base near at the city of Ben Loc located near Saigon. There was also some MSM’s assigned to the I Corps area, north of Da Nang in the northern part of Vietnam near Cua Viet.

This is an official Navy photograph from the National Archives. The title on the back of the picture reads:
“U.S. Naval Support Activity Nha Be Republic of Vietnam… River Minesweeper (MSM) 18 operate on a River at Nha Be”

In this picture, the MSM is performing chain bottom drag mine sweeping operations.

The white colored pieces of equipment hanging on the stern of the MSM are used in a different type of mine sweeping operation. The horizontal bars around the hull and pilot house are actually 5/8 inch reinforcing bar welded 2 inches apart to protect the boat from rocket attacks, the reinforcing bars cause the B-40 (RPG) rockets to explode before they can actually hit the steel hull and/or pilot house thereby lessening the amount of damage caused.

(Mine Sweeper River (MSR-3) and Drone)

The original design of the MSR had a A-frame type boom that extended out about 12 feet in front of the boat and could be lowered into the water with minesweeping gear attached to perform minesweeping operations ahead of the boat as the boat traveled through the water, these A-frame booms were never used because they were removed from the MSR’s when they arrived in Vietnam. The MSR’s were also equipped with an electronics package, which gave the MSR the capabilities of remote controlling an unmanned Mine Sweeper Drone (MSD) boat ahead of the MSR to conduct minesweeping operations on the rivers and canals in Vietnam. The MSR’s were propelled by two V-12 (1271) General Motor’s marine diesel engines.

There was little or no threat of water mines in the Mekong Delta while I was assigned to Mine Division 113. We did a some actual minesweeping operations using the MSD’s or just the MSR but mostly what we did were border patrols and night ambushes.

This picture shows MSR-3 remote controlling a Mine Sweeper Drone (MSD). The MSD is performing mine sweeping operations by dragging a fifteen-foot section of anchor chain with steel barbs welded onto to the links of chain. The anchor chain is fairly large, in fact it is the same chain used by U.S. Navy Destroyers for anchoring. The chain is attached to a cable and dragged along the bottom of the river or canals (as close to the shore as possible) to snag and or break wires used for command detonated mines that would be planted by the enemy and submerged in the boat/ship traffic lanes further out in the center of the river or canal. The mine would then be detonated electronically from the shore when a vessel passes over the mine.

This is an official Navy photograph from the National Archives. The title on the back of the picture reads:

“Republic of Vietnam… A Drone Minesweeper (MSD) speeds along controlled by the crew of a Patrol Minesweeper (MSR) on the Bassac River”, Date: Sept 1969

(Mine Sweeper Drone (MSD))

The Drones (MSD’s) had an electronic package so they could be remote controlled from the MSR to perform unmanned minesweeping operations ahead of the MSR. The MSD’s were approximately 18 feet long and had a stern drive, which was powered by a 327 Chevrolet V-8 engine.

This picture shows the MSD performing a chain bottom drag mine sweeping operation.

After the MSD crew has streamed the minesweeping gear out behind the MSD and were ready to commence minesweeping operations remotely from the MSR. The MSD crew will pull along side and climb aboard the MSR. The MSD crew will then untie and release the MSD and remote control it out ahead of the MSR.

This is an official Navy photograph from the National Archives. The title on the back of the picture reads:

“Republic of Vietnam… Crewmen Boatswain’s Mate Third Class Virgil E. Hough (right) and Radarman Third Class Steven R. Wilson Drive a Drone Minesweeper (MSD) to a area on the Bassac River for Minesweeping” Date: Sept 1969

(Mine Sweeper River (MSR-3) and Drone) #2

This is an official Navy photograph from the National Archives. The title on the back of the picture reads:

“Republic of Vietnam… A Drone Minesweeper (MSD) speeds along controlled by the crew of a Patrol Minesweeper (MSR) on the Bassac River”, Date: Sept 1969

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The crewman in the white T-shirt is actually driving the MSD by remote control. He is not a member of the MSR-3 crew but was assigned to the MSD’s, which were operating off the YRBM 20 at the time the picture was taken.

We performed minesweeping operations on the day these pictures were taken for the benefit of a Navy Photographer, and Reporter from the publication “Stars and Stripes” who were sent down from Saigon to do a story on Mine Division 113.

Photo provided by Mike Bellamy
Photo credit BMC Kenneth "Red" Bellamy (deceased)

Offloading an MSM at Saigon 1968 Photo provided by Mike Bellamy
Photo credit BMC Kenneth "Red" Bellamy (deceased)

"MSM being unloaded off the ship at Republic of Vietnam in 1968"
Photo provided by Mike Bellamy
Photo credit BMC Kenneth "Red" Bellamy (deceased)

Provided by Pete LaRue

Swim Call on MSR-5

Provided by Pete LaRue

YRBM 21
(Picture/Slide Inverted)

EN2 Rulon Young took photo at the Naval Station in Long Beach, California. MSR-7 was burned and sank during a firefight in Vietnam. MSR-7 sits on skids between two MSR’s that were not sent to Vietnam but were used to train sailors for duty with Mine Division 113 in Vietnam. The A-Frames attached to the training MSR’s are used to sweep for moored mines ahead of the boat as the boat travels through the water. None of the MSR’s in Vietnam had A-Frames attached. The car belonged to Rulon who was stationed in Long Beach. Rulon described his car as a great big boat of a car with a short sailor at the helm.

Provided by Pete LaRue

MSDs (Drones)
Moored drones next to the floating berth ship (YRBM) where we slepted.

Cau Viet Vietnam, An enemy pressure influence mine.

Starboard side forward of MSR-3 shows damages where B-40 (RPG'S) rockets impacted.

Official Navy Photograph entitled: Long Tau River, Republic of Vietnam...River Minesweeper (MSM) 16 of Mine Division 113 operates on the river.

Official Navy Photograph entitled: Long Beach California.....A Program Five River Minesweeper (MSM). A LCM-6 hull converted For Moored and Chain-Drag Minesweeping in Southeast Asia as a unit of Mine Division 113.

Official Navy Photograph enititled: Republic of Vietnam... A U.S. Navy Drone Minesweeper makes a patrol run during Operation Barrier Reef.