Armored Troop Carrier
The Armored Troop Carrier (ATC), better known as the "Tango boat", were LCM-6 landing craft modified for riverine patrol missions. The front ramps were retained for loading and offloading troops, and an armoured superstructure was added. They were 66 ton, 56.5-foot (17.2 m) vessels, with a crew of 7. They had a top speed of 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph) and were armed with four M1919 Browning machine guns, two or three Mk 16 20 mm guns, and one Mk 19 grenade launcher. Variants included the "Zippo" equipped with flamethrowers, the "Monitor", which as well as the usual armament had a 81 mm (3.2 in) mortar and 105 mm (4.1 in) howitzer mounted in a bow turret, and the "Charlie" a command and communications boat.
Associated with the Tango boats were the Assault Support Patrol Boat (ASPB), known as the "Alpha Boat". This was a 50 foot patrol boat armed with two Mk 16 20 mm guns or one Mk 16 and two .50 Browning machine guns, with eight 3.5-inch rocket launchers (on forward turret), and two Mk 21 7.62mm Brownings aft.
| Name | Acquired | Formerly | Type | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RVNS Vam Co Tai (HQ-1204) | ? | ? | ATC | Salvaged in small canal near Vam Co Ty. |
| RVNS HQ-1209 | ? | ? | ATC | Salvaged near Ben Luc. |
| RVNS HQ-1224 | ? | ? | ATC | Salvaged July 1969 Tra Cu. |
| RVNS HQ-1234 | ? | ? | ? | Salvaged November 1969 at Dong Hung. |
| RVNS HQ-1236 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk by enemy mine 22 March 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1238 | ? | ? | ? | Demolished 1970 at Song Ong Doc. |
| RVNS HQ-1240 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1268 | ? | ? | ATC | Mined by VC sapper December 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1278 | ? | ? | ? | At Solid Anchor 31 October 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-1572 | ? | ? | LCM-6 | Salvaged at Ben Tre, then demolished at Rach Soi, March 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-5125 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-5129 | ? | ? | ASPB | Salvaged 1970 Dong Hong. |
| RVNS HQ-5135 | ? | ? | ? | Unknown |
| RVNS HQ-5144 | ? | ? | ? | Sunk by mine, 19 March 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-6527 | ? | ? | Monitor | Sunk 1 April 1970. |
| RVNS HQ-6529 | ? | ? | ATC | Sunk by mine south of Kien An. |
| RVNS HQ-9170 | ? | ? | Zippo Refueler | Sunk by mine, September 1970. |
Read more about this topic: Ships Of The Republic Of Vietnam Navy
Famous quotes containing the words armored, troop and/or carrier:
“The armored cars of dreams, contrived to let us do so many a dangerous thing.”
—Elizabeth Bishop (1911–1979)
“Old soldiers, Miss Dandridge. Someday you’ll learn how they hate to give up. Captain of a troop one day, every man’s face turned toward ya. Lieutenants jump when I growl. Now tomorrow, I’ll be glad if the blacksmith asks me to shoe a horse.”
—Frank S. Nugent (1908–1965)
“Because language is the carrier of ideas, it is easy to believe that it should be very little else than such a carrier.”
—Louise Bogan (1897–1970)