PACV

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The PACV is the term for the United States' Navy's Patrol Air Cushion Vehicle or Hovercraft.

PACVs were first deployed in 1966 to Vietnam. Often called Pac Vees, they were armed with a twin .50 Caliber machine gun mounted on a rotational platform in the front, and side mounted M60 machine gun's and often remote control M-60's or grenade launchers in the back. In addition the crew and often Green berets and ARVN rangers riding on the side panels would have assorted small arms such as M16's, M79 grenade launchers, Rifles, .45 pistols, M60's, claymores, grenades.

PACVs conducted many successful missions on the Mekong Delta, Cat Lo, Plain of Reeds out of Moc Hoa in their initial tour.

The Navy withdrew the PACVs for overhaul in December/January '66-'67 and redeployed them to Vietnam in late 1967. The army created its own version of the PACV in 1967 with some of the Navy's modifications from the experimental phase of 1966, the ACV. There were only 3 naval PACV's, and 3 Army ACV's during the whole Vietnam War.

The PACV was too loud for patrol and interdiction missions on the coastline and waterways. However, after "Operation Quai Vat" (Vietnamese for Monster, which was what the Viet Cong called the PACVs) the PACV showed great prowess and capability in marshy terrain, such as the Plain of Reeds.

In operation Quai Vat in November 1966, the PACV force brought its speed and firepower to bear on the Viet Cong, with many successful attacks and raids, taking prisoners and destroying Viet Cong sanctuaries. Afterwards, the success of operation Quai Vat formed the basis for stationing the Army's ACV's in the Plain of Reeds. It was found that the PACV's could move faster over the slick ground found in South Western Vietnam, and into Cambodia. Though the loud noise of the PACV's was still cumbersome, their speed made up for it in this otherwise difficult terrain, especially during monsoon season.

The Green Berets out of Moc Hoa became proponents of the PACV, being involved in many of their operations.