United States Navy Riverine Squadron
The Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by direct fire, or by coordinating supporting fire. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.”[1]
Riverine warfare has a long history in the Navy, dating back to the Revolutionary War, when American sailors in row galleys engaged the formidable warships of the hated British overseers operating in colonial waterways. Modern American riverine warfare came of age during the Vietnam War, as patrol boats and river assault craft combed the Mekong Delta and other vital waterways. The US Navy created the Riverine Group in 2006 when the US Navy took over riverine warfare from the US Marine Corps. As of 2008, three riverine squadrons were active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007.[2] Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007[3] and relieved RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment completed in April 2008.
The United States Navy merged its riverine forces (US Navy Riverine Group) and Maritime Expeditionary Security Forces (MESF) in 2012 to form the Coastal Riverine Force (CRF). [1] The Coastal Riverine Force was disbanded in 2020 when riverine warfare responsibility was turned back over to the US Marine Corps.[4]
History
[edit]RIVGRU and RIVRON 1
[edit]Riverine Group (RIVGRU 1) and Riverine Squadron 1 were both formally established May 25, 2006, under Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. It was modeled after the Marines Small Craft Company. The establishment brought together sailors from diverse backgrounds to begin a transformation from blue water to brown water sailors.[5]
Following several months of training in combat skills, SURC operations, and cultural and language skills, RIVRON 1 Advance Party deployed to Iraq on February 13, 2007, followed by RIVRON 1 Main Body deployed March 8. RIVRON 1 conducted integrated maritime combat operations with Marines, Soldiers, Coalition Forces, Iraqi Army, and Iraqi Police.[5][6] RIVRON 1 assumed patrol duties around Haditha Dam from the Marine Corps, who had previously been performing this task.[7] On 1 August 2012, RIVRON 1 was decommissioned. It was replaced by Coastal Riverine Squadron (CORIVRON) 4, which combined RIVRON 1 with Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 4.[8] This reorganization combined navy small boat units to provide both offensive and defensive force protection.[8]
RIVRON 2
[edit]RIVRON 2 was established on February 2, 2007, and began unit-level training with the Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.[5] RIVRON 2 deployed to Iraq in October 2007, relieving RIVRON 1.
RIVRON 3
[edit]RIVRON 3 was established on July 6, 2007, at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia.[9] The unit deployed to Iraq in April 2008 relieving RIVRON 2.
Units
[edit]- Riverine Group ONE (RIVGRU 1), Little Creek, Virginia
- Riverine Squadron ONE (RIVRON 1), Little Creek, Virginia
- Riverine Squadron TWO (RIVRON 2), Little Creek, Virginia
- Riverine Squadron THREE (RIVRON 3), Yorktown, Virginia
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ U.S. Navy Expeditionary Combat Command: “Riverine: About Us”
- ^ Ziezulewicz, Geoff (2020-09-18). "Don't call it 'Coastal Riverine Forces' anymore". Navy Times. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ National Defense Magazine: “Riverines rehearse for first mission in Iraq”, 2007-04
- ^ a b Navy News Story Coastal Riverine Force Establishes Squadron Story Number: NNS120802-32, 2 August 2012 (retrieved Dec 17, 2012)
rivron 4
References and external links
[edit]- GlobalSecurity.org: “Navy getting back into the riverboat patrol business in Iraq” (from Associated Press)
- Stars and Stripes: “Navy’s revived riverine squadron to patrol dam”, 2007-03-24
- U.S. Navy Bureau of Personnel: Qualification requirements for the Riverine Force
- Navy Times: “First riverine unit deploys to Iraq”, 2007-03-09
- United States Central Command: “Navy’s riverine force plans first homecoming since Vietnam”, 2007-09-22
- U.S. Marine Corps News: “Riverines combat guerrilla tactics, enforce new curfew”, 2007-10-03
- Photos
- https://web.archive.org/web/20130301233842/http://www.public.navy.mil/necc/hq/PublishingImages/NECC%20fact%20sheets/NECC_CRF_FactSheet2012.pdf