Sometime in Jan 68 Captain William L. Foster secretly formed the 50 man Repel Boarders Team in
response to captured information from North Vietnam. Capt. Foster told us Ho Chi Minh put a bounty for
capture on four US ships— Mattaponi AO-41, Neches AO-47, Liberty AGER-1, and Pueblo AGER-2.
AO-41 and AO-47 were selected from Janes Book of WW2 warships for lack of defense. Neches AO-47 was
not in West Pac at this time. Mattie, with cargo became a prize of war. Our story becomes more relevant
when you consider the ease today’s pirates capture jumbo tankers. Mattaponi had discipline, but lacked
experience in small arms combat.
The threat from the North Vietnam mercenaries (fishermen) was boarding from fishing boats. The
planned attack would last 15 minutes because naval air support would arrive in 20 minutes. Slowing to 4 kts,
Foster’s plan was let them board in waves followed by throwing hand grenades from the cargo deck into
the boats below thus creating more confusion and buy time. The rest of the fight was with BARs, Thompson
submachine guns, M-1 Grands, 45’s and possibly M-60 machine guns. The Captain said its better to take
them on at our convenience than be surprised at a later date. HMAS Perth D-38 was on station to rescue
Mattaponi. U.S Navy ships were limited by Congress to operations below the 20th parallel at this time.
Capt. Foster enhanced the possibility of capture by telegraphing his moves with the concept of an unrep
holding area and slowing to 4 knts. However, deck logs don’t disclose when the Repel borders team was
formed. Deck logs do show an unrep holding area, Tonkin Gulf, being implemented on the 16th, 17th, 18th, 28th, 30th and 31st of Jan 68. High Noon on 28 Jan 68, Mattaponi goes above the 19th parallel with
the same right angle and east west and west east course changes as before. We weren’t surprised by
Pueblo’s capture.
Key Dates 23 Jan 68, USS Pueblo AGER-2 was captured by North Korea.
30 Jan 68, I Corps cities and Marine bases were attacked early in the morning.
31 Jan 68, US Embassy in Saigon, South Vietnam was attacked early in the morning. On
North Vietnam’s calendar, Tet started on 30 Jan 68. On South Vietnam’s calendar, Tet
started on 31 Jan 68. An error that neither side was aware. An error that tipped their hand,
a quite costly error.
The Tet 68 Offensive started on the 30 Jan 1968 and ended 31 Jan 1968.
On 31 Jan 68 the Tet 68 Counter Offensive started and ended 1 April 68.
Mattaponi was involved both the Tet 68 Offensive and the Tet 68 Counter Offensive.
Mattie played her support role in the Counter Offensive until 19 March 68.
Mattie sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge on her way to Hunters Point, San Francisco,
USA on 17 April 1968.
This is the new look of On Station. Over time shipmate readership should increase, then
decline. We intend to email all known shipmates, post to website, and the color is free!
Text & photo pages may be printed on legal paper in landscape mode.
Maps are printed in portrait mode.
Fletcher class destroyers fueled by Mattaponi 1966-69. 5”/38 was the preferred round of allied troops in South Vietnam.
USS Mullany DD-528
USS Prichett DD-561
USS Stoddard DD-566
USS Braine DD-630
USS Cogswell DD-651
USS Hopewell DD-681
USS Porterfield DD-682
USS Wedderburn DD-684
USS Uhlmann DD-687
USS Preston DD-795
USS Radford DD-446
USS Jenkings DD-447
USS Nicolas DD-449
USS O’Bannon DD-450
USS Waller DD-466
USS Taylor DD-468
USS Philip DD-498
USS Cony DD-508
USS Eaton DD-510
USS Walker DD-517
Fletcher class destroyer, 369 ft, 175 built during WW2, armament 5-5”/38, 10-40 mm anti-aircraft guns,
7-20 mm anti-aircraft guns, 10- 20” torpedo tubes, & six depth charge stations.
USS Fletcher DD-445
Fletcher painting by digitalnavy.com
On Station
USS Mattaponi, AO-41—1942-1972
SS Kalkay - Mattie - Mad Mattie - Mad Poni -
USNS Marine Serpent - Angel of Market Time
1968 Tet Edition
Repel Boarders Team
19-45
19-37.5
19-30
Nautical miles
0 1.25 2.5 5 7.5
1200
1415
1517 1445 1345
1213
1200 speed 16 kts
1213 change speed to 4 kts
1657 change speed to 12 kts
1208
1657
Arriving from
Subic Bay
R.P.I
Unrep holding area in Tonkin Gulf ( 5 sq. miles in 5 hours)
Under the watchful eyes of North Vietnam, Russia, and China radar
23 Jan 68—USS Pueblo AGER-2 is hijacked
by North Korea Military
107-7.5
Point of the Spear (1)
AO
-41
USS Mattaponi AO-41 — Captain William L. Foster, USN
28 Jan 68 —– HIGH NOON - Point of the Spear (1)
How to read maps: High Noon and Point of the Spear (1)
The ship’s Navigator enters ship’s position at 0800, 1200, and 2000. I mark three positions with dots and
label to time of day. 0000 is plotted from 2000 forward to 0000 and plotted backwards from 0800. They
should meet, if they don’t, find error or adjust for wind and waves - certainly enough of that.
This is easy to do. One right angle and four 180 degree course changes are south, east & west, and west &
east. We can’t tell if the ship is making circles or as shown on maps. Course changes are plotted using a
clear 360 degree compass. Distance is figured with a nautical slide rule and distance scale.
Operating Above the 19th Parallel
The big map is best read with help from Ships, Boats & Underway Replenishment Schedules. From High Noon, Point of the Spear (1) is armed by USS Chicago CG-11, “The most powerful guided missile
cruiser in the world” to port and a “big” guided missile “destroyer” to starboard. — A world class show
of naval surface to air power.
106
19
18
17-30
17
107-30
C
H
I
A
20
Hon Me
Island
Hon Mat
Island
Vinh
Don Hoi
DMZ
Hue
Da ang
VIET AM
SOUTH
. 1200
.
.
. 0800
1200
.
.
19
18
17
1657
DLG 14 DLG 24
DD 727
CG 11
DLG 26
DD 716 DD
866
0000
1200
Unrep holding area
@ HIGH �OO�
DD
718 A
H 16
DD
852 DD
717
LST
1168 DE
R 251
PG
M 85 P
GM
34 DD
G 13
28 Jan 68
29 Jan 68
30 Jan 68
31 Jan 68
0800
0800
2000
2000
0000
HM
S D
D 3
8
DD
881
1330 2130
Arriving from
Subic Bay
R.P.I.
0800
0000
1200
1544
4 Kts 1605
Feb Combat Payday
2000
107
DLG 267
1650 2000
DD 722
DD
716
DL
G 1
0
Stationed Repel
Boarders Team
Policing ship
Various courses
and speeds
Unrep holding
area
BIG GU S of
HO MAT ISLA D
are silenced buy
USS ew Jersey BB 62
on 1 ov 68
2140
2400
LPD
7 LSD
19
ORTH
VIET AM
Nautical Miles
0 5 10 20 30 40 50 60
AO-41
28 Jan 68
29 Jan 68
30 Jan 68
31 Jan 68 Unrep holding area
31 Jan 68
Attempted hijacking of
USS Mattaponi AO-41 by
orth Vietnam Mercenaries (Bounty hunters)
Mig 21
0800
28 Jan 68
Unrep holding area
@ HIGH �OO�
Start here
1200
16
@ 4 kts 4 kts
Policing AO-41
Point of the Spear (2)
25 Jan 68
Underway from Subic Bay,
R.P.I. as precipitated by the
capture of USS PUEBLO by
orth Korea — 23 Jan 68
DLG
10
Market T
ime O
ne
DLG 24
DD 727
DLG 26
108
20
Point of the Spear (1)
BIG GU S of
HO MAT ISLA D
are silenced by
USS ew Jersey
BB 62 1 ov 68
2400
DL
G 1
0
DD
716
1 & 2 Feb
cont.
Stationed Repel
Boarders Team
84
HM
AS
D38
DMZ
Vinh
Hai Phong
Red River Delta
Don Hoi
Da Nang
Hue
18
107
18
17
20
16
On the big map Captain Foster takes the back door from above the 19th parallel to Market Time 1. On the day
before Tet 68 Offensive we supply fuel oil, jet fuel for helicopters, and various bottle gasses to USS Repose AH-
16, hospital ship. Fortunately for ships on station in Market Time 1, Mattaponi made a timely run.
28 Jan 68 12:08 unrep holding area
17:10 USS Chicago CG-11
17:18 USS Belknap DLG-26
18:45 USS Wiltsie DD-716
19:24 USS King DLG-10
19:56 USS Cone DD-866
21:00 USS Dewey DLG-14
21:14 USS Dehaven DD-727
22:42 USS Reeves DLG-24
Hon Mat Island
SOUTH
VIETNAM
VIETNAM
0800
1200
2000
0000
2140
0652
DL
G 1
0
DD
71
6
CV
A 14
DD
788
CV
A 1
4
DD
743
0000
0800
1200
DD 881 AO
145
DD
G 1
3
AO
145
NORTH
Subic Bay,
R.P.I.
19
29 Jan 68 Market Time One ops area
10:27 USS Hamner DD-718
10:35 USS Repose AH-16
12:16 USS Wexford County LST-1168
12:35 USS Mason DD-852
13:39 USS Chandler DD-717
14:36 USS Camp DER-251
16:17 USS Gallop PGM-85
16:32 USS Cleveland LPD-7
17:23 USS Asheville PGM-84
17:56 USS Hoel DDG-13
18:19 USS Comstock LSD-19
30 Jan 68 07:20 HMAS Perth D-38
07:26 USS Bordelon DD-881
12:00 unrep holding area to
31 Jan 68 0800 and again at 13:50
15:44 Stationed Repel
Boards Team
17:50 USS Belknap DLG-26
19:57 USS Reeves DLG-24
20:08 USS Dehaven DD-727
21:55 USS Wiltsie DD-716
22:05 USS King DLG-10
USS Chicago CG-11 launched in 1944. All gun cruiser was converted to “most powerful guided missile cruiser in the world.”
DLG’s “big destroyers,” helicopter landing pad, guided missile destroyer, later classified as CG’s.
DD 700’s & 800’s Gearing class destroyers were the last refinement of Fletcher class destroyers during WW2—14 ft longer for additional fuel bunker.
USS Hoel DDG-13 guided missile destroyer, 1959 to 1987. HMAS Perth D-38 ex-US DDG-27 built for Royal Australian Navy in 1966.
USS Camp DER-251, destroyer escort radar. Market Time picket ship (board & search) commissioned 1942.
PGM /PG Patrol Gunboat Motor were powered by F4 Phantom engine geared down or two diesels for endurance. PG’s also had variable
control pitch on twin propellers and some had rocket launchers on the fantail. Captain Foster held a race between PG’s on 29 Jan 68,
top speed 45 knots per hour with rooster tails. USS Repose AH-16 Haven class hospital ship, 1945 to 1970.
USS Cleveland LPD-7 landing platform dock, large well deck and landing pad big enough for six CH-46 helicopters. USS Wexford
County LST-1168 tank landing ship, commissioned June 1954. USS Comstock LSD-19 dock landing ship, commissioned 1945.
USS Ticonderoga CVA-14 Essex class aircraft carrier listed after hits by two kamikazes 21 Jan 1945. AO-145 commissioned 1955.
Description of Ships, Boats & Underway Replenishment Schedules
1 Feb 68 05:15 USS Hollister DD-788
05:20 USS Ticonderoga CVA-14*
09:44 USS Ticonderoga CVA-14
10:04 USS Southerland DD-743
12:38 USS Hassayampa AO-145**
2 Feb 68 07:51 USS Bordelon DD-881
09:44 USS Hassayampa AO-145
12:16 USS Hoel DDG-13
Continued Operations 1 & 2 Feb 1968
Start here
31 Jan 68
*On 1 Feb 68 Mattaponi hooks up twice at Ticonderoga’s (CVA 14) and escorts convenience. Aircraft carriers
adjust to go into the wind to launch and recover aircraft. Winds come primarily from southwest during typhoon
season. Early morning on the 2nd day of Tet 68 Counter Offensive, Ticonderoga moves from Yankee Station to
Market Time 1 in support of Marines engaged in major attacks in Hue City, Ke Sanh, Da Nang and other I Corps
bases. 1 Feb 68 underway replenishments are accomplished under extreme foul weather conditions. Deck log’s
course changes would have us run aground in North Vietnam 3 times while heading south to fuel and while fuel-
ing CVA 14.— Remember, maps are most accurate three times a day; 0800, 1200, and 2000. —One hell of a
blow!
**Hassayampa and Mattaponi, AO’s hook up twice. Mattie must consolidate fuel and add ballast for final under-
way replenishments.
31 Jan 68 21:55 USS Wiltsie DD-716
22:05 USS King DLG-10
Market T
ime 1
HMAS (Her Majesty’s Australian Ship) Perth D 38 refueled 8 Oct 67
Photo — 30 Jan 68
18 Mar 68
HMAS Vampire D 11 both refueled 14 Mar 67 & 18 Mar 67
HMAS Aisne D 22 By Jim McLain
HISTORY OF USS MATTAPONI —New cargo deck & winches
Scanned in part from original document found in basement of US Navy Historical Center
There are 10 winches visible in photo by Cecil Faircloth
Lower left: Bottled gasses are held between pallets of canisters of black powder. Upper right: Boatswain chair is returning. 30 man Manila highline is surrounded by am-
munition. Ships are being refueled port and starboard. Near the horizon a small boat is steering a course to come between ship to port and Mattaponi. Under the tri-pod
you can see how close highline personnel are to a steam powered winch; same to rear. No time to panic! Highline personnel will hide behind ammunition.
Coming Home
Shipmate locaters: Cecil Faircloth [email protected] & Anthony Bono [email protected] Senior Editor: Dennis C. Miller [email protected]
Golden Gate Bridge in distant fog
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