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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Lost due to enemy action, 27 February 1969

YFU-78
Harbor Utility Craft

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive 27 February 1969)
Bottom Row - National Defense Service Medal - Vietnam Service Medal - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (3-WIA, 7-KIA, 27 February 1969, QM1 Milton Shapiro, EM1 Earl T. Moore, CS2 Charlie M. Ellions, BM3 Daniel L. Overright, QM3 Earnest J. Buckelew, SN Melvin L. Sellers
YFU-71 Class Harbor Utility Craft:
  • Laid down in 1967, at Pacific Coast Engineering Co., Alameda, CA.
  • Launched in 1968
  • Delivered in 1968
  • During the Vietnam War YFU-78 was assigned to the Lighterage Division at US Naval Support Activity Da Nang, Republic of South Vietnam
  • Struck by enemy rocket fire and severely damaged, 27 February 1969, at Bridge Ramp, Da Nang, South Vietnam with the loss of seven crewmen
  • Placed out of service and struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, scrapped (date unknown)
    Specifications:
    Displacement220 t.(lt) 380 t.(fl)
    Length 125'
    Beam 36'
    Draft 6'
    Speed 9 kts.
    Complement 1 CPO, 11 enlisted
    Armament 3-50.cal machine guns
    Propulsion 2 Detroit Diesel 471 Series, 115Kw 185A generators, twin shafts
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    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
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    YFU-78 102k The wreckage of YFU-78 after being sunk by a North Vietnamese rocket attack at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, 27 February 1969. There were seven crew KIA and three wounded. YFU-78 had just completed taking on about 180 tons of ammunition for a run up north to the detachments along the DMZ. Tom Lanagan YFU-79 3rd Boat Group Lighterage Div. NSA DaNang
    YFU-78 97k Another view of the wreckage of YFU-78 after being sunk by a North Vietnamese rocket attack at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, 27 February of 1969. Tom Lanagan YFU-79 3rd Boat Group Lighterage Div. NSA DaNang
    There is no DANFS history for YFU-78 available at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To Yard and District Craft Type Index Back To The Harbor Utility Craft (YFU) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2006 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 15 February 2008