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


Contributed by ENCS Jerry Patterson USN Ret. LCU-1624

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 (5) - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Personnel Awards

Purple Heart (3-WIA, 7-KIA, 27 February 1969) (KIA: QM1 Milton Shapiro,EN1 Earl T. Moore, CS2 Charlie M. Ellison,
EM2 Lyle D. Zacher, BM3 Daniel L. Overright, QM3 Earnest J. Buckelew, SN Melvin L. Sellers) (WIA: EN3 Bruce G Hoffman and two unknown crew)
YFU-71 Class Harbor Utility Craft:
  • Built by Pacific Coast Engineering Co., Alameda, CA (YN 237)
  • Laid down, 1967
  • Launched, February 1968
  • Delivered, 1968
  • During the Vietnam War YFU-78 was assigned to the Lighterage Division at US Naval Support Activity Da Nang, Republic of South Vietnam and participated in the following campaigns:

    Vietnam War Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Tet Counteroffensive
    30 January to 1 April 1968     		Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase VI
    2 November 1968 to 22 February 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase IV
    2 April to 30 June 1968     		Tet/69 Counteroffensive
    23 to 27 February 1969
    Vietnamese Counteroffensive - Phase V
    1 July to 1 November 1968     		 

  • 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, 01 April 1969
  • Final Disposition, hulk scrapped, date unknown
  • YFU-78 earned five campaign stars for Vietnam War service
    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
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    YFU-78 102k The wreckage of YFU-78 and LCU-1500 after being sunk by a North Vietnamese rocket attack at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, 27 February 1969. YFU-78 suffered seven crewmen KIA and three wounded. LCU-1500 suffered one KIA and four 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 and LCU-1500 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
    LCU-1500 97k Wreckage of LCU-1500 and YFU-78 at the Da Nang Bridge Ramp, circa February 1969. Marlin P. Eagle LCU-1500
    LCU-1500 106k
    There is no DANFS history for YFU-78 available at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information Web Sites
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Mobile Riverine Force Association
    Personnel Account of the Action of 27 February 1969 By Bruce G Hoffman, EN3 YFU-78
    More Bridge Ramp Rocket Attack Images
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To Yard and District Craft Type Index Back To The Harbor Utility Craft (YFU) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 25 July 2019