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

Cargo of two PT Boats

Something but what?

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.

Mattaponi marching in

Coral Sea Celebration

Sydney, 1969

Coming Home

Shipmate locaters: Cecil Faircloth cefaircloth@comcast.net & Anthony Bono abono11746@yahoo.com Senior Editor: Dennis C. Miller dmiller.ao41@gmail.com

Golden Gate Bridge in distant fog