MOBILE RIVERINE FORCE ASSOCIATION
CALL SIGNS
Call signs of the Mobile Riverine Force were clever names meant to confuse the enemy regarding the actual names and locations of units when communicating over the radio. This initial call sign list was contributed by member Ed Gorczyk “Dragonfly A-3.” These signs were used in the 1967-68 time period. Thanks Ed for getting this started. You may be aware of others or you can fill in some of the blanks below. If so, please email webmaster Mike Harris at the email address below and I’ll make the additions/corrections as necessary. You may also remember different call signs from different years. If so, please signify the year. We are missing several ships and a lot of 9th Army unit call signs so please provide those and we’ll get them added. Thanks to all who have provided additions and/or corrections to the list. Your help is much appreciated.
Latest Update: 09/23/15
Mobile Riverine Force – Task Force 117 Units
| UNIT | Call Sign |
| COMNAVFORV | Moose Hunter - Bulky Baton (Zumwalt) |
| ComRivFlot 1 | Kris Kringle, Gannymead 6 (CAPT J.C. Now) |
| RivFlot1, Detachment Dong Tam | First Citizen |
| ComRivRon 9 | Gay Rocket & Adhesive Tape |
| ComRivDiv 91 | Blue Swords |
| River Division 91 Boats | Dragonfly (Alfa 3, Mike 1, etc.) |
| ComRivDiv 92 | Public, January Juliet, Oral Stamp ('68-'69) |
| River Division 92 Boats | Sair Snips, Scotch Jewels ('68-'69) |
| ComRivRon 11 (LCDR Dusty Rhodes 1967, CDR Sullivan 1968, CDR Sorenson, CDR Storm 1969) | Abominate, Cider Press (1969) |
| ComRivDiv 111 (Lt. Charley Cox 1968, Lt. Jim Gautier 1969) | Smoke Jumper, Ladder Yankee (1969) |
| River Division 111 Boats | Racey Scalp |
| ComRivDiv 112 (Lt. Dana French 1969) | Chemist, Gesture Alpha (1969) |
| River Division 112 Boats | Plain Genius |
| ComRivRon 13 | Snow Whirl then Arabian Knight |
| ComRivRon Staff | Inlet Sierra - Ops Officer - Inlet Sierra 3 |
| ComRivDiv 131 | Mariner India |
| River Division 131 Boats | Retain Whiskey |
| ComRivDiv 132 | Keybrook Yankee '68-'69, then Brassrail 26 |
| River Division 132 Boats | Mainyard Papa |
| River Squadron 13 Repair Boss | Arabian Knight 4 |
| ComRivRon 15 | Dictograph (CDR W.C. Deal), |
| ComRivDiv 151 | Admiral India - Madeira Quebec |
| River Division 151 Boats | Ladder Echo |
| ComRivDiv 152 | Jangle Victor |
| River Division 152 Boats | Ladder Xray |
| ComRivDiv 153 | |
| River Division 153/595 Boats | Farmdale |
| Birch Reports | |
| Porterly Topic |
Support Units/Ships/Vessels of the MRF and NSA, Saigon
| UNIT | Call Sign |
| EOD Team 39 | Chemist 1 & 2 |
| APL-26 | Spike 26 |
| APL-30 | Spike 30 |
| USS Askari (ARL-30) | January Yankee |
| USS Benewah (APB-35) | Keybrook Echo (later Ladder Foxtrot) |
| USS Blanco County (LST-344) | Indigo Golf |
| USS Caroline County (LST-525) | Retain Alpha |
| USS Colleton (APB-36) | Killer Alfa (later Dipper Foxtrot) |
| USS Garrett County (LST-786) | Fish Tail |
| USS Hampshire County (LST-819) | Cape Town Juliet |
| USS Harnett County (LST-821) | River Lass |
| USS Hickman County (LST-825) | Ziggy Bravo |
| USS Hunterdon County (LST-838) | Dahlia, In 1968-69: Bright Gallant then Humdrum then Gallsworth |
| USS Jennings County (LST-846) | Eagleton |
| USS Kemper County (LST-854) | Aloha Zulu |
| USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) | War Eagle |
| USS Krishna (ARL-38) | Capetown Tango |
| USS Luzerne County (LST-902) | Vicksburg Quebec |
| USS Mercer (APB-39) | Chapel X-Ray |
| USS Montrose (APA-212) | Expert India |
| USS Nueces (APB-40) | Equal Hotel |
| USS Page County (LST-1076) | Ziggy Victor |
| USS Pitkin County (LST-1082) | Glen Hill Mike |
| USS Satyr (ARL-23) | Forfeit Quebec |
| USS Sphinx (ARL-24) | Cabot Foxtrot |
| USS Terrell County (LST-1157) | Everybody's Baby |
| USS Tioga County (LST-1158) | Lanslip Mike |
| USS Vernon County (LST-1161) | Lanslip Quebec |
| USS Washoe County (LST-1165) | Estuary or Barbados |
| USS Washtenaw County (LST-1166) | Trident Lima |
| USS Weiss (LPD-135) | Admiral Whiskey |
| USS Westchester County (LST-1167) | Retain Mike |
| USS Whitfield County (LST-1169) | Naomi Zulu |
| USS Windham County (LST-1170) | Ageless Whiskey |
| YLLC-2 (Yard Light Lifting Craft) | Gentleman Jim 2 |
| YLLC-5 | Gentleman Jim 5 |
| YR-71 | Choking Dipper |
| YRBM-16 | Jato 16 |
| YRBM-17 at Dong Tam | Central Shovel - One Seven |
| YRBM-18 (formerly APL 55) | Jato 18 (was Spike 55) |
| YRBM-21 | Jato 21 |
| YTB-784 | Glennhill Foxtrot |
| YTB-785 | Bacardi Sierra |
| Command Salvage Boats (CSB) - (Harbor Clearance Unit-1) | Baby Giant 1, 2, 3 & 4 |
| River Assault Division 131 Staff - Song Ong Doc | Brassrail 41 |
Naval Support Activities/Bases/Detachments/Ground Support/Army Units*
| UNIT | Call Sign |
| 1st/11th Artillery | Caisson |
| HHC 2nd Brigade Aviation (Spotter AC) | Cyclops |
| 2nd/47th/9th | Panther |
| 3rd Brigade CO | Gun Fighter 6 |
| 3rd/34th Artillery Battalion | Gunner |
| 3rd/34th, Fire Direction Center | Gunner 09 |
| 3rd/34th, B Battery, Fire Direction Center | Gunner 59 |
| 3rd/34th, B Battery, CO | Gunner 56 |
| 3rd/34th, C Battery | Charlie 2-9 |
| 3rd/34th FO's attached to 3rd/60th | Gunner 51, 52 and 53 |
| 3rd/47th/9th | Langley |
| 3rd/47th/9th 4.2 Mortars | Mike |
| 3rd/60th/9th | Patron, Neptune |
| 4th/47th/9th | Fallen Towns |
| 5th/60th/9th, B Co. CO | Violent Patter |
| 6th/31st/9th | Hunter |
| 9th Infantry Division Artillery - OH-23's | Snowsnake |
| 9th Aviation Battalion - Company A - "Gunships" | Jayhawks |
| 9th Aviation Battalion - Company B "Slicks" | Stingray |
| 9th Infantry Division | Python |
| 9th Inf. Commanding General: Major General Julian J. Ewell | Reliable Six |
| 9th Inf., 2nd Brigade CO and Asst. Div. Commander (General Fulton) | Masher Six |
| 57 Med Detachment (Helo Ambulance) | Dustoff |
| 191st Assault Helicopter Company Slick Platoons (White and Yellow) | Boomerang # |
| 191st Assault Helicopter Company Gunship Platoon (Red) | Bounty Hunter |
| 1097th Mobile Battalion | Why Gossip |
| USAF FAC Command Post (With 9th Div CP at Bearcat) | Tamale Control |
| USAF FAC aircraft | Tamale-xx (with numerical designator added) |
| USAF Tactical Air Liaison Officer (TALO) | Tamale 09 |
| USAF Tactical Airlift Liaison Airman (TALA) | Tamale 09 Alfa |
| An Thoi Spotter Planes | Bird Dog |
| Ben Keo NSA | Last Shot |
| Ben Luc NSA | Atlantic Island |
| Binh Thuy ( call to launch an OV-10 strike) | Red Rose |
| Cat Lo | Courtly Grapes |
| Chu Lai Spotter Planes | Jake |
| Cua Viet NSA Detachment | Plastic Charlie (Clipping in 1968) |
| Cua Viet NOC | Big Dance |
| LCM-860 (Dodge City in Elephant Valley) | Blueberry Pie |
| Dong Tam Salvage Boat | |
| Dong Ha NSA | Damon |
| Go Dau Ha NSA | Remittance |
| ISDS Unit 1 (Improved Swimmer Defense System) attached to YRBM 21 | Amber Outfit |
| IUWG (Inshore Underwater Warfare Group) 1 Vung Tau | Senate |
| IUWG-1 / Unit 2 Cam Ranh Bay | Flaming Bush - Boats were Aphrodite |
| IUWG-1 / Unit 3 Qui Nhon | Paperwrap |
| IUWG-1 / Unit 4 Nha Trang | Alamo Plaza |
| IUWG-1 / Unit 5 Vung Ro | Lizard |
| Moc Hoa | Duckfern |
| Navy Communication Center, Dong Tam | Boxer Whiskey |
| NAVCOMMSTA, Cam Ranh Bay | Runnamuck |
| Navy Chopper Cover | Seawolf 76 (OIC) |
| Navy Intelligence Liaison Officer (NILO) My Tho | Mystic Crawler Alfa |
| Navy Intelligence Liaison Officer (NILO) Tuyen Nhon - 1969 | Mystic Crawler Delta |
| NSA Dong Tam | Boxer Whiskey |
| NSA Nha Be | Courtly Grapes |
| NSA Saigon | Bogus Genius (Add a number for a YFR operating from that location) |
| Phouc Xuyen area Canal Blocking Operation | Brassrail |
| RAID 71 Navy Advisors | Farfetch |
| RAID 72 Navy Advisors | Green Coffin Seven Two |
| SEAFLOAT | Munster |
| SEAL Teams at SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR at Nam Can | Tradewinds |
| MARS Station Dong Tam | AB8AZ |
| Mobile Support Team, Det C at SEA FLOAT/SOLID ANCHOR at Nam Can | Black Bear |
| Mobile Support Team 2, Binh Thuy | Black Sheep |
| Mobile Support Team -2, Mike Boat | Kanute One One |
| Mobile Support Team -2, Boston Whale SEAL insertion Boat | Sierra One |
| Tan An | Warsaw |
| Tay Ninh | Last Shot |
| Tra Cu (in the beek) | Farmdale |
| Vung Tau Air Support | Abdul |
| Vung Tau Spotter Planes | Shotgun |
* Notes to Army Call Signs:
Thanks Ron Menner for this excellent information on breaking down Army Call Signs. The following pertains to the 3rd/47th but could easily describe other Army units by replacing the call sign. For example, Langley was the call sign for the 3rd Battalion/47th Infantry/9th Infantry Division. Numbers were added to call signs to indicate the unit commanders. For example,
Six was used for Commanding Officers (Langley Six was LTC Blackie Bolduc),
Five for Executive Officers or Second in Command
Four for Supply/Logistics Officers
Three for Operations Officers
Two for Intelligence Officers
One for Personnel Officers
Company Commanders were, for example,
Langley Alpha Six for A Company, 3rd/47th
Langley Bravo Six for B Company, 3rd/47th
Langley Charlie Six for C Company, 3rd/47th
Operations Centers were designated Three Three. Examples: Langley Three was the operations officer of the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry. Rifle platoons were identified for example, as Langley Charlie Three Six which was the Third Rifle Platoon Leader in C company of the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry. At the platoon level, Five would designate the Platoon Sergeant.
Other interesting Army nomenclature:
| SYMBOL | UNIT |
| Crossed Sabers | Cavalry |
| Crossed Cannons | Artillery |
| Crossed Pistols | Military Police |
| Crossed Rifles | Infantry |
| Flaming Pot | Ordnance |
| Wheels with Spokes | Transportation |
| Tank | Armor |
| Lightning Bolt | Signal |
| Cross | Medical |
| SYMBOL | UNIT |
| xxxx | Army |
| xxx | Corps |
| xx | Division |
| x | Brigade |
| !!! | Regiment |
| !! | Battalion or Squadron |
| ! | Company, Troop or Battery |
| ... | Platoon |
| .. | Section |
| . | Squad |
While there are exceptions to the rule, a two-number designated unit such as the 47th infantry denotes it belongs to a division commanded by a two star General. A three-number unit such as the 205th Military Police belong to a Corps commanded by a three-star General, and a four-number unit such as the 4077 MASH (Hawkeye Pierce’s unit) the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital belongs to the Army Commander, a four star General.
Helicopter Support of the 9th Infantry:
The 191st was stationed at Bearcat from 5’67 til 8’68, and then moved to Dong Tam. They provided combat support for the 9th Infantry Division and the entire MRF, frequently landing on the Benewah and at Nha Be Naval base for rearming, refueling, etc. Because of their extraordinary combat record they were also called upon to support the Naval Seal teams, the 25th Inf. Division, the 1st Inf. Div. and the 199 Light Inf. Brigade.
The 191st Assault Helicopter Company was somewhat typical of helicopter support for the 9th Infantry. It was composed of 4 platoons. Two “Slick” platoon consisted of 10 helicopters each which inserted, transported, and extracted troops. The white and yellow tail markings designated the platoon so the troops would have an easy way to identify them coming.
The third “gunship” platoon was composed of eight gunships ( armed helicopters, each with two 8-barrel miniguns with 1,000 rounds of 7.62 per minigun, 6 rocket pods, and two door gunners with hand-held M-60 machine guns with 4,000 rounds per machine gun. The gunships provided protection to the slicks when they were inserting, or picking up, troops. They also provided fireppower for other units, when needed.
The mechanics who took care of these ships were the fourth platoon.
Other US Navy/Coast Guard Units/Vessels
| UNIT | Call Sign |
| USS Advance (MSO-510) | Naomi Delta |
| USS Agerholm (DD-826) | Battering Ram |
| USS Aludra (AF-55) | Wallop Lima |
| USS Arlington (AGMR-2) = Auxillary Communications Major Relay at sea in Yankee Station | Jackpine |
| USS Biddle (DLG-34) | Hard Charger |
| USS Blue (DD-744) | Gold Eagle |
| USS Boston (CAG-1) | Mauler |
| USS Brule (AKL-28) | Native Tango |
| USS Buchanan (DDG-14) | Sharp Note |
| USS Cabildo (LSD-16) | Wardrobe Tango |
| USS Canberra (CAG-2) | Blockbuster |
| USS Clarion River (LSMR-409) | Catalog Xray |
| USS Carronade (IFS-1) | Expert Alfa |
| USS Chevalier (DD-805) | Reclaim |
| USS Conflict (MSO-426) | Camshaft Xray |
| USS Currituck (AV-7) | Flying Goose |
| USS Enterprise (CVN-65) | Climax |
| USS Forster (DER-334) | Circle Drive |
| USS Forrestal (CVA-59) | Handbook |
| USS Henry B Wilson (DDG-7) | Black Velvet |
| USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) | Cross Walk |
| USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) | War Eagle |
| USS Loyalty (MSO-457) | Scrappy Jaguar Yankee |
| USS Samuel N. Moore (DD-747) | Macaroon |
| USS New Jersey (BB-62) | Onrush |
| USS Newport News (CA-148) | Thunder |
| USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5) | Fireball |
| USS Providence (CLG-6) | Fighting Devil |
| USS St Francis River (LSMR-525) | Abbey Tango |
| USS St. Paul (CA-73) | Tornado |
| USS Truxton (APD-98) | Eagle Runner |
| USS Vega (AF-59) | Thunderbolt Mike |
| USS White River (LSMR-536) | Jilt Foxtrot |
| USS William V Pratt (DLG-14) | Sea Rogue |
| USS Woodpecker (MSC-209) | Scarecat Mike |
| USCGC Taney (WHEC-37) | Catapult Juliett |
| USCGC Pontchatrain (WHEC-70) | Pigsticker |
Task Force 115 (Swift Boat) Call Signs
(Many thanks to Larry Wazikowski and other Swifties for this information)
| UNIT | Call Sign |
| An Thoi Coastal Surveillance Center | Marshy Nephew, then Barbados |
| COMBOATRON 1 | Rusty Jones |
| BOATRON 1 Units | Grimes Pass |
| COMPCFDIV 101 | Francis Bravo |
| PCFDIV 101 Units | Assort Foxtrot |
| COMPCFDIV 102 | Hamilton Kilo, later Assort Mike |
| PCFDIV 102 Units | Ledger India, later Newsboy India |
| COMPCFDIV 103 | Pride Zebra |
| PCFDIV 103 Units | Woolworth Bravo |
| COMPCFDIV 104 | Expert Yankee |
| PCFDIV 104 Units | Trimness Lima |
| COMPCFDIV 105 | Caribou Bravo |
| PCFDIV 105 Units | Hackwood Sierra |
| COMPCFDIV 107 | Capitol Zebra |
| PCFDIV 107 | Boundry Lima |
| COMTF115 | Latch |
| TF115 Units | Alone |
| COMTG115.1 | Article |
| TG115.1Units | Flip Flop |
| COMTU115.1.1 | New Dalton |
| TU115.1.1Units | Neighborhood |
| COMTU115.1.2 | Cornelius |
| TU115.1.2 Units | Kit Kat |
| COMTG115.2 | Halo Shampoo |
| TG115.2 Units | Caviar |
| COSDIV 12 Units | Turkey Dinner |
| Coastal Division 13 | Sepia |
| Coastal Division 13 PCF's | Elbow Golf + Hull Number |
| COSDIV 16 (Chu Lai) | Oxwood |
| Nha Trang Coastal Surveillance Center | Halo Shampoo |
| Qui Nhon CSC (Coastal Surveillance Center) | Flashy |
| Vung Tau CSC | Sepia, and later, Wisdom Tooth |
| CTG 76.5 | Company Store |
| CTG 77.9 (Yankee Station) | Regency |
| CTG 77.1 (Sea Dragon) | White Deer |
| CTU 77.1.1 (South Yankee Station) | Argentina |
| YR-71 | Hexagon 71 |
| APL-55 | Spike 55 |
Task Force 116 (PBR’s/STAB’s)
| UNIT | Call Sign |
| Commander RSSZ River Patrol Group (CTG 116.9) | Moon River |
| Commander TF 116 (at Ben Luc) | Atlantic Island |
| Mine Division 113 | Shapeless |
| MSM-14, Mine Division 113 (Nha Be) | Shapeless 89 |
| Naval Operations Center, Cua Viet | Big Dance, boats were Kirkwood # |
| PBR Mobile Base 1 - I Corps | Curveball |
| River Section 511 | Sky Eagle |
| River Section 511 - Commanding Officer | Hand Lash |
| River Section 515 | Rock Creek, Warsaw & later Asternold |
| River Section 522 | Moosejaw, and later, Woodholly |
| River Section 531 | Last Shot (located at Ben Keo) |
| River Section 532 in My Tho | Druid |
| River Section 533 | Seahorse (Cat Lo & Nha Be), later Michaelangelo (My Tho) |
| River Division 533 | Golden Nugget |
| River Section 534 | Ascertain, and later, Pineapple Bowl |
| River Division 535 | Five Days |
| River Section 543 | Stingray, and later, Confession |
| River Section 551 7/68-7/69 | Blossom |
| River Section 551 | Red Devil |
| River Section 552 in Vinh Te Canal | Literary |
| River Section 552 at Tra Cu | Lansing |
| River Division 571 | Duck Farm - Iron Hat |
| River Division 572 (Song Ong Doc) | Attain |
| River Section 593 | Shapeless 40-51 or perhaps 55 |
| River Section 593 (Giant Slingshot) | Guilt Xray |
| RPG 59 at Thuy Nhon | Red Devil |
| SEAL Platoon ?? at Binh Thuy | Blacksheep |
| SEAL Detachment, Nha Be | Barracuda |
| SEAL Team One, Det. Golf's Mike Boat | Porpoise 23 |
| STABRON 20 | Racing Danger |
Other Call Signs of Interest:
Highest Ranking Officer: General Westmoreland: Maharaja
COMSeventhFleet – Jehovah (formerly Blackbeard)
Spotter Planes:
Cat Killer (Army)
Bird Dog (Air Force) – Tamale
Pappy (flew a Bronco in the Danang area)
Other Air Support:
9th Div. Artillery OH23G – Snow Snake
VP-2 (Patrol Squadron 2) – Cape Cod
VP-47 (PB3 Orion) – Seashell
179th AVN Co (ASH) – Shrimpboat
213th AVN Co (ASH) – Blackcat
219th AVN Co (ASH) – Headhunters
No 2 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force – Magpie 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71 and 81
Vietnamese Navy Headquarters – Swirley Pattern
Aircraft Control – Waterpipe
Chu Lai Defense Command – Evening Star
Hue Defense Command – Socialite Alfa
Decca Station at Cu Lao Re – Decca Green
Locations:
Boundry of 2C and 2D – (Any City)
Cuo Lao Re – (Any Cigarette)
Mui Batangan – (Any Street)
Mui An Hoa – (Any Beer)
Cap Sa Hoi – (Any Animal)
Cap Mia – (Any Disney Character)
Marine Corps:
CG, 1st MARDIV – Corsair
1st MARDIV – Complex (coll.)
Air Observer (USMC) – Black Coat
1st Marines/RLT-1 – Blackwell
1st BN, 1st Marines/BLT-1/1 – Today
All Stations This Net (1st MARDIV) – Crew Cut
NGF Liaison Team – 26 Oscar (preceded by After Burner in Area I, and Salted Flakes in Area II)
NILO Chu Lai – Iron Pellets Charlie
CG, III MAF – Franchise
TF Xray – Emery Wheel
CG, 3rd MARDIV – Sudden Death
Flare Ship – Spooky
III MAF – Negotiate
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons HMM-165 – Bear Cat-1
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons HMM 265 – Bear Cat-2
Naval Hospital Danang – Burbank Medevac:
Hue to north of Danang – Barrelhouse Three
North of Danang to CG14 – Rose Ann Three
CG14 to CG16 – Nail File Three
Naval Aircraft:
VP4 – Elk Lodge
VP8 – Pin Stripe
VP16 – Spangle
VP17 – Free Transit
VP40 – Wiseman
VP42 – Yard Marker
VP46 – Mess Man
VP50 – Madness