PBR Patrol Boat Riverine 3D model

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Patrol Boat River or PBR is a designation used by the United States Navy for a small, rigid-hulled boat utilized from March 1966 until the end of 1971 in the Vietnam War. They formed a powerful force, reaching a peak of 250 boats and serving as the most widely seen craft in the River Patrol Force, Task Force 116, with primary missions including halting and examining river traffic within key areas like the Mekong Delta, the Rung Sat Special Zone, the Saigon River, and I Corps. This small but mighty boat boasts a durable fiberglass hull coupled with water jet drive systems, empowering it to effectively navigate shallow, heavily weed-infested rivers. The PBR is also remarkably agile, able to maneuver quickly and safely in tight spaces. When fully loaded, it requires only two feet of water for operation. With the ability to pivot its drives at will, the PBR can reverse direction, turn within its own length, or instantly come to a complete stop from full speed ahead – all while requiring minimal clearance space. Operating alongside members of the U.S. Naval Reserve up until 1995 at Mare Island in California prior to that base's closure due to BRAC actions, these versatile boats remain in various forms today: on display within museums and others privately owned.