Supporting the Gators – 21st Century AGPs
May 17, 2007 07:00 UTC“Return of the Gators?” covered the return of riverine patrol craft to the US Navy, albeit in configurations likely to lead to higher medical bills later on. The effort was being advised in part by veterans who had served in Vietnam; as the USS Sohnomish County [LST 1126] site explains, one of the lessons from that conflict was the usefulness of large LST (landing ship, tank) craft as “motherships” for riverine squadrons. Reader Lee Wahler, who was aboard a couple, writes:
“They were designated AGP – Patrol Craft Tenders outfitted specifically for PBR and other boat support as well as a helo deck for the Seawolves. There were also ARLs, which were more repair ships.”
Now Edison Chouest Offshore in Galliano, LA has received a $7.5 million fixed-price contract for the charter of U.S. flagged Maritime Support Vessel MV C-Courageous “to support maritime security operations”…