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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Listening to that clip, there is one easy to prove lie in it. Kerry stated that .50 caliber machine guns were the only weapon they (the PCFs) had to use against people. He himself used an M-79 According to swiftboats.net the armament consisted of:

Twin .50-caliber Browning machine guns, with heavy barrels, on a Mark 17/Mod 1 manually operated, twin-scarf-ring mount. Capable of firing at 450-550 RPM and equipped with ammo cans for 500-600 rounds per gun. All located on the boat centerline, in a guntub, mounted on top of the pilothouse and designated "mount 51."

- 81mm Mark 2/Mod 0, trigger fired mortar with a .50-caliber, semi-automatic capable, Browning machine gun, with heavy barrel, fixed atop it, and equipped with an ammo can for 100 or 300 rounds. All mounted to an on centerline fantail tripod and designated "mount 52." It was also referred to as the "over and under weapon."

Typical 81mm ammunition load carried on board, in the stern mounted ready service locker and two main cabin floor lockers was:

- High Explosive w/Point Detonate fuse - 80 rounds

- White Phosphorus w/Point Detonate fuse - 15 rounds

- Flechette (Mark 120/Mod 0) added to the allowance in November 1969

- Illumination w/Time fuse - 20 rounds

- Proximity (Variable Time) fuse - 8 per boat

- Mark 19, 40mm, belt feed, grenade launcher, was installed on the bow of 26 boats, in November/December 1969 time frame.

- various crew member weapons, to include: M-60 machine guns, M-79 grenade launchers with (illumination, high explosive, flechette and 00 buckshot) rounds, M-14 and or M-16 rifles, 12 gauge Ithaca riot gun, .38 caliber or .45 caliber pistols, various types of hand grenades (fragmentation, concussion - M3A1, thermite and red, yellow and green smoke), very pistols (flare gun) and at times, some C-4 explosive.

So Kerry did lie and the SwiftVets are home free. Not that he didn't lie about a whole lot of other things as well, much more important things. But also more difficult to prove at this late date.


178 posted on 08/05/2004 5:27:01 PM PDT by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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To: El Gato
Kerry stated that .50 caliber machine guns were the only weapon they (the PCFs) had to use against people. He himself used an M-79

Additonally, Kerry's own "home movies" show him in flak vest and helmet, carrying an M-16!

205 posted on 08/05/2004 9:18:50 PM PDT by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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