Posted on 01/17/2016 6:06:27 AM PST by Travis McGee
See also: Calling BS on the official story of the Iranian capture of two US riverine boats I have separately heard from two experts, both high ranking Marines, one on active duty and the other working in DC at a foundation, the following.

 When I pressed them on the Fars News Service statement from Iran that the 10 captured on the two US vessels were all Marines, they countered: No, they are part of a Rivierine Squadron based in San Diego. Further they are support crews for SEAL missions from the US Navy and highly trained. The Iranians probably mistook “Riverine†for “Marine†in doing the story. So that explains several things. Why the captured sailors were so much more fit than the average sailor these days, and how a woman could be among them. While not special ops personnel directly engaged, they have to be extraordinarily fit and well-trained, as indeed these sailors appear to be. It also raises the question as to whether they had been on a...(Read Full Post)
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
SWCC: Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen
http://www.sealswcc.com/swcc-default.html
(Kick-ass 40 second video right on top.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Navy_Riverine_Squadron
United States Navy Riverine Squadron
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The Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by applying fires directly, or by coordinating supporting fires. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.â€[1]
As of 2008, three riverine squadrons were active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007.[2] Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007[3] and relieved RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment completed in April 2008.
RIVGRU and RIVRON 1[edit]
RIVRON 1 training with SURC at Ft. Pickett, Virginia
Riverine Group (RIVGRU 1) and Riverine Squadron 1 were both formally established May 25, 2006, under Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. It was modeled after the Navy Riverine Forces, formed during the Viet Nam War. That Riverine Force was the most highly decorated unit of the war and also had the highest casualty rate, with 1 in 3 personnel wounded or killed. The establishment brought together sailors from diverse backgrounds to begin a transformation from blue water to brown water sailors.[4]
US Navy RIVERINE SQUADRON 1 along with US Marines patrol Euphrates River in Iraq
Following several months of training in combat skills, SURC operations, and cultural and language skills, RIVRON 1 Advance Party deployed to Iraq on February 13, 2007, followed by RIVRON 1 Main Body deployed March 8. RIVRON 1 conducted integrated maritime combat operations with Marines, Soldiers, Coalition Forces, Iraqi Army, and Iraqi Police.[4][5] RIVRON 1 assumed patrol duties around Haditha Dam from the Marine Corps, who had previously been performing this task.[6] On 1 August 2012, RIVRON 1 was decommissioned. It was replaced by Coastal Riverine Squadron (CORIVRON) 4, which combined RIVRON 1 with Marine Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 4.[7] This reorganization combined navy small boat units to provide both offensive and defensive force protection.[7]
Thanks for the details!
One of my first thoughts when I saw the news story was, “Passports? Who carries passports on an OP? Things have REALLY changed since I got out!”
Their mission was to redeploy from Kuwait to Bahrain.
Basically, the Riverine Squadrons are river inlet and port guards. Their job was over in Kuwait, they were being sent to Bahrain.
Is the organization that put out this bs article in the Beltway?
I replied when it first came out and pinged you for the real story.
Thanks for the reality as usual.
They most likely allowed themselves to be captured to buy time for the people they bravely inserted into hostile territory...
...and these aren’t you regular sailors.
This may be of interest to the former MI Freepers.
Travis McGee, a Seal, has some excellent insight into what happened with our two Navy Riverine boats and our 10 sailors seized by the Iranians,
I gave up American Stinker two years ago.
Don’t look back, you won’t regret it.
So how did they end up in Iran waters? And what were they going to do in Bahrain? And why did they have to go through Kuwait?
Sad and embarrassing days for the Navy and the United States.
But just wait... soebarkah has even more surprises in store.
Ever the fan, and in your corner Travis. Do keep turning the light on the cockroaches. I’ll raise a shot of Rebel Yell to you later today (and one to Marse Robert next Tuesday).
Some 'conservative' writers don't know how to pick a side. Eloquent friendly fire.
My son’s best friend was skipper of an Adak-class USCG patrol boat in the Gulf for a year.
They had quite a bit of harassment from IRGC boats but no really close calls. I was very concerned about their backup, which was “over the horizon” on a carrier, not in port at Bahrain.
Anyway, he’s home, on the beach, without a scratch. I do think the mission was a little more aggressive than they way you describe the riverine USN boats.
You bet. It really made me howl with laughter when I read that the author’s “high ranking USMC subject experts” stated that the “Rivierine Squadron” (sic) has the mission of supporting the SEALs. That made me happy, because I was able to start by saying they are getting further from the truth, not closer, and their “experts” are idiots.
I am calling it the Valerie Jarret effect
I’m not saying they don’t take a risk, being out on the water in a guard role. They could be blown up with one shot from a 40mm-76mm gun fired from beyond their return fire range.
My point is that they are not SWCC, and this was not some “covert op gone wrong.”
In fact, the USCG left the Gulf after taking some casualties, and that was the genesis of the Riverine Squadrons, picking up where the USCG left in the PG: guarding ports and inlets.
I don’t buy that theory. That part of the world invented covert transfers of goods. Refer to gold transfers in Dubai, easy, secure, covert and cheap. This was too messy for that to be the case unless it was thought up by idiots..oh wait Obama’s in charge.
Below is the recruiting video for SWCC. Not even close to the Riverine mission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfiJ8c1Tr_M
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