NAM Assault Support Boat
ASPB (Assault Support Patrol Boat)
(VUSBX15)
includes one ASPB boat.
The Assault Support Patrol Boats (ASPB) were known as Alpha boats, owing to the A-designation on their hull numbers. They were the only boat in the MRF purpose built for the riverine mission.
The Alpha boat entered service in September 1967 and became known as the Brown Water Navy’s “destroyer”. It was lighter and faster than the Monitor, the MRF's “river battleship”, but it still packed quite a punch, with two .50-calibre heavy machine guns, 20mm cannon and multipurpose 81mm mortar for indirect fire. Each river division could rely on eight ASPBs to lead patrols upriver.
|
Length: |
50’ 1” (15m) |
| Beam: | 15’ 2” (4.6m) |
| Draft: | 3’ 6” (1m) |
| Displacement: | 58,500lb (26.5 tonnes) |
| Speed: | 16 knots (30km/h) |
| Crew: | 6 |
Minesweeper
The ASPB’s position was at the head of the force, minesweeping and defusing booby traps.
Booby Traps cannot be placed under other friendly boats within 12”/30cm of the stern (rear) an ASPB. However, they may be placed under an ASPB instead. An ASPB may gap a Minefield (see page 225 of the rulebook) placed in river terrain as though it were a Pioneer team.
15mm
Battlefront Miniatures
