Call signs of the Mobile Riverine Force were clever names meant to confuse the enemy regarding the actual names and locations of units when communicating over the radio.  This initial call sign list was contributed by member Ed Gorczyk "Dragonfly A-3."  These signs were used in the 1967-68 time period. Thanks Ed for getting this started. You may be aware of others or you can fill in some of the blanks below.  If so, please email webmaster Mike Harris and I'll make the additions/corrections as necessary.  You may also remember different call signs from different years.  If so, please signify the year.  We are missing several ships and a lot of 9th Army unit call signs so please provide those and we'll get them added.  Thanks to all who have provided additions and/or corrections to the list.  Your help is much appreciated.

Latest Update: 12/22/07

* Notes to Army Call Signs: 

Thanks Ron Menner for this excellent information on breaking down Army Call Signs. The following pertains to the 3rd/47th but could easily describe other Army units by replacing the call sign. For example, Langley was the call sign for the 3rd Battalion/47th Infantry/9th Infantry Division. Numbers were added to call signs to indicate the unit commanders. For example,

Company Commanders were, for example,

Operations Centers were designated Three Three.

Examples: Langley Three was the operations officer of the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry. Rifle platoons were identified for example, as Langley Charlie Three Six which was the Third Rifle Platoon Leader in C company of the 3rd Battalion, 47th Infantry. At the platoon level, Five would designate the Platoon Sergeant.  

Other interesting Army nomenclature:

While there are exceptions to the rule, a two-number designated unit such as the 47th infantry denotes it belongs to a division commanded by a two star General. A three-number unit such as the 205th Military Police belong to a Corps commanded by a three-star General, and a four-number unit such as the 4077 MASH (Hawkeye Pierce's unit) the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital belongs to the Army Commander, a four star General. 

Helicopter Support of the 9th Infantry:

The 191st was stationed at Bearcat from 5'67 til 8'68, and then moved to Dong Tam. They provided combat support for the 9th Infantry Division and the entire MRF, frequently landing on the Benewah and at Nha Be Naval base for rearming, refueling, etc. Because of their extraordinary combat record they were also called upon to support the Naval Seal teams, the 25th Inf. Division, the 1st Inf. Div. and the 199 Light Inf. Brigade.

The 191st Assault Helicopter Company was somewhat typical of helicopter support for the 9th Infantry.  It was composed of 4 platoons. Two "Slick" platoon consisted of 10 helicopters each which inserted, transported, and extracted troops.  The white and yellow tail markings designated the platoon so the troops would have an easy way to identify them coming. 

The third "gunship" platoon was composed of eight gunships ( armed helicopters, each with two 8-barrel miniguns with 1,000 rounds of 7.62 per minigun, 6 rocket pods, and two door gunners with hand-held M-60 machine guns with 4,000 rounds per machine gun. The gunships provided protection to the slicks when they were inserting, or picking up, troops. They also provided fireppower for other units, when needed. 

The mechanics who took care of these ships were the fourth platoon.
 

Other Call Signs of Interest:

Highest Ranking Officer: General Westmoreland: Maharaja

COMSeventhFleet - Jehovah (formerly Blackbeard)

Spotter Planes:
Cat Killer (Army)
Bird Dog (Air Force) - Tamale
Pappy (flew a Bronco in the Danang area)

Other Air Support:
9th Div. Artillery OH23G - Snow Snake
VP-2 (Patrol Squadron 2) - Cape Cod
VP-47 (PB3 Orion) - Seashell
179th AVN Co (ASH) - Shrimpboat
213th AVN Co (ASH) - Blackcat
219th AVN Co (ASH) - Headhunters

Vietnamese Navy Headquarters - Swirley Pattern

Aircraft Control - Waterpipe

Chu Lai Defense Command - Evening Star
Hue Defense Command - Socialite Alfa
Decca Station at Cu Lao Re - Decca Green

Locations:
Boundry of 2C and 2D - (Any City)
Cuo Lao Re - (Any Cigarette)
Mui Batangan - (Any Street)
Mui An Hoa - (Any Beer)
Cap Sa Hoi - (Any Animal)
Cap Mia - (Any Disney Character)

Marine Corps:

CG, 1st MARDIV - Corsair
1st MARDIV - Complex (coll.)
Air Observer (USMC) - Black Coat
1st Marines/RLT-1 - Blackwell
1st BN, 1st Marines/BLT-1/1 - Today
All Stations This Net (1st MARDIV) - Crew Cut
NGF Liaison Team - 26 Oscar (preceded by After Burner in Area I, and Salted Flakes in Area II)
NILO Chu Lai - Iron Pellets Charlie
CG, III MAF - Franchise
TF Xray - Emery Wheel
CG, 3rd MARDIV - Sudden Death
Flare Ship - Spooky
III MAF - Negotiate
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons HMM-165 - Bear Cat-1
Marine Medium Helicopter Squadrons HMM 265 - Bear Cat-2

Naval Hospital Danang - Burbank
Medevac:
Hue to north of Danang - Barrelhouse Three
North of Danang to CG14 - Rose Ann Three
CG14 to CG16 - Nail File Three

Naval Aircraft:
VP4 - Elk Lodge
VP8 - Pin Stripe
VP16 - Spangle
VP17 - Free Transit
VP40 - Wiseman
VP42 - Yard Marker
VP46 - Mess Man
VP50 - Madness