What was the US Navy role in Vietnam?

Answer 1

For the first time since the US Civil War, the US Navy created a "Brown Water Navy" to operate separately from their "Blue Water Navy" (Regular Fleet). While the regular fleet provided air strikes (aircraft carriers); and the battleship (USS New Jersey), cruisers (8 & 6 inch guns), destroyers (5 inch guns) provided naval gunfire support along the Gun Line; the Brown Water Navy operated the Riverine Forces consisting of Swift Boats (PCF-Patrol Craft Fast/all aluminim 50 footers), PBR's (Patrol Boat River-all fiberglass 32 footers), Alpha Boats (ASPB-all steel constructed Assault Support Patrol Boats), and Monitors (River Battleships). The ALPHA Boats were the only original "built just for Vietnam" (Made in Oregon) riverine boats, and were built to withstand River mines. Thusly, they often led the way down the rivers, as Mine Sweepers. Only one Riverine boat is suspected of being destroyed by North Vietnamese Aircraft: PCF-19 was possibly sunk by a NVAF helicopter in a running gun battle. See Swift Boat Down, by James Steffes (2005); ISBN 1-59926-612-1

Answer 2

Aircraft Carriers and the US Navy's Brown Water Navy (Riverine Forces).

Answer 3

Originally to secure US Naval bases installed in South Vietnam. Then later, as with the army...search and destroy.