Mekong Battleship

About the Mekong Battleship – Vietnam War Riverine Monitor:

The riverine battlefield of Vietnam was fraught with dense jungle, muddled quagmires, and thousands of miles of interwoven river ways and canals. The Mekong Delta, located in South Vietnam, was a water-born highway that was used for the transportation of supplies into the heart of the mainland. The ancient waterways were used by both conventional armies and the Vietcong (VC). The deltas proved to be the perfect form of cover to move troops and supplies throughout Vietnam with little notice. The proliferation of supplies throughout the country escalated the Mekong Delta to a priority for the Americans. They, too, saw the rivers as infiltration points for SEALs and others to snuff out known VC base of operations. The United States Navy was tasked with carrying out operations to hinder the enemy’s use of waterways for transportation and enhance the South Vietnamese government’s control of the population and the country’s resources. A riverine flotilla was needed; thus, the Brown Water Navy was born. The Brown Water Navy was made up of shallow-draft riverine craft built up specifically for use in Vietnam. They were heavily armed and armored with crews equally as gruff. The organization and makeup of the inland armada was like the fleet navy. There were combinations of command craft, patrol boats, swift boats, mine sweepers, floating barracks, and troop transports, that patrolled the inland seas. But, when a bigger punch was needed, the Brown Water Navy called upon its battleships, the River Monitors.

Nicknamed after the iron built and steam powered ships of the American Civil War, these vessels were behemoths. Weighing at 70 tons, they were a sight to behold on the narrow rivers. The Vietnam Monitors were created from World War II era Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM Mark 6), which were converted to better suit riverine warfare. These conversions included sealing up the hull and deck, bolting on armor, and adding weapons—lots of them. The Monitor’s armament was prodigious. They boasted 40mm and 20mm cannons, an 81mm mortar, and an array of M2 .50 caliber and M60 .30 caliber machine guns. The crews’ small arms were also utilized, which included weapons such as M16 rifles, 1911 handguns, and M79 grenade launchers. For mission objectives, Monitors were largely used to bombard landing sites, defend troop transports, and provide fire support for infantry movements. A crew of nearly a dozen was needed to man the guns and captain the boat. Due to the Monitor’s impressive size and length—60ft—the vessel could only produce speeds of 8 or 9 knots. Smaller riverine craft, such Patrol Boat River (PBR), offered speedy support. Specialty models of the Monitor also existed. These included ones with flamethrowers—called Zippos—and others that were armed with a 105mm howitzer for added in-direct fire support. The Brown Water Navy, and its history, is unique and adds more to the mystique of the Vietnam conflict. For a more in-depth history the Brown Water Navy and its impact in Vietnam.

Additional information about this Brickmania® custom building kit:

This incredible creation features a detailed crew of 11 custom minifigs, interior space in the pilot house and turrets, all printed details, BrickArms, and plenty of space to pose or play with the craft’s epic crew. Like the PCF build of years past, this epic kit is a fully functioning playset with no shortage of play features and details. It is one of the largest Vietnam War builds Brickmania has ever released and is 100% display or play ready once built. This kit promises to be one of the most unique and epic additions to any military brick collection, especially for Vietnam War and/or US Navy collectors.

Model Statistics:

Designed by Daniel Siskind
2294 LEGO®, Brickmania® & BrickArms® elements
11x custom minifigs
Custom printed elements
Full-color printed building instructions
1/35th scale to match other Brickmania kits
Advanced Skill Level (6-8 years building experience recommended)

All Brickmania® model kits are made of new-condition LEGO® bricks. This model comes disassembled and includes complete printed building instructions. This is a limited-edition kit and production may be discontinued at any time.

This is not a LEGO® Product. LEGO and the LEGO minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize, or endorse this product. The LEGO Group is not liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the use or misuse of this product.

This is not a LEGO® Product. LEGO and the LEGO minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product. The LEGO Group is not liable for any loss, injury or damage arising from the use or misuse of this product.

Deze set bevat kleine onderdelen en is niet geschikt voor kinderen onder de 3 jaar.