About Ship 243

The PB 721 was one of two MARK 1 65 ft. Patrol boats built with the Vietnam War in mind. She was essentially a stretched PCF (Swift boat). She even takes the classic look of a Swift boat.

Other than one on display at a museum in California, there are not many of the iconic Swift boats around in the US any longer.

With a lineage like that, she had big shoes to fill. Used mostly for training, she served SBU-24 well for 20 years. Most trained on her, and then went on to the MARK III variant for actual combat. She trained sailors and SEALS, for action in Beirut, Granada, Nicaragua, and Panama. The PB 721 was used in covert actions against communist forces in Nicaragua. This was why she was modified from her original look and configuration.

Around Little Creek, Virginia, she was the “go-to” boat for many tasks. She was roomier than the MK III’s and had longer endurance since she had two 8V71 main engines instead of the three 12V71 engines of the MK III variant. So, she and her sister, PB 722, were always tasked with any special details first. PB 721 was the boat tasked with the Olympic Torch detail in 1980.

At the end of her career, PB 721 was used as a test platform to develop stealth technology by being fitted with radar absorbing tiles. (Low Level Radar testing) Her wheelhouse windows were replaced by windows made of the same materials found on astronaut’s helmets for some type of laser testing. (Her windows were removed prior to our acquiring her, we still need proper windows). PB 721 was sent to Naval Station Charleston to patrol the waters and provide security around the Naval vessels docked there. She was retired in the late 1990’s.

Today, many veterans of SBU-24 have formed a reunion group and are invited aboard for reunion cruises. Many SWIFT BOAT sailors are intrigued by a “stretched” SWIFT BOAT. And often visit the boat when we are in port. Apparently, there are some in the SEAL community who immediately identify images of our boat with action in Nicaragua. Unconfirmed, but allegedly two where K.I.A. (one SEAL, one sailor, an EN3) in actions with this boat while “clearing waterways in Honduras”. So, pier side, our vessel attracts a lot of attention. Her often classified past adds to the mystery of this old war boat.

With her lineage as an old war horse, and the lineage of one of the oldest Sea Scout units in the country, this vessel should be preserved and continue to operate to train Sea Scouts. Who knows maybe the Sea Scouts trained will go on to be US NAVY sailors or SEALS. Or maybe even spies.