TAMIYA 35150 US Navy PBR31 MKII Pibber 1:35 Military Model Kit
1/35 Scale Military
35150
U.S. Navy PBR31 MkII 'Pibber'
Knowing
that patrolling coastal and river waterways during a conflict in
Vietnam was going to be extremely hazardous, the U.S. Navy searched for a
boat design that could be quickly produced and employed. One chosen was
a fiberglass-hulled pleasure craft built by Modutec Marine in Seattle
Washington.
The Patrol Boat, River or PBR as it was known militarily, became one of
the most successful weapons systems used in Southeast Asia. It was 31'
11" long ; 11; 7" wide, and 9'9" high above the waterline. It displaced 8
3/4 tons loaded drawing two feet of water. It's crew of four was armed
with a pair of .50 cal gun or grenade launcher mounted on a tripod in
the fantail, plus a single M-60 on a pipe mount bolted to one of the
amidships splinter shields. It was powered by two turbocharged Detroit
Diesel 205 HP, V-6 marine engines, driving a pair of Jaccuzzi 14JY water
jetdrives. The engines were located underneath the aft decking, and the
boat was steered by two movable nozzles below the water line, mounted
on the rear transom. The water intakes were located on the hull bottom.
It had a top speed in excess of 25 knots. Surface radar and two-way
radio equipment provided communication and maneuvering safety.