The Riverine Squadrons of the United States Navy are elements of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). According to the Navy: “The Navy’s Riverine force focuses on conducting Maritime Security Operations and Theater Security Cooperation in a riverine area of operations or other suitable area. The force is capable of combating enemy riverine forces by direct fire, or by coordinating supporting fire. It will share battle space with the other Services in an effort to close the seams in Doctrine, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.”[1]
Riverine warfare has a long history in the Navy, dating back to the Revolutionary War, when American sailors in row galleys engaged the formidable warships of the hated British overseers operating in colonial waterways. Modern American riverine warfare came of age during the Vietnam War, as patrol boats and river assault craft combed the Mekong Delta and other vital waterways. The US Navy created the Riverine Group in 2006 when the US Navy took over riverine warfare from the US Marine Corps. As of 2008, three riverine squadrons were active in the Navy, all under the command of Riverine Group 1, located in Norfolk, Virginia. Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1) deployed to Iraq in April 2007 and was relieved by Riverine Squadron 2 (RIVRON 2) in October 2007.[2] Riverine Squadron 3 (RIVRON 3) was established in July 2007[3] and relieved RIVRON 2 in Iraq when their deployment completed in April 2008.
The United States Navy merged its riverine forces (US Navy Riverine Group) and Maritime Expeditionary Security Forces (MESF) in 2012 to form the Coastal Riverine Force (CRF). [1] The Coastal Riverine Force was disbanded in 2020 when riverine warfare responsibility was turned back over to the US Marine Corps.[4]