Vikings in Vietnam: Norwegian Patrol Boat Captains in CIA Clandestine Operations

A history of Norwegian skippers hired by the CIA to command fast patrol boats on secret missions into North Vietnam.

In a little—known episode of the early Vietnam War, the CIA hired Norwegian skippers to command fast patrol boats for classified operations. The boats transported South Vietnamese commandos and combat swimmers along the coasts and rivers of North Vietnam.

This work will explain who the “Vikings” were, describe their missions, and detail their equipment (primarily Swift— and...