It would be used to bring maximum firepower on an unexpected target. The observer left the boat at dockside. The crew smiled slightly, recalling the exuberant ride they had given the until-then RAC rookie. The observer also smiled slightly. It was fun, and he was going to evening chow, and they were going to do boat maintenance.
Crewmen say the boats get about six hours of maintenance for every hour of use.
That maneuverability is part of the charm of the RAC and the fun of crewing on one. They can operate on 9 inches of water on plane and draw about 2 feet at low speed. Their maneuverability is increased tremendously by bucket jets on each side of the craft. The riverine teachers are working in a sort of international environment. They teach personnel from Peru, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela how to run drug-interdiction operations.