August 1954 to 18 May 1955 and required hundreds of U.S. Navy and Military Sea Transport Service ships (partially provided by Task Force 90). Also transported were 8,135 French military vehicles and 68,757 tons of cargo. The Navy Section of the MAAG was responsible for adequate port facilities in the south half of the newly partitioned county to receive the ships transporting displaced refugees. Upon the departure of the French in 1955, the U.S. became directly involved with the Vietnamese government in the south partition and MAAG, Vietnam (MAAGV) was established. Restrictions set down in the Geneva Agreements limited the number of military personnel that could be in South Vietnam at any one time. From 1955 to 1959 there were never more than 79 naval advisors in country. The Navy Section MAAG advisors were responsible for training the Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVNN) and Marine Corps and providing material assistance. Additionally, they evaluated new weapons, boats, and equipment that were being developed for use by the RVNN. In 1959, North Vietnam began a long-term campaign to overthrow the South Vietnamese government through political subversion and armed conflict. As the actions of the North Vietnamese-backed Viet Cong intensified, MAAG, Vietnam was called upon to provide even more training assistance to the South Vietnamese armed forces. The Navy Section of MAAGV increased their strength from 79 to 164 by 1964. Navy Section MAAGV advisors began accompanying the RVNN's River Assault Groups on combat missions in the field during this period. Additionally, a small group of Navy Section MAAGV personnel served on the newly formed Military Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) after it was formed on 8 February 1962. MAAGV and its Naval Section was disestablished and absorbed by MACV on 15 May 1964. The Naval Advisory Group (NAG) of MACV assumed the responsibilities of the old Naval Section. At the end of 1964 there were 235 sailors assigned to MACV duties which included support functions in the Saigon area, construction and medical activities, and advising the South Vietnamese Navy and the marine corps. Establishment The vast, continuing increase in U.S. and allied military forces in South Vietnam in 1965 and 1966 brought with it a corresponding increase in United States Navy forces. The first operational U.S. Navy units began operations on 24 March 1965 with the establishment of the Vietnam Patrol Force (Commander, Task Force 71), which was under the operational control of