Riverine: what is the attraction?

As usual, it takes a Chief to make it all clear and to the point.

For many sailors who had spent years in various billets at sea, the chance to start a new command was irresistible.

What was the attraction?

"The fast boats and the guns," said Pat Gehrke, lead chief petty officer for Werby's squad.

Nice little bit, though thin of details, in the LA Times on the second Riverine deployment.