USNS Wheeling (T-AGM-8)

USNS "Wheeling" (T-AGM-8) was a "Wheeling"-class missile range instrumentation ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1962 and converted from her Victory ship cargo configuration to a missile tracking ship, a role she retained for a number of years before being sunk as a target by Harpoon missiles on 12 July 1981.

Victory ship built in Oregon

The second ship to be so named by the Navy, "Wheeling" was laid down on 10 April 1945 as "Seton Hall Victory" by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 686); launched on 22 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Ross Mclntyre; and delivered to the Maritime Commission on 21 June 1945.

World War II-related service

From July 1945 to September 1957, "Seton Hall Victory" was operated for the U.S. Maritime Commission by a succession of civilian contractors, beginning with the Olympic Steamship Line and ending with Pope & Talbot, Inc. In September 1957, she was placed out of service and was berthed in Virginia's James River with the National Defense Reserve Fleet.

Conversion to missile tracker

Late in 1962, she was turned over to the Navy Department for conversion to a missile range instrumentation ship. On 19 March 1963, she was renamed "Wheeling" and designated "AGM-8". On 28 May 1964, "Wheeling" was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service to be operated by a civil service crew in support of operations on the Navy's Pacific Missile Range.

"Wheeling" spent her missile tracking years as a mobile tracking station, recording data on missiles and satellites that were out of range of land-based stations. For a number of years she remained on active service on the Pacific coast.

Inactivation and sinking

"Wheeling" remained in service until (date unknown) and was struck from the Navy list on 31 October 1990. However, during a Naval exercise on 12 July 1981 she was assigned as target ship for Harpoon missile testing. She was struck by three Harpoons, two of which were launched by ship, one by submarine and one by air. Details of how and when the ship sank, or was otherwise disposed of, are lacking.

See also

* Missile Range Instrumentation Ship

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/53/5308.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - T-AGM-8 Wheeling]