USS Interdictor (AGR-13)

USS "Interdictor" (AGR-13/YAGR-13) was a "Guardian"-class radar picket ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1957 from the “mothballed” reserve fleet. She was reconfigured as a radar picket ship and assigned to radar picket duty in the North Pacific Ocean as part of the Distant Early Warning Line.

Built as a Liberty ship in Florida

"Interdictor" (YAGR-13) was launched as Liberty ship "SS Edwin S. Duff" by J. A. Jones Construction Company, Inc., Panama City, Florida. 29 June 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Edwin H. Duff; and delivered to McCormack Steamship Company 27 July 1945.

World War II-related service

She carried aircraft until entering the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Virginia, 17 October 1945, and except for brief cargo service remained there until being acquired by the Navy 10 May 1957.

Reconfigured as a radar picket ship

Renamed "Interdictor" and converted to Navy use at Charleston Naval Shipyard, she commissioned 7 April 1958, Lt. Comdr. J. P. Dordahl in command. Fitted with the latest and best electronic search and tracking equipment, "Interdictor" sailed 2 May 1958 for shakedown training in the Caribbean. She departed Charleston, South Carolina, 18 July and sailed to her new home port, San Francisco, California.

Arriving 13 August, the ship assumed her role as an ocean radar station ship, part of America's vast early warning defense system. Operating with search aircraft, "Interdictor" could detect, track, and report enemy aircraft at great distances, supplementing land-based radar stations, and controls high-speed interceptor aircraft in case of attack. She also carried out weather reporting duties during her three to four week cruises in the Pacific Ocean. "Interdictor's" hull classification was changed 28 September 1958 to "AGR-13". She continued on radar picket patrols for the Continental Air Defense Command out of San Francisco until decommissioned 5 August 1965.

Inactivation

Her name was struck from the Navy List 1 September 1965 when she transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration for lay-up in the Suisun Bay River Defense Reserve Fleet, San Francisco, California, where she remained until she was sold 13 June 1974. Her subsequent fate is not known.

Honors and awards

"Interdictor" personnel qualified for the following medal:
* National Defense Service Medal

See also

* United States Navy
* Radar picket

References

*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/62/6213.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YAGR / AGR-13 Interdictor]