USNS Bowditch T-AGS-21

Launched as the SS "South Bend Victory" in 1945, Maritime Commission hull number MCV 694, as a type VC2-S-AP3 Victory ship. She was renamed USNS "Bowditch" T-AGS-23, the second US Navy ship named in honor of Nathaniel Bowditch, and placed in service¹ in 1958 as a survey ship.

SS "South Bend Victory"

SS "South Bend Victory" was a World War II era Victory ship. She was laid down on 1945-05-11 and delivered to the Maritime Commission on 1945-06-30. She was acquired by the U.S. Navy in August 1957, renamed "Bowditch", and converted to an Oceanographic Survey Ship (AGS) at the Charleston Naval Shipyard from 10 Oct 1957 to 30 Sep 1958.

USNS "Bowditch" T-AGS-21

The second "Bowditch", USNS "Bowditch" T-AGS-21, was placed in service on 1958-010-08 and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service. She was manned by a civilian crew.

"Bowditch" was operated by the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office for the U.S. Navy Office of Special Projects in support of the U.S. Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Program. Three ships were converted for this purpose: "Bowditch", and identical sister ships USNS Dutton T-AGS-22 and USNS Michelson T-AGS-23.

Attached aboard "Bowditch" was a US Navy Oceanographic Detachment, upgraded ca. May 1966 to an Oceanographic Unit, of approximately 3 officers and 22 enlisted personnel, mostly technicians. Varying numbers of civilian scientists and engineers managed survey operations, and maintained certain navigation and sonar equipment, usually about 12 oceanographers from the Naval Oceanographic Office, some personnel from the Naval Applied Sciences Laboratory (NASL, later NSSNF), and about 7 technical representatives from private corporations.

"Bowditch" was taken out of service and disposed by the Maritime Administration ca. 1988.

Notes

1. Authoritative, verifiable and complete references for the exact dates when Bowditch and sisters Dutton and Michelson were acquired by the US Navy, renamed, converted, placed in service, taken out of service, and "disposed" (numerous events and dates) are not available.

See also

* [http://www.tags-21.info Memorial web site for USNS "Bowditch", USNS "Dutton" and USNS "Michelson"]
* [http://patriot.net/~eastlnd2/O_hydro.htm Navy Survey Ship (AGS) Designator Listing]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/10/1021.htm NavSource Naval History]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/bowditch-i.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)]

References

* [http://www.tags-21.info Memorial web site for USNS "Bowditch", USNS "Dutton" and USNS "Michelson"]