USNS Michelson T-AGS-23

Launched as the SS "Joliet Victory" in 1945, Maritime Commission hull number MCV 114, as a type VC2-S-AP3 Victory ship. She was renamed USNS "Michelson" T-AGS-23, in honor of Albert Abraham Michelson, and placed in service¹ in 1958 as a survey ship.

SS "Joliet 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 1957, renamed Michelson, and converted to an Oceanographic Survey Ship (AGS) at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from 10 Oct 1957 to 30 Sep 1958.

USNS "Michelson" T-AGS-23

USNS "Michelson" T-AGS-23 was placed in service on 1958-12-15 and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service. She was manned by a civilian crew.

"Michelson" 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: "Michelson", and identical sister ships USNS Bowditch T-AGS-21 and USNS Dutton T-AGS-22.

Attached aboard "Michelson" 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.

"Michelson" was taken out of service and disposed by the Maritime Administration ca. 1977.

An excellent web site has been set up by Earl Adams who has amassed quite a bit of information about the USNS Bowditch, USNS Dutton and the USNS Michelson. http://www.tags-21.info/

Notes

1. Authoritative, verifiable and complete references for the exact dates when Michelson and sisters Bowditch and Dutton 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/09/10/1023.htm NavSource Naval History]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/m10/michelson.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"]