USS Georgetown (AG-165)

USS "Georgetown" (AGTR-2/AG-165), was an "Oxford"-class technical research ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of conducting research in the reception of electromagnetic propagations.

Georgetown was a converted "Liberty-type" cargo ship, was laid down as "SS Robert W. Hart" under Maritime Commission contract 4 May 1945 by New England Shipbuilding Corp., South Portland, Maine; launched 10 July 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Fred W. Woolsey; and delivered under General Agency Agreement from War Shipping Administration (WSA) to Agwilines, New York, New York, 2 August 1945.

Merchant Navy service

"Robert W. Hart" sailed in merchant navy service until entering the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, North Carolina, in December 1946. She was chartered by Waterman Steamship Corp., Mobile, Alabama, 31 January 1947 and operated under bareboat charter until 29 October when she entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Jamestown, Virginia.

U.S. Navy service

Acquired by the Navy 10 August 1962, she was taken to Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia, for conversion to a technical research ship; renamed "USS Georgetown (AG-165)" 6 March 1963; and commissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, 9 November 1963, Comdr. W. A. Gleason in command.

Atlantic Ocean operations

Equipped with the latest communications and electromagnetic research installations, "Georgetown" sailed for shakedown at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 21 January 1964. She was reclassified "AGTR-2" on 1 April 1964 and began her operational service 13 April. Assigned to Service Squadron 8, she operated in the Caribbean until June, then departed Norfolk, Virginia 30 June on a 4-month deployment along the eastern coast of South America. After participating in electronic research programs, she returned to Norfolk 26 October.

Pacific Ocean operations

Departing Norfolk 5 January 1965, "Georgetown" steamed via the Panama Canal to the Southeast Pacific Ocean for research operations off the coast of Chile.

From ocean to ocean

Before returning to Norfolk 14 May, she also operated in the Caribbean. Between 20 July and 13 October she again operated off the eastern coast of South America; and, after returning to Norfolk, she received new electronics equipment, including a Communication Moon Relay System. She departed Norfolk 14 December and resumed important research and test equipment operations in the Caribbean and equatorial Pacific. The year 1966 was a busy one for "Georgetown". Besides an outstanding performance gathering valuable information about the ocean, she made two rescues at sea, transited the Panama Canal four times, passed through the eye of a hurricane, and won the Battle Efficiency "E."

Current operations

"Georgetown" continued a long-standing Navy tradition of maintaining the highest standards in scientific research requirements. She was reportedly scrapped in 1971.

References

See also

* List of United States Navy ships
* Research vessel
* Communication Moon Relay

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/#Anchor-Editoria-14954 Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships]
* [http://www.historycentral.com/NAVY/Transport/Georgetown.html Georgetown AG-165]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/60/6002.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive AG-165 / AGTR-2 Georgetown]