- USS Guardian (YAGR-1)
USS "Guardian" (YAGR-1) was an sclass|Guardian|radar picket ship acquired by the
U.S. Navy duringWorld War II . Her task was to act as part of the radar defenses of theUnited States after the close of World War II.Built and placed into reserve
"Guardian" was launched as
Liberty Ship SS "James G. Squires"8 May 1945 by J. A. Jones Construction Co., Inc.,Panama City, Florida ; sponsored by Mrs. Elisa Broome; and delivered31 May to Waterman Steamship Co. The ship served until5 October 1945 , when she was placed in theNational Defense Reserve Fleet ,James River, Virginia .Reactivation
Taken out of reserve in 1954, she was renamed "Guardian", converted at
Charleston Navy Yard , and commissioned YAGR-1 atNorfolk, Virginia ,1 February 1955 , Lt. Comdr. Robert E. Euliss in command.The honor of "being the first"
The first ocean radar station ship was put up into service by the Navy, "Guardian" conducted shakedown in
Roosevelt Roads ,Puerto Rico , and surrounding waters, reporting toNewport, Rhode Island , her home port,2 June 1955 .Equipped with highly sensitive
radar gear to enable her to detect, track, and report any aircraft penetrating the continental United States, "Guardian" was attached to the Eastern ContinentalAir Defense Command . She and her sister ships spend 3 or 4 weeks at a time off theU.S. East Coast onradar picket duty, even in the heaviest winter weather in the NorthAtlantic Ocean .In addition to radar picket duty, "Guardian" participated in ASW exercises with both American and
Canadian naval units and in local operations out of Newport andKey West, Florida . Her designation was changed to AGR-1 September –28 September 1958 , and the ship remained a vital part of our Nation's Atlantic defenses.Decommissioning
"Guardian" was decommissioned,
28 July 1965 , and struck from theNavy Vessel Register (date unknown). She was returned to theMaritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. Final disposition: she was scrapped in September 1971 atBilbao, Spain .Military awards and honors
"Guardian's" crew was eligible for the following medals:
*National Defense Service Medal References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/g9/guardian.htm
External links
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/62/6201.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - YAGR / AGR-1 "Guardian"]
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