- USS Oxford (AGTR-1)
USS "Oxford" (AGTR-1/AG-159) was an "Oxford"-class
technical research ship acquired by theU.S. Navy for the task of conducting research in the reception of electromagnetic propagations.The second ship to be named "Oxford" by the Navy, "AGTR-1", a
Liberty ship , was laid down23 June 1945 underMaritime Commission contract by the New England Shipbuilding Corp.,Portland, Maine .; launched31 July as "Samuel R. Aitken" (MCE–3127); sponsored by Mrs. Margaret C. Aitken; and delivered to the Maritime Commission25 August . As "Samuel R. Aitken" she served the merchant fleet, first with the Moore-McCormack Steam Ship Lines and then with the Arnold Bernstein Line. She was laid up10 April 1948 in theNational Defense Reserve Fleet ,Wilmington, North Carolina .Conversion from merchantman to technical research ship AG-159
In October
1960 "Samuel R. Aitken" was towed to theNew York Naval Shipyard ,Brooklyn, New York . for conversion. NamedOxford ("AG–159") on25 November 1960 , she commissioned atNew York 8 July 1961 , Comdr. Howard R. Lund in command. She reported toNorfolk, Virginia ,11 September for duty with theService Force, Atlantic Fleet , and shortly thereafter conducted shakedown out ofGuantanamo Bay, Cuba . "Oxford" was designed to conduct research in the reception ofelectromagnetic propagations. Equipped with the latest antenna systems and measuring devices, she is a highly sophisticated and mobile station which can steam to various parts of the world to participate in the Navy’s comprehensive program of research and development projects in communications. Because of the immediate or potential military applications of her work, much of "Oxford’s" employment is classified.A “first” in moon bounce communications
One of "Oxford’s" publicized operations took place
15 December 1961 when she became the first ship to receive a message from a shore based facility via themoon successfully. Next she departedNorfolk, Virginia ,4 January 1962 for a SouthAtlantic Ocean deployment, returning four months later. Another four month South Atlantic deployment followed in May1963 , after which "Oxford" underwent overhaul atNorfolk Naval Shipyard ,Portsmouth, Virginia . January1964 brought refresher training at Guantanamo Bay, and from22 February until10 June "Oxford" conducted further research operations in South Atlantic andPacific Ocean waters.Redesignated AGTR-1
"Oxford" ("AG-159") was redesignated
technical research ship ("AGTR–1") on1 April 1964 . She departed4 August on yet another South Atlantic cruise, conducting research not only in electromagnetic reception, but also inoceanography and related areas. She returned to Norfolk1 December . "Oxford" steamed forAfrica 3 February 1965 , calling atLas Palmas, Canary Islands ,Lagos, Nigeria , andDurban, South Africa . A message arrived26 May reassigning the ship to theU.S. Pacific Fleet , with a new homeport atSan Diego, California . She stood out ofSubic Bay ,Philippine Islands ,16 June for a one month deployment to theSouth China Sea , and thus set the pattern for her operations into1969 .Decommissioning
"Oxford" decommissioned and was struck from the
Naval Vessel Register 19 December 1969 atYokosuka ,Japan .References
See also
*
List of United States Navy ships
*Technical research ship External links
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/o5/oxford-ii.htm USS Oxford]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/60/6001.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AG-159 / AGTR-1 Oxford]
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