USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Bowditch.
History
Name: SS South Bend Victory
Builder: Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon
Laid down: 11 May 1945
Launched: 30 June 1945
In service: 27 July 1945
Out of service: 22 October 1953
Fate: Transferred to the Navy, 2 August 1957
Name: USNS Bowditch
Namesake: Nathaniel Bowditch
Acquired: 2 August 1957
In service: 8 October 1958
Out of service: 1988
Struck: 4 March 1988
Fate: Sold for scrapping, 4 March 1988
General characteristics
Type: Oceanographic survey ship
Displacement:
  • 4,420 long tons (4,491 t) light
  • 13,050 long tons (13,259 t) full
Length: 455 ft (139 m)
Beam: 62 ft (19 m)
Draft: 23 ft (7.0 m)
Propulsion: Cross compound steam turbine with double reduction gear, 6,000–8,500 hp (4.5–6.3 MW)
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)

USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21) was the lead ship of her class of oceanographic survey ships for the United States Navy. Launched as the SS South Bend Victory in 1945, Maritime Commission hull number MCV 694, a type VC2-S-AP3 Victory ship, she was named for Nathaniel Bowditch, the second U.S. Navy vessel named in his honor. The ship was acquired by the Navy in August 1957 and converted to an AGS at Charleston Naval Shipyard. Named Bowditch on 8 August 1957 and placed in service 8 October 1958 for operation by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS).[1]

SS South Bend Victory

SS South Bend Victory was a World War II era Victory ship. She was laid down on 11 May 1945 and delivered to the Maritime Commission on 30 June 1945. The ship 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 October 1957 to 30 September 1958.

USNS Bowditch T-AGS-21

USNS Bowditch T-AGS-21 was operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) for the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office in the Ocean Survey Program (OSP) under direction of the U.S. Navy Office of Special Projects in support of the U.S. Navy Fleet Ballistic Missile Program.[2] Three ships were converted for this purpose: Bowditch, and identical sister ships Dutton and Michelson.

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, and about 7 technical representatives from private corporations.

Bowditch was taken out of service and Disposed of by MARAD exchange 4 March 1988.[3]

References

Notes
  1. ↑ http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/b8/bowditch-i.htm | Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - Bowditch (AGS-21)
  2. ↑ http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sti/publications/pubs/td/2735/2735enavig.html | NAVIGATION AND AIR C3 DEPARTMENT: OCEAN SURVEY PROGRAM (OSP)
  3. ↑ http://www.nvr.navy.mil/SHIPDETAILS/SHIPSDETAIL_AGS_21.HTML | Naval Vessel Register - Bowditch (AGS 21) (ex-MCV 694)
Bibliography



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