Mission San Fernando was laid down on 26 August 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marine Ship Corporation, Sausalito, California; launched on 25 November 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Ruth B. Krohn; and delivered on 29 February 1944. Chartered to Pacific Tankers Inc., for operations, she served the remainder of the War carrying fuel to Allied forces in the western Pacific (during which time she was twice awarded the Battle Efficiency Award as well as the National Defense Service Medal). She remained in service until 10 May 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington.
Acquired by the Navy on 21 October 1947 she was chartered to the Union Oil Company for operations and placed in service under the operational control of the Naval Transportation Service as Mission San Fernando (AO-122). Transferred to the operational control of the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service on 1 October 1949 she was redesignated USNS Mission San Fernando (T-AO-122). She served in MSTS until 24 May 1955 when she was returned to the Maritime Administration and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 22 June 1955.
Reacquired by the Navy on 21 June 1956 she was placed in service with MSTS and operated, under charter, by Marine Transportation Lines. She served with MSTS until she was returned to the Maritime Administration on 4 September 1957 and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at James River, Virginia.
As tracking and navigational test ship, 1964–1999
Vanguard (T-AGM-19) seen here as a NASA Skylab tracking ship. Note the SatCom tracking radar and telemetry antennas.
Reacquired by the Navy on 28 September 1964 she was taken in hand by General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division for extensive modernization and rebuilding at its Quincy, Massachusetts yard. This included adding 80 feet to her length. While under conversion to a missile-range instrumentation ship, she was renamed for Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and reclassified, becoming Muscle Shoals (AGM-19). Renamed Vanguard on 1 September 1965, she was placed in service with MSTS on 28 February 1966 as USNS Vanguard (T-AGM-19). Designed to be a seagoing missile tracking station, she participated in the Apollo Project test series and into 1969 had continued in these duties. She then participated in the Skylab program and the joint US/Soviet Apollo–Soyuz Test Project.
In September 1980, she was reconfigured and the large missile tracking antennas were removed. She replaced the USS Compass Island and reclassified as T-AG-194. Her role became that of a Navigational Test Ship and she was used to check submarine navigation systems. She steamed over 250,000 miles in support of Poseidon and Trident I navigation subsystems and in development of the Trident II navigation subsystem. She was stricken again on 12 December 1999 after being replaced by USNS Waters (T-AGS-45).[1]
Disposal
On 29 November 2001 she was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration (MARAD). On 16 March 2005 MARAD issued a "Request for Comments" for public input on the historical significance of the Vanguard.[2]
Following historical review, the vessel was cleared for disposal by the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office on 15 November 2006.
The ship was scrapped on 5 November 2013 at Marine Metal Inc. recycle slip in Brownsville, Texas.
Gallery
Muscle Shoals (AGM-19) nearing completion, in dry dock at Quincy.
References
^. Strategic Systems Programs Facts. Navy.mil. Archived from the original on 3 August 2007.
^. MARAD.dot.gov. 16 March 2005. Archived from the original on 26 May 2005.
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SS Mission San Fernando was a Type T2 SE A2 tanker built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II After the war she was acquired by the United States Navy as USS Mission San Fernando AO 122 Later the tanker transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service as USNS Mission San Fernando T AO 122 She was a member of the Mission Buenaventura class oiler and was named for Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana in Los Angeles She was later renamed USNS Muscle Shoals T AGM 19 after Muscle Shoals Alabama and later USNS Vanguard T AG 194 USNS Mission San FernandoHistoryUnited StatesNameMission San FernandoNamesakeMission San FernandoOwnerNaval Overseas Transportation Service NOTS OperatorPacific Tankers Inc BuilderMarinship Corporation Sausalito CaliforniaLaid down26 August 1943Launched25 November 1943In service29 February 1944Out of service10 May 1946FateTransferred to the US Navy 21 October 1947United StatesNameMission San FernandoOwnerNOTS 21 October 1947 1 October 1949 Military Sea Transportation Service MSTS 1 October 1949 OperatorUnion Oil Co Acquired21 October 1947Out of service24 May 1955Stricken22 June 1955IdentificationHull symbol T AO 122FateReacquired by the Navy 21 June 1956United StatesNameMission San FernandoOwnerMSTSOperatorMarine Transportation LinesAcquired21 June 1956In service21 June 1956Out of service4 September 1957IdentificationHull symbol T AO 122FateReacquired by the Navy 28 September 1964United StatesNameMuscle Shoals 1964 1965 Vanguard 1965 NamesakeMuscle Shoals Alabama Project VanguardOwnerMilitary Sea Transportation ServiceAcquired28 September 1964In service28 February 1966RenamedVanguard 1 September 1965ReclassifiedMissile Range Instrumentation Ship AGM Navigational Test Launch Ship AG September 1980 Stricken13 December 1999IdentificationHull symbol T AGM 19 T AG 194 IMO number 8835607FateScrapped 5 November 2013General characteristicsClass and typeMission Buenaventura class oilerDisplacement5 532 long tons 5 621 t light 21 880 long tons 22 231 t fullLength524 ft 160 m Beam68 ft 21 m Draft30 ft 9 1 m PropulsionTurbo electric single screw 6 000 hp 4 47 MW Speed16 5 knots 30 6 km h 19 0 mph Complement52ArmamentNone Contents 1 Service history 1 1 As oiler 1943 1957 1 2 As tracking and navigational test ship 1964 1999 1 3 Disposal 2 Gallery 3 ReferencesService history EditAs oiler 1943 1957 Edit Mission San Fernando was laid down on 26 August 1943 under a Maritime Commission contract by Marine Ship Corporation Sausalito California launched on 25 November 1943 sponsored by Mrs Ruth B Krohn and delivered on 29 February 1944 Chartered to Pacific Tankers Inc for operations she served the remainder of the War carrying fuel to Allied forces in the western Pacific during which time she was twice awarded the Battle Efficiency Award as well as the National Defense Service Medal She remained in service until 10 May 1946 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Olympia Washington Acquired by the Navy on 21 October 1947 she was chartered to the Union Oil Company for operations and placed in service under the operational control of the Naval Transportation Service as Mission San Fernando AO 122 Transferred to the operational control of the newly created Military Sea Transportation Service on 1 October 1949 she was redesignated USNS Mission San Fernando T AO 122 She served in MSTS until 24 May 1955 when she was returned to the Maritime Administration and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Olympia She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 22 June 1955 Reacquired by the Navy on 21 June 1956 she was placed in service with MSTS and operated under charter by Marine Transportation Lines She served with MSTS until she was returned to the Maritime Administration on 4 September 1957 and laid up in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at James River Virginia As tracking and navigational test ship 1964 1999 Edit Vanguard T AGM 19 seen here as a NASA Skylab tracking ship Note the SatCom tracking radar and telemetry antennas Reacquired by the Navy on 28 September 1964 she was taken in hand by General Dynamics Quincy Shipbuilding Division for extensive modernization and rebuilding at its Quincy Massachusetts yard This included adding 80 feet to her length While under conversion to a missile range instrumentation ship she was renamed for Muscle Shoals Alabama and reclassified becoming Muscle Shoals AGM 19 Renamed Vanguard on 1 September 1965 she was placed in service with MSTS on 28 February 1966 as USNS Vanguard T AGM 19 Designed to be a seagoing missile tracking station she participated in the Apollo Project test series and into 1969 had continued in these duties She then participated in the Skylab program and the joint US Soviet Apollo Soyuz Test Project In September 1980 she was reconfigured and the large missile tracking antennas were removed She replaced the USS Compass Island and reclassified as T AG 194 Her role became that of a Navigational Test Ship and she was used to check submarine navigation systems She steamed over 250 000 miles in support of Poseidon and Trident I navigation subsystems and in development of the Trident II navigation subsystem She was stricken again on 12 December 1999 after being replaced by USNS Waters T AGS 45 1 Disposal Edit On 29 November 2001 she was transferred to the United States Maritime Administration MARAD On 16 March 2005 MARAD issued a Request for Comments for public input on the historical significance of the Vanguard 2 Following historical review the vessel was cleared for disposal by the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office on 15 November 2006 The ship was scrapped on 5 November 2013 at Marine Metal Inc recycle slip in Brownsville Texas Gallery Edit Muscle Shoals AGM 19 nearing completion in dry dock at Quincy References Edit Functional Elements of the FBM System Strategic Systems Programs Facts Navy mil Archived from the original on 3 August 2007 Ships for Which we are Soliciting Comments from the Public MARAD dot gov 16 March 2005 Archived from the original on 26 May 2005 This article incorporates text from the public domainDictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships The entry can be found here AO 122 T AO 122 Mission San Fernando AGM 19 Muscle Shoals T AGM 19 T AG 194 Vanguard Fleet Oiler AO Photo Index Retrieved 2 April 2006 National Defense Reserve Fleet Inventory PDF 2006 Retrieved 11 June 2006 Vanguard s Naval Vessel Registry entry Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title USNS Mission San Fernando amp oldid 1113131911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,