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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patch contributed by Bill Valashinas

USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Sierra - Romeo
 NCSR
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - National Defense Service Medal
Bowditch Class Hydrographic Survey Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 May 1945, as SS South Bend Victory, a Maritime Commission type (VC-2-AP2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull MCV 694) at Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 30 June 1945
  • Delivered to the War Shipping Administration, and Waterman Steamship Corp,, 27 July 1945, at Portland, OR.
  • Commercial Service
  • Chartered to American Hawaii SS. Co., 29 September 1945, at Baltimore, MD.
  • Chartered by Sword Line Inc., 21 May 1947, at New York, N.Y.
  • Contact awarded to Boland and Cornelius, 12 August 1948, at Chester, PA., for Reserve Fleet preparation
  • Laid up, 28 August 1948, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, N.C. Group
  • Contract awarded to Prudential SS Co., 29 July 1950, for activation
  • Chartered to Prudential SS Co., 17 August 1950, at Newport News
  • Contract awarded to Prudential SS. Co., 11 February 1952, at San Francisco, CA.., for Reserve Fleet preparation
  • Laid up, 22 October 1953, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.
  • Acquired by title transfer to the US Navy, 2 August 1957
  • Converted to a Survey Ship at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C.
  • Renamed Bowditch, 8 August 1957
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and placed in service as USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21), 8 October 1958
  • Placed our of service in 1988
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 4 March 1988
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 4 March 1988
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,420 t.(lt) 13,050 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 23
    Speed 16 kts.
    Propulsion cross compound steam turbine with double reduction gear, 6,000 to 8,500hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Bowditch 141k USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21) underway, date and location unknown. Ed Lanni and Richard Miller BMCS USNR Ret.
    Bowditch 48k USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21 moored pierside, date and location unknown. Note the heavily damaged bow caused by a collision with a merchant ship Bill Valashinas
    Bowditch 95k USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21 underway, at Charleston, S.C., date unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Bowditch 57k USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21) moored pierside at Bremerhaven, Germany, June 1968. Photo by Gerhard Mueller-Debus
    Bowditch 45k USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21) underway in August 1969, location unknown. Robert Hurst
    Bowditch 50k Patch for Naval Oceanographic Unit 1 embarked in USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21) Mike Smolinski
    Bowditch 46k Patch for Naval Oceanographic Unit 1 embarked in USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21) Mike Smolinski
    View the USNS Bowditch (T-AGS-21)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Navy Survey Ships (AGS) Designator Listing
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 2 May 2008