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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Sierra - Sierra - Bravo
 NSSB
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
Watertown Class Missile Range Instrumentation Ship:
  • Laid down, 12 February 1944, as SS Niantic Victory, a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP3) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 100) at Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, OR.
  • Launched, 25 April 1944
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission, 18 May 1944
  • Leased, 18 May 1944, to American Hawaii SS Co., for operation
  • Leased, 6 November 1946, to Waterman SS Corp.
  • Laid up, 30 May 1948, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, N.C.
  • Chartered by Union Sulphur and Oil Co., 24 August 1950
  • MSTS charter, 18 April 1952, for operation by Union Sulphur and Oil Co.
  • MSTS charter, 8 April 1955, for operation by Pope and Talbot SS Co.
  • Chartered by Isbrandtsen Co. Inc., 11 December 1956
  • Laid up, 24 January 1958, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Suisun Bay, Benecia, CA.
  • Permanent custody transfer to the US Navy, 11 August 1960
  • Assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) for conversion to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
  • Place in service as USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6), 27 November 1960
  • Placed out of service in 1971
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 February 1972
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, 22 March 1974, for disposal
  • Permanent custody transferred to the Maritime Administration, 23 May 1974
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 16 February 1972
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 23 May 1974, to Dongkuk Steel Mill Co., Ltd., Seoul South Korea, delivered, 16 July 1974
    Specifications:
    Displacement 4,512 t.(lt) 11,500t.(fl)
    Length 455' 3"
    Beam 62' 2"
    Draft 28' 6"
    Speed 15.5 kts.
    Complement 56
    Armament none
    Propulsion cross compound steam turbine, single screw, 8,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    SS Niantic Victory
    Watertown 421k SS Niantic Victory at anchor, during World War II, location unknown. Vince Allan
    USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6)
    Watertown 21k USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6) underway, date and location unknown. Gunter Krebs
    Watertown 58k USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6) pierside, Port Canaveral, FL. midships, 1967. Photo by James W. Holloway, Jr. (deceased), submitted by Jim Holloway
    Watertown 54k USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6) pierside, Port Canaveral, FL., 1970. USS Observation Island (EAG-154) is in the background. Photo by James W. Holloway, Jr. (deceased), submitted by Jim Holloway
    Watertown 96k USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6) underway in port, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    USNS Watertown (T-AGM-6)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 22 June 2012