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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USAS American Mariner
USAFS American Mariner
USNS American Mariner (T-AGM-12)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal
American Mariner Class Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
  • Laid down in 1942, as SS George Calvert, a Maritime Commission type (EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contact (MC hull 20) at Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, MD.
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Completed at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Key Highway Plant, Baltimore, MD., as a cadet training ship, manned by the US Coast Guard and unlicensed merchant marine personnel of the US Maritime Service
  • Renamed TS American Mariner and placed in service as a cadet training ship, circa 1942-43
  • Assigned to Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) as a school ship in 1946
  • Laid up at Kings Point, N.Y, in 1950
  • Transferred to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River, Jones Point, N.Y., in December 1953
  • Reactivation in 1957
  • Converted to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
  • Placed in service by the US Army in January 1959, assigned to ARGMA (Advanced Research Guided Missiles Agency), Redstone Arsenal, and commissioned USAS American Mariner, manned by civilian mariners under contract to Mathiesen Tankers and RCA Service Company engineers and scientists. She remained in the Army inventory as an RCAS missile tracking ship for DAMP (Downrange Anti-ballistic Missile Program) until 1 January 1964
  • Assigned to the AMR (Atlantic Missile Range) under the Air Force and Pan American, commissioned, USAFS American Mariner
  • Transferred to the US Navy Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) and placed in service as USNS American Mariner (T-AGM-12) (date unknown)
  • Placed out of service in 1966
  • Struck from the Naval Register (date unknown)
  • Final Disposition, being used as a target ship off Point Lookout, Chesapeake Bay, MD.
    Specifications
    Displacement 4,023 t.(lt), 14,250 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 7"
    Beam 57' 11"
    Draft 24' 7"
    Speed 11 kts.
    Armament none
    Propulsion reciprocating steam engine, single propeller, 2,500shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    TS American Mariner
    American Mariner 52k Massachusetts Maritime Academy school ship TS American Mariner underway in 1946. Massachusetts Maritime Academy web site
    US Army American Mariner
    American Mariner 32k US Army Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner underway, circa 1959-1964 Gunter Krebs
    American Mariner 68k US Army Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner at anchor, Ascension Island, circa 1959-1964 Photo by Ted Bojanowski
    American Mariner 98k US Army Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner at anchor, Ascension Island, circa 1959-1964 Photo by Ted Bojanowski
    American Mariner 114k US Army Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner moored at Chagaramus Pier, Trinadad W.I., circa 1959-1964 Photo by Ted Bojanowski
    American Mariner 87k US Army Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner moored at Chagaramus, Trinadad W.I., circa 1959-1964 Photo by Ted Bojanowski
    American Mariner 112k US Army Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner moored at Recife, Brazil, circa 1959-1964 Photo by Ted Bojanowski
    American Mariner 65k US Army (RCA) Range Instrumentation Ship American Mariner moored, place unknown, circa 1959-1964 Photo by Ted Bojanowski
    ex-American Mariner
    American Mariner 79k ex-American Mariner moored in the Chesapeake Bay and being used as a target ship, 6 May 2006 Photo by Chip Seelig
    American Mariner 30k ex-American Mariner moored in the Chesapeake Bay and being used as a target ship, 6 May 2006 Photo by Chip Seelig
    There is no DANFS history for American Mariner (T-AGM-12) available at Navsource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    SS American Mariner
    US Coast Guard Historian's Office - American Mariner
    Back To the Main Photo Index Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To the Missile Range Instrumentation Ship (AGM) Photo Index
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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 12 May 2006