Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.

NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Timber Hitch (T-AGM-17)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Tango - India - Yankee
 NTIY
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

National Defense Service Medal
Alamosa Class Cargo Ship / Timber Hitch Class Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
  • Laid down, date unknown, as a Maritime Commission type (C1-M-AV1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2315) at Consolidated Steel Corp., Ltd., Wilmington, DE.
  • Launched, date unknown
  • Delivered to the Maritime Commission in 23 November 1945 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Olympia, WA. Group
  • Moved to the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR., 12 September 1949
  • Withdrawn from reserve for delivery to the US Air Force, 2 April 1957, for conversion to a missile tracking ship
  • Placed in service as Ocean Range Vessel USAFS Timber Hitch (ORV-17) to be operated in support of the Air Force Eastern Test Range
  • Acquired by the US Navy in 1964 and placed in service with the Military Sea Transportation Service as a Special Mission Ship on the Eastern Test Range, USNS Timber Hitch (T-AGM-17)
  • Placed out of service in 1968
  • Returned to the Maritime Administration, 5 May 1968 for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group. Lee Hall, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 9 October 1969
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, 27 July 1977, for $309.999.00 (group of four ships) to Consolidated Andy International Inc.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,366 t.(lt) 6,090 t.(fl)
    Length 338' 9"
    Beam 50' 4"
    Draft 17' 7"
    Speed 11.5 kts.
    Complement unknown
    Armament none
    Propulsion diesel, single propeller
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    Timber Hitch 149k USAFS Timber Hitch (ORV-17) receiving water from the US Army Ship American Mariner, 3 December 1961, at Clarence Bay, Ascension Island.
    U S Army newsletter "Aboard the USAFS American Mariner" dated February 1962.    		 Robert Hurst
    Timber Hitch 103k USNS Timber Hitch (T-AGM-17) moored pierside, date and location unknown. Tommy Trampp
    There is no DANFS history available for USNS Timber Hitch (AGM-17) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Service Ship Photo Index Back To The Missile Range Instrumentation Ship (AGM) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 22 June 2012