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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Patches Contributed by Mike Smolinski

T-AO-114 Mission De Pala
T-AGM-20 Johnstown / T-AGM-20 Redstone

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Alpha - Xray
Redstone (T-AGM-2) - Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - National Defense Service Medal
Mission Buenaventura Class Fleet Oiler:
  • Laid down, 26 November 1943, as a Maritime Commission type (T-2-SE-A2) tanker hull, under Maritime Commission contract, (MC 1280) at Marinship Corp., Sausalito, CA.
  • Launched, 28 February 1944
  • Chartered to Pacific Tankers Inc., 22 April 1944, for operations
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 28 May 1946, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Mobile, AL.
  • Acquired by the Navy 22 October 1947, designated Mission De Pala (AO-114) and placed in service by the Naval Transportation Service
  • Administrative transfer to MSTS, 1 October 1949 and placed in service as USNS Mission De Pala (T-AO-114)
  • Place out of service and returned to th Maritime Commission, 23 December 1949, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX.
  • Reacquired by the Navy, and placed in service with MSTS, 21 July 1950
  • Placed out of service and returned to the Maritime Administration, 15 November 1954, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, VA.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 22 June 1955
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 6 July 1956, and placed in service with MSTS, operated under charter by Marine Transport Lines, Inc.
  • Placed out of service 13 March 1958,and returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Orange, TX.
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 13 March 1958
  • Reacquired by the Navy, 19 September 1964, for conversion to a Vanguard Class Range Instrumentation Ship at General Dynamics Co., Quincy, MA.
  • Renamed and redesignated Johnstown (AGM-20), 8 April 1965
  • Renamed Redstone , 1 September 1965
  • Accepted and placed in service by MSTS as USNS Redstone (T-AGM-20), 30 June 1966
  • Placed out of service, 6 August 1993
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 7 December 1993
  • Final Disposition, sold, 17 November 1995, fate unknown
    AO Specifications:
    Displacement 5,532 t.(lt) 21,800 t.(fl)
    Length 524'
    Beam 68'
    Draft 30' (max)
    Speed 16.5 kts.
    Complement 52
    Armament none
    Propulsion Turbo-electric, single screw, 6000shp
    AGM Specifications:
    Displacement 13,882 t.(lt) 24,761 t.(fl)
    Length 595'
    Beam 75'
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement 48 civilian mariners, 18 scientists
    Armament none
    Propulsion Turbo-electric, two boilers, eight Westinghouse turbo-generators, single shaft, 10,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    USS Mission De Pala (T-AO-114)
    Redstone 100k Mission De Pala (AO-114), during conversion at Quincy, MA. shipyard to a Missile Range Instrumentation Ship Dan Kovalchik
    USNS Johnstown (T-AGM-20)
    Redstone 141k Mission De Pala (AO-114), nearing completion at Quincy, MA. shipyard to Missile Range Instrumentation Ship USNS Johnstown (T-AGM-20) Dan Kovalchik
    USNS Redstone (T-AGM-20)
    Redstone 87k Redstone (T-AGM-20) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Federation of American Scientists web site
    Redstone 62k Redstone (T-AGM-20) moored pierside, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Federation of American Scientists web site
    Redstone 141k Redstone (T-AGM-20) underway, date and place unknown. Dan Kovalchik
    Redstone 79k Redstone (T-AGM-20) moored pierside, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo from "All Hands" magazine, October 1982    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Redstone 98k Redstone (T-AGM-20) off the coast of Florida in September 1984 after the launch of the space shuttle "Atlantis". Photo by Bill Fessenden
    Redstone 76k Redstone (T-AGM-20) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Redstone 83k Redstone (T-AGM-20) underway, date and place unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert Hurst
    Redstone 95k Redstone (T-AGM-20) underway, date and place unknown. Robert Hurst
    View the Mission De Pala (T-AO-114) / Johnstown / Redstone (T-AGM-20)
    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
    No Information Available
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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 4 May 2007