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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive
Frank Pulaski, USS Searcher web site and YAGR exhibit, USS Massachusetts

USS Searcher (AGR-4)
ex
 USS Searcher (YAGR-4) (1955 - 1958)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Navy Expeditionary Medal (2-Cuba) - National Defense Service Medal
Guardian Class Radar Picket Ship:
  • Laid down, 11 December 1944, as SS James W. Wheeler, a Maritime Commission type (Z-EC2-S-C5) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCE hull 2338), at J. A. Jones Construction Co. Inc., Panama City, FL.
  • Launched, 23 January 1945
  • Delivered, 5 February 1945 to the Maritime Commission to be operated by Calmar Steamship Co. under a WSA contract
  • Returned to the Maritime Commission, 29 October 1945, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group
  • Withdrawn from reserve and leased to Grace Lines Inc, 4 February 1947
  • Laid up. 1 October 1947, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Wilmington, N.C. Group
  • Custody transferred to US Navy, 19 September 1954, at Wilmington, N.C.
  • Towed the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S.C. for conversion to a Radar Picket Ship
  • Commissioned, USS Searcher (YAGR-4), 2 April 1955, at Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S. C., LCDR. James A. Paulick in command
  • Redesignated (AGR-4), 28 September 1958
  • Decommissioned, and struck from the Naval Register, 1 July 1965
  • Transferred to the Maritime Commission for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River, N.Y.
  • Final Disposition, sold for scrapping, to North American Smelting Co., Wilmington, DE., delivered, 31, May 1970
    Specifications:
    Displacement 10,760 t.(fl)
    Length 441' 6"
    Beam 56' 11"
    Draft 24'
    Speed 11 kts.
    Complement 13 officers, 138 enlisted
    Armament two 3"/50 guns
    Capacities
    Fuel Oil, 443,646 gals.
    Diesel, 68,267 gals.
    Fresh Water, 15,082 gals.
    Ballast, 1,326,657 gals fresh water
    Propulsion
    two 220 PSI boilers
    one 3 cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating engine,
    one 4 blade, 18' 6" propeller,
    Shaft Horsepower 2,500
    Electric Generators 2
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed By
    Scanner 13k USS Searcher (AGR-4) underway, date and location unknown. Donated by Erv Thomure to
    Frank Pulaski USS Searcher web site
    Scanner 327k USS Searcher (AGR-4) was damaged by fire in the engine room and starboard fuel tank while underway in the Atlantic Ocean, 13 November 1955. It took six hours to extinguish this fire. This stern view of Searcher was taken from the bridge of the Coast Guard Cutter USCGC Ingham (WHEC-35), whose lines are aboard the stricken vessel. The fire occurred 100 nautical miles off New York City at 0600 hours. Ingham was the first ship to answer the call for aid. Official U.S. Coast Guard photo. Robert M Cieri
    Scanner 132k Aerial view of USS Searcher (AGR-4) underway off the coast of New England, 29 September 1956.
    NAS Quonset Point photo NA43-5183, Boston National Historical Park Collection, NPS Cat. No. BOSTS-14209    		 Stephen P. Carlson, Preservation Specialist, Boston NHP, Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.
    Scanner 75k USS Searcher (AGR-4) underway, 6 September 1960, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Scanner 105k USS Searcher (AGR-4) underway, 9 September 1960, location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Scanner 79k USS Searcher (AGR-4) underway, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    Scanner 109k USS Searcher (AGR-4) moored pierside Boston Army Piers, date unknown.
    ©Don E Gammon.    		 Submitted by David Nixon
    Scanner 1186k Pictured on the quarterdeck of USS Searcher (AGR-4), 12 October 1963, while at her homeport of Davisville, R.I. are Anthony J Cieri, Jr. SF1, USN, at right, and his son Harry M. Cieri EN2, USN, at left. They reported aboard for duty as the only father and son to serve together aboard an AGR.
    US Navy photo.    		 Robert M. Cieri
    View the USS Searcher (YAGR / AGR-4)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Searcher AGR-4
    RADRONTWO East Coast AGR Navy
    YAGR's (Radar Picket Ships) Association
    Online Air Defense Radar Museum
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Ship Type Index Back To The Radar Picket Ship (AGR) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 14 February 2009