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USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16)
Encyclopedia
USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16) was acquired by the United States Navy
as a missile range instrumentation ship
in 1964. Originally, she was constructed at the end of World War II as USS Wexford (AK-220) and then renamed Coastal Crusader, but she was found to be excess-to-needs, and was sold for commercial use. She was later acquired by the U.S. Army which used her as Army transport USAT Private Joe R. Hastings.
The ship was later acquired by the U.S. Air Force, and redesignated Ocean Range Vessel USAFS Coastal Crusader (ORV-16). And, in 1964, she was reacquired by the United States Navy
and redesignated USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16), a missile range instrumentation ship.
The ship—eventually maintaining the name Coastal Crusader -- had the distinction of serving the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, as well as serving with her commercial sisters.
, by the Leathern D. Smith Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 24 June 1945; sponsored by Mrs. DeForrest Colburn; and completed on 26 July 1945.
On 25 February 1945, the Navy had assigned the name Wexford and the designation AK-220 to the projected ship; but the contract for her acquisition by the Navy was cancelled in August 1945 because of the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific Ocean and the surrender of Japan
. Coastal Crusader thus entered mercantile service, never having borne the name Wexford.
which operated on the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Test Range
during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Coastal Crusader operated under an Air Force contract with Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range Division
headquartered in Cocoa Beach, Florida
.
Coastal Crusader was assigned to the South Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean area, and provided the Air Force with metric data on intercontinental ballistic missile
s launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
(CCAFS) in Florida
.
Coastal Crusader operated in the intercontinental ballistic missile re-entry area near Ascension Island
, and was home-ported out of Recife, Brazil.
on 30 April 1976.
on 12 April 1977. Her ultimate fate is not known.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as a missile range instrumentation ship
Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
Missile Range Instrumentation Ships, Range Ships, or Tracking Ships, are ships equipped with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets...
in 1964. Originally, she was constructed at the end of World War II as USS Wexford (AK-220) and then renamed Coastal Crusader, but she was found to be excess-to-needs, and was sold for commercial use. She was later acquired by the U.S. Army which used her as Army transport USAT Private Joe R. Hastings.
The ship was later acquired by the U.S. Air Force, and redesignated Ocean Range Vessel USAFS Coastal Crusader (ORV-16). And, in 1964, she was reacquired by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and redesignated USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16), a missile range instrumentation ship.
The ship—eventually maintaining the name Coastal Crusader -- had the distinction of serving the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, as well as serving with her commercial sisters.
Built in Wisconsin
Coastal Crusader -- a C1-M-AV1 cargo vessel—was laid down under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2174) on 12 April 1945 at Sturgeon Bay, WisconsinSturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Sturgeon Bay is a city in and the county seat of Door County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 9,437 at the 2000 census. It is located at the natural end of Sturgeon Bay, although the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal was built across the remainder of the Door Peninsula.-Geography:Sturgeon Bay is...
, by the Leathern D. Smith Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 24 June 1945; sponsored by Mrs. DeForrest Colburn; and completed on 26 July 1945.
On 25 February 1945, the Navy had assigned the name Wexford and the designation AK-220 to the projected ship; but the contract for her acquisition by the Navy was cancelled in August 1945 because of the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific Ocean and the surrender of Japan
Surrender of Japan
The surrender of Japan in 1945 brought hostilities of World War II to a close. By the end of July 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy was incapable of conducting operations and an Allied invasion of Japan was imminent...
. Coastal Crusader thus entered mercantile service, never having borne the name Wexford.
Service with the U.S. Army
The vessel was placed in service (date unknown) by the U.S. Army Transportation Service as USAT Private Joe R. Hastings.Service with the U.S. Air Force
Coastal Sentry was acquired by the U.S. Air Force which redesignated her Ocean Range Vessel USAFS Coastal Crusader (ORV-16). She was used as a missile range instrumentation shipMissile Range Instrumentation Ship
Missile Range Instrumentation Ships, Range Ships, or Tracking Ships, are ships equipped with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets...
which operated on the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Test Range
Eastern Test Range
The Eastern Range is an American rocket range that supports missile and rocket launches from the two major launch heads located at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the Kennedy Space Center. The range has also supported Ariane launches from the Guiana Space Centre as well as providing support...
during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Coastal Crusader operated under an Air Force contract with Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range Division
Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range Division
Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range Division was a distinct division of Pan American World Airways in the period 1950-1980, responsible as prime contractor of the U.S. Air Force Eastern Test Range, based out of Patrick Air Force Base, Florida...
headquartered in Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 12,482 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau estimates of 2008, the city had a population of 11,920...
.
Coastal Crusader was assigned to the South Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean area, and provided the Air Force with metric data on intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
s launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is an installation of the United States Air Force Space Command's 45th Space Wing, headquartered at nearby Patrick Air Force Base. Located on Cape Canaveral in the state of Florida, CCAFS is the primary launch head of America's Eastern Range with four launch pads...
(CCAFS) in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Coastal Crusader operated in the intercontinental ballistic missile re-entry area near Ascension Island
Ascension Island
Ascension Island is an isolated volcanic island in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, around from the coast of Africa and from the coast of South America, which is roughly midway between the horn of South America and Africa...
, and was home-ported out of Recife, Brazil.
Service with the U.S. Navy
When Coastal Crusader was acquired from the U.S. Air Force in 1964, the Navy redesignated the ship as USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16). Operational data while on U.S. Navy service during this period of the vessel's history is lacking. However, Navy records indicate Coastal Crusader was redesignated Survey Ship USS Coastal Crusader (AGS-36) in 1969, and finally struck from the Navy ListNaval Vessel Register
The Naval Vessel Register is the official inventory of ships and service craft in custody of or titled by the United States Navy. It contains information on ships and service craft that make up the official inventory of the Navy from the time a vessel is authorized through its life cycle and...
on 30 April 1976.
Inactivation
Coastal Crusader was subsequently sold by MARADMarad
Marad was an ancient Sumerian city. Marad was situated on the west bank of the then western branch of the Upper Euphrates River west of Nippur in modern day Iraq and roughly 50 km southeast of Kish, on the Arahtu River.The city's ziggurat E-igi-kalama was dedicated to Ninurta the god of...
on 12 April 1977. Her ultimate fate is not known.