USNS Thomas G. Thompson (T-AGOR-9) was a Robert D. Conrad-class oceanographic research ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1965. She performed oceanographic work for various educational institutions, under various names, including R/V Thomas G. Thompson (AGOR-9), R/V Thomas G. Thompson (IX-517), R/V Pacific Escort II (IX-517), and R/V Gosport (IX-517).

Built at Marinette, Wisconsin

Thomas G. Thompson (AGOR-9) was laid down on 12 September 1963 at Marinette, Wisconsin

Marinette, Wisconsin

Marinette is a city in and the county seat of Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 11,749 at the 2000 census.Marinette is the principal city of the Marinette, WI–MI Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Marinette County, Wisconsin and Menominee...

, by the Marinette Marine Corp.; launched on 18 July 1964; sponsored by Mrs. Isabel Thompson, the widow of Professor Thompson; and delivered to the Navy on 4 September 1965.

Serving the University of Washington

Specially designed for oceanographic research work, Thomas G. Thompson was transferred to the University of Washington

University of Washington

University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...

, for service with that institution's oceanographic department, in a ceremony at the Boston Naval Shipyard on 21 September 1965. Manned by a civilian crew but under the technical control of the Oceanographer of the Navy, Thomas G. Thompson conducted oceanographic research, performing experiments supporting the national oceanographic programs of the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 into 1978.

Multiple names

• R/V Thomas G. Thompson (AGOR-9) was her name from 1965 to 1989. During this period she served the needs of the University of Washington
  University of Washington
  University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
  
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• R/V Thomas G. Thompson (IX-517) was her name from 1989 to 1990.
• R/V Pacific Escort II (IX-517) from 1990 to 1997. As an unclassified miscellaneous she was made available for hire from the Mare Island Naval Shipyard
  Mare Island Naval Shipyard
  The Mare Island Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy base established on the Pacific Ocean. It is located 25 miles northeast of San Francisco in Vallejo, California. The Napa River goes through the Mare Island Strait and separates the peninsula shipyard from the main portion of the...
  
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• R/V Gosport (IX-517) from 1997 to out of final service and struck in 2004. As a multi-purpose research ship, she was available for hire from Norfolk Naval Shipyard
  Norfolk Naval Shipyard
  The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard and abbreviated as NNSY, is a U.S. Navy facility in Portsmouth, Virginia, for building, remodeling, and repairing the Navy's ships. It's the oldest and largest industrial facility that belongs to the U.S. Navy as well as the most...
  
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