Home | History | Fleet | Ships | Troop Ships | Cargo Ships | Project Ships | Operations | Gallery       Named in honor of Major Gen. C harles Gould Morton, class of 1883, U. S. Military Academy, who served in th-American War. Commissioned in 1944. USNS Kingsport  (T-AG-164) Originally built as a cargo ship and operated by the US Navy in that capacity until converted into the world's first satellite communication ship in 1961-1962.  In 1966 USNS Kingsport completed her services in that role and was reassigned to hydrographic research activities in support of undersea surveillance programs.   Copyright 2007 Military Sea Transportation Service Society