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Special Project Ships The types of ships in the MSTS special projects fleet range from a converted Army FS through C1-M-AV1s, C2s, Victory ships, C4s, T2 tankers, and some of the latest class of specially designed and constructed AGORs and AGSs. operational control of the fleet is divided among the four MSTS area commands: Atlantic, Pacific, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean, and Far East. Logistic and administrative control generally is vested in COMSTSLANT and COMSTSPAC for vessels operating in the Atlantic and Pacific areas, respectively. In this section we discuss a few of the many types of ships involved. Range Instrumentation Ships The MSTS Special Projects Division presently has a total of 20 range instrumentation ships (RISs), most of which are assigned to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Nine Atlantic coast ships are operated from Patrick Air Force Base at Cape Kennedy by COMSTSLANT for the Air Force's Eastern Test Range (ETR). A tenth ship - USNS Range Recoverer is operated for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from Wallops Island, Virginia. On the Pacific coast four RISs are operated by MSTS for the Air Force's Western Test Range (WTR) at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and one - USNS Wheeling - for the Navy's Pacific Missile Range at Point Mugu. The Eastern and Western Test Ranges are operated and maintained by the National Range Division of the Air Force Systems Command, which also controls a number of smaller ranges. Together these comprise the National Range which exists for various users who wish to test missiles and rockets. Until 1964 Eastern Test Range RISs were operated by Pan American Airways, the prime contractor; Pan American had subcontracted for the supply of crews through commercial steamship operators. In that year MSTS was assigned operating responsibility. The arrangement with the commercial operators for the supply of crews has, in general, been retained. In 1957, six C1-M-AV1s acquired by the Air Force were modified to receive electronic equipment and antennas for telemetry and communication support over the range. These include the USNS Sword Knot, Rose Knot Coastal Sentry, Coastal Crusader, Timber Hitch, and Sampan Hitch. The last is presently assigned to the WTR. The Twin Falls Victory, acquired in 1960, was renamed the Twin Falls. FPS-16 radar, telemetry antennas, inertial navigators, and other items of equipment were installed. The ship has undergone a number of subsequent modifications. The General Hoyt S. Vandenberg and General Hap. H. Arnoldex C4 troopships, were obtained in 1963. These as well as the Twin Falls are occasionally referred to as "metric" ships because of their ability to locate themselves to within a few yards of any spot on the surface of the seas; they are the most sophisticated of the RISs. 
Five ships have undergone conversion for the Apollo Man-In-Space/Man-To-The-Moon program. The Vanguard, Redstone, and Mercury are jumbotized T2 tankers; the Watertown and Huntsville are converted Victories. Vanguard and Mercury are assigned to COMSTSLANT and the other three to COMSTSPAC for administrative control. Effective 1 July 1967, the sponsor assigns funding and technical direction responsibilities of the five Apollo ships to the WTR. Oceanographic Ships MSTS began operations with special project ships in 1958 when an oceanographic research ship, the Gibbs, was activated for the Hudson Laboratories of Columbia University under sponsorship of the Office of Naval Research (ONR). In FY 1963 the first two new-construction ships in support of the Ten Year Oceanographic (TENOC) Program-the USNS Gilliss and Davis were among ten ships activated for special projects in that year. These ships were the first of 20 to be constructed for MSTS operation in support of TENOC, which was prepared by ONR as a result of the necessity for a long range increased oceanographic research effort. Nine oceanographic ships operating under COMSTSLANT are engaged in a variety of programs for several different sponsors, among which are the U.S. Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO), ONR, and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). USNS Mission Capistrano, a T2-SE-A2 operating under ONR, is engaged in acoustic tests off Bermuda and the Tongue of the Ocean. Four oceanographic ships under COMSTSPAC and COMSTSFE are operating for NAVOCEANO and the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF is sponsoring the U.S. Antarctic Research Program which utilizes the USNS Eltanin (T-AGOR 8) for oceanographic and scientific research in Antarctic waters. The ship is engaged in trans-Pacific operations between Valparaiso, Chile, and Wellington, New Zealand, in the area from 40 degrees south latitude to the ice cap. Each voyage averages 60 days in length; she embarks 38 scientists and an all-MSTS crew of 48. The scientific team is concerned with the investigation and collection of data in the fields of marine biology, glaciology, meteorology, seismology, and the physical properties of the upper atmosphere. The latest additions to the special projects oceanographic fleet are USNS Silas Bent (AGS 26), Lynch (T-AGOR 7), and Kane (TAGS 27). USNS Mizar (T-AGOR II) is operated for NRL in support of acoustic and deep submergence research. During June-September 1964, off the New England coast, she acted as the "mother" ship for the bathyscaph Trieste 11 in searching for the ill fated nuclear submarine USS Thresher. With undersea cameras designed by NRL, the Mizar and NRL scientists successfully located and photographed some of the wreckage of the Thresher. In general, AGOR operating schedules, as mutually agreed between the sponsor and the MSTS command having cognizance, call for the ships to operate at sea for periods up to 3 or 4 weeks followed by a 1-week in port period. During the import period, sponsor equipment is removed and equipment for the next phase of operations is laded. Embarked scientific personnel also may change depending on the phase of oceanographic work that the ship is next to be engaged in. The scientists embarked are, therefore, transient in nature while the crew remains relatively permanent. The AGOR crews are selected, aside from their required professional qualifications, on the basis of interest and above average ability to perform the required work. MSTS is responsible for readying the ships for sea and conducting them to designated areas for scientific operations. Upon arrival in the areas, masters maneuver the ships in accordance with the instructions and desires of the chief scientists. The ships are designed for a cruising speed of 12 knots, although average speed for a voyage is between 5 and 6 knots. This is due to the large amount of time spent at anchor, drifting, and underway at slow speeds while conducting operations. The ability to maintain low speeds with steerageway is essential to towing equipment for certain types of investigations. Additionally, the necessity of a relatively stable platform is a requirement for lowering and raising core samples, underwater camera equipment, and salinity indicators. Because of this need, many AGORs are equipped with antiroll tanks of a passive type. Bow thrusters are installed to enhance a ship's ability to maintain position at a given location. Forward Floating Depot Ships The forward floating depot (FFD) concept is the first special project assigned that is non-scientific in nature. This program was developed by the Army for the prepositioning of FFDs containing the equipment to support an armored infantry division, less tanks. Three ships - USNS Provo, Cheyenne, and Phoenix - were positioned in Subic Bay, R.P., and together constituted the support of one armored infantry brigade. The ships, VC2-S-AP3 types, each manned by civilian marine personnel and a small permanent military staff, currently support intra-area cargo requirements in the RVN. Sixteen additional FFDS are planned for conversion to join the original three when conditions permit. Source: "Military Sea Transportation Service", U.S. Government Publication, 1967. Prepared by Bureau of Naval Personnel. |
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