DOCID: 3314426

A R.EVI'9I OT
THE TECIINICA], FXSEARCH SIIIP PROGRAM

1961 - 19 69

Miss JuLie Alge! 1t) r:l :.r-. 86 .ra

DocID: 331.4426

PREFACE Durinq the period 1961-

19 69 inclusive, a nurber
of dedicated seaborne
aurface platfolns, gener-
ally referred to as
technical research shipa, conalucted SIGINT collection
under the control of the NaLional Security Agency.
These ships supported the national SIGINT effort by
operating in navigable international v/aters, primarily
providing covelage in coastal area, on talgela not
othen^rise accessible to coLleciion resouxces.
The technical research ship program was terminateil
in October 1969, by the office of the Secretary of
Defense, as part of th€ reduction in Department of
Defense opef,ations necessitated by budgetary linitations,
This review documents the signlficant aspects of
technical lesearch ship operations. Besides summariz-
inq Lhe history of the progratn, it highlights those
considerations that affected operations and, when
possible. indicate6 the actions taken to alleviate of,
solve problems that were encountereal.
The ingention in producing this review is to
provide a ready reference for those involved in the
future planning for, and conduct of operations by.
dedicated seaborne surface SIGINT collection platforms.

lr F. L, fri -?a

a
DOCID: 3314426

SE TION I
Wl'y Technical Resealch Ships? . , .. .... . .. . . ,1
Ynr'+ial Dr^dr.#hin-

First Technical Research Ship...,. ......,.,.3

SECTION 2
types of feqhnical Research Shj.ps

AGTR.,., ,...........5
MSTS.. .. ,..,.,, ,. .. ,5
Ships'Profiles ,.........7
SECTION 3

Ivlissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
SECTION 4

Ship HiEtories
uss oxFoRD. .. ... ... ..16
uss GEoRGETOWN. ....,... ......29
USS JAI,IESTOIIN. ,.. .. .. ., .. .,. .42

uss BEr,MoNT. .. ,,. . . ,.53

uss LTBERTV. ........63
usNs VALDEZ. ............66
usNs Mur,LER. .,,..,..............79
chronologies of Crui8es. ,,....,.88
Ratio of On-Station/Off-Station Tine......,..,......96
SECTION 5

con6idelationE Affecting operationg

DOC I D ; 33!4425

i, :;,-;:"Y';.1:;
l"tSTS and MonthLy Schedule Sribnissions.........,....103

i{brupt Changes in Schedules. ... . . ,, ... ....106

Conversion to I4STS. , ... . .... ,..107

..I09
,
(b) LII
CPA Restrictions. . . . . . . , . . ......113 (b) i:ll-!a rjsc
.1 it l
Escolt and Protective Operations. ......,,117 rb) 1.1) r. r.
9a-3i
Iniiian Ocean Environrnent.. ......I21
usNs vAr,DEz l-----le"puliliry., ....,. ...... .,.,. r.24

for MSTS Personnel. ....... ..I25

couriet Problen in Africa. . . . , , , . . . . . , . .126
Document control. ...,.128
Aging Hu1ls. . . ,. . ,.., ,.130
SECTION 6

1bt i-tl F.L. 96 36

331442
JnCrD 33'14 426

TOPSEEF*EMJb?BRA-
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DOCID: 3374426

SEC?ION 2

TYPES OF TECHNICAL FJSEARCH SHIPS

AUXI],LARY GENERA], TECHNICA.L R.ESEARCH (AGTF) -

USS OXFORD, USS,'AMESTOWN. USS GEORGETOWN,
USS BBLMONT, USS LIBERTY.

re se.rve

BagicalLy, che operating schedule of an AGTR

called for 16 week deployments anal 2 month turn
over port periods, fhe length of cruises, por't
calfs and shipyard schedules $/ere governed by NaiY
policies and the ships thernselves were sponsored
by cNO. with the exception of th€ OXFORD, it cosL
approxinately $3,100,000.00 to convert an AGIR and
S2,472,000.00 to operate it annua11y,
The AGTR5 ranged in operating speedE from
8-10 kts (USS GEORGETOWN) to L5-20 kt6 (USS BELMONF/
USS LIBERTY), the swifteet being rl'eL1 suited to
quick reacti-on or sweep missions.

I.{ILITARY SEA
usNs vAnDEz.
MSTS ships or T-AGS (Technical- gg:ff-LLCIL
ceneral) were smaff coastal transpotts L-J
"he
snlps were operaElona
trdlitarySea Tfansportation sefvi the rna
and opelatin crelvs were civilian
DocI D: 3314425

BasicalIy, the operating schedule for a T-AC

-A116.1 F^r < /irt'c iF ^^Y- +^-
(not to exceed 25 days), Length of cruises, port
cal1s and shipyard schedules were established by
the Military Sea Transportation Service in coordin-
ation with NSA.
Ori inaIl the T-AGg
that is
j - :l usc 4 _rl In
a i.:. !a lir JuLy 1967, sponsoj.ship hras turned the Chie f
of Naval Operalions, as part two- fold Ian to
convert al1 TRSS to T-Acs
e plan ior
g10n wag never realized but the sponsorship $7as
shifted
These ships, with a naximurn operatj-nq speed of
10-L1 kt6.were not capable of quick reaction or
ghaalowing nisslons but were r,rel1 Eultetl for sustainedt
in-depth cgye-Ea.qer of a limited area (e.9. the USNS
MULLER off | |

o'roan"-rr.*t" of these ships was the compara-

tively economical conversion anal operating costs.
The lower cost of converej.on ($3,300,000.00 &
91,89f,000.00) was due to the size and less ligld
standarcis of the Military Sea Transportation Service
as compared to those of the US Nanl'. Alsor the
annual operating cost ($2,586,000.00) was signiflc-
antly less per year than that of the AGTR9 when on-
station tirne is taken into consideration.
The on-station time of the T-AGS r./as consist-
encLy higher than that of the AGTRS because these
ships were able to operate at sea for l-onger periods
of time and the yard perioals and overhauls could be
performeal in overseas ports (e.9. the USNS VAIDEZ
operated from capetoi{n south Africa 1961-1957) unlike
the AGTRS whj.ch wele requireal to return to CoNUS ' or
in the case of Lhe oXFoRD,/JAIIESTo!iN, to subic, for
yard periods.
DOcID: 3314426

USS OIT'ORD (AGTR- 1)

Folmer Hull" Nun$er: AG- 159

Liberly Ship type I Z-EC2-S-:5

Displacement: 11,15 7 tons
rorniex Nafie:. uss sAMilE! ATTKEN (!AcE-3127) . : i.r'-::ir;
Generaf Selvi-ce Personnel Allowed: Officers
aa ia

I lPersonnel Allowed: Officers - 6;

Enlisted - L10
Propulsion! Reclprocating Steam
Ilaximum Speea: tl kts
First Corunanding Office!! CDR Eoward R. Lund
conversion: New York NavaI Shipyard
Commissioned: ,JuIy 8, 1961
cost of conversion: $13,300,000.00

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B!.-36
DoCID: 3314426

USS GEORGETOWN (AGTR-2)

Eormer HulI Nunber: AG-f55
Liberty Ship HulI type: A-EC2-S-C5
Displacenentr 1I,I57 tons
Length: 447'
Former Na$e. SS ROBERT W. flARf
General Service Personnel Allowed: Officers - 9i
tj}lra6tecl - 15 L
rtirrll
(b) iti 5rt
I lPersonnel Allowed )1
LISal

Enlisted - I3? 4
(b) ill F.1,.
Propulsion: Reciprocati.ng Steam a6 1t

Maximun Speed: 11 kts

Flrst Corunanding Officer: LCDR weslLy A, Gleason
Convetsion: Newport News Shipbuil-ding anal Drydock
ComPany

Conunisaioned: Novenber 9, 196 3

Costr 3,I00,000.00

llr) ill
1L) iJl-511 Us.
l0l

-9.
oOCIO: 33!4426

USS JA-IIESTOWN {AGTR-3)

Former Hull No: AG- 156

Liberty Ship Hul1 Lype: z-EC2-S^c5
Displacenent: 11.157 tohs
FoTmeT Nane: SS J. I{OWLAND GARDNER
ceneraf service Personnel Al1o\red: Office"s
anListed - 15I (L_- ) (1)
(b; l3t 50 usc
I lP"tronner A1 Iolreil! Officers - 4lr:
tb) (3) P.L.
8 !.- l{i
Propulsion: Reciprocating steam
l,laximurn Speed: Il kts
Flrst Cotunanding Officer: CDR Allen J. Kaplan
Conversior: Ne\,qlort News Shipbuj-lding and Drydock co.
cornmissloned: Decenber 13, 1953
cost: $3,000,000.00

1l-: :, :!i ii:l:

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79f
ib' L3) F,L.
!t-l{,
D:

USS BELMONT (AGTR-4 )

Foriner Hul1 Nulnber. r AG-157

vrcLui y JrLaP lurr EyPe:
Displaceftrent: 11,500 tons
EolmeT Name: IRAN VICTORY
General Service Personnel Al- lowed:
ljn-Lrsted - -L 5.t
rbr (:i :0 j-rsc
4!?
ib) i:) r.r,.
Propulsion: Stearn turbine a6 36

Maximum Speeil: 18 kts

Pirst Conunand,ing Officer: CDR Jerome E. Henalerson
Conversion: wiflianette lron and Steel lvorks r
Portfand, Oregan
Commissioned: November 2, 19 64

Cost:
(5) il)-5!i Ijsc lat
(!) 1ll 13 Lrsa r9,.
{ii ) 1j)-f.r. iti l;:
DOCID: 33].4426

USNS VALDEZ (T-AG-169 )

Hull Nuntler: T-AG- 169

Knot Ship hull typer C1-M-AVI
Dispfacement: 5r000 tons
FoTmer Name: ROUND S P I,I CE,/,'OS EPH J. MARTINEZ

Ship Personnel Allowed: Offi cers

ljn-Llsteo - 46
l-------l P"r"onner A1loriTed: Officer6 - 4i
Enlisted - 9I
Propulsior: Diesel
Maximum Speeil: 9 kts
Fi!st Master: Willian F. OrReilly
Re-acquired from MariLitne Admini6tration in 19 59;
returned to Navy in 1961
Conversion: 3. 300 r 000.00

4L)l
ib) 13t It usc
t98
lbl L3J r,i,
3a :b
DOCID; 33!4426

USNS MUII"ER (I|-AG- 171)

liuI1 number: f-AG-17f

lbot Ship hu1l type: C1-M-AVl
Displacernent: 5?000 tons
Forme! Name: CHECK KNOT

Ship'e Personnel Allowed: rr+fi ^o16 - 11 .

Enl"isted - 48
1bI (1)
Alrowed: officers - (b) (l) 50 uac
[eerso!tn61
Enlisled -
4t
,lal
90
ih) (:J P. L.
Dz^h,rl ci niadal e., aa
^^.
Maximum Speeal: 10 kts
Fi!6t Master: Wj.lliam F. OrReilly
Re-acquired Marit.ime Administration in 1.962
Reclassified T-AG-171 in L9 63

conversion cost: 1.891,000.00

il.I :1

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 DocID: 3314426

Lbr 1]
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L4
DOCID: 331,4426

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 L|J!r!'t JJl4qlb

SECTION 4

HISTORY OF

SHAREDOWN AND FIRST DEPLOYI,IENT

The USS OXFORD, convelted fron a Libeit]' )rul]

to a Technical R€search Ship (rRs),
U. S. Naw vesse I
n fi^l hl.ne -:l l
for OXFORD to deploy to the African coast in
January 1962 upon conpletion of its shakealov/n ops
at GTYO. Auqmentation of a latin American TRS
f--------l piogram however, necessitsated the ship's
diversion to South America.She arrived on-ELaeion
in mj-d-January 1962. The operatj-ons area was the
east coast of South America
and operational quidanae lias

An evalua on of the OXFORDTS first t\alo cruises

indi

jr : : :Lr rJrta .1rj.-l

j ri -Ii IIi. r-rF
;- :: f.L, Ea.la
DOCID: 33t4426

L.- : ]t rjia -1:

-FF'E:G
BoCID: 3311126
DOCID:33r4426

,.-i:-:.

SOUTHEAST ASIAN DEPLOYMENT

 DOCI D r 3314426

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2L
DOCID: 3314426

l, ,:l 5rl U:c ltr_r

rb)l lr l! iric 7!!l
b1 ,31-F,L, 86 la

ut 1966, the OXFORD operated primarily

prov!4i raqe of Southeas As i- ad

The OXFORDT s operations in Southeast Asia in

1966 resuLted in a series of firsts: a DRV nessage
forwalni[g of B52 strikes; unique viel cong trans-
missionsi viet cong maritime infiltration conununica-
10ns I untca nch s r,rithi DRV

22
DOCID:3314426
 DocID i 3314426

1,, lr 5! ljsc 40i

LL),lj l: U::ia i!.4
bi 1l) P. L. !6-la
 DOCID: 3314426

,' ;1
i. i.l. : U:a llrj
ilr i:i I: rjsc;-:.:
il.I I P.l, !a 3a
DocI D r 33!4426
DOcID: 33L4425
 DocID: 33L4426

DEACTIVA:TION

there was no requirement f,or diversion of the ship

during the last nonths of operations. tilission objectives
for TRSS in gEA w3s bubtished in January 1969.
In Augustt O.IO published its 703 list of ships to
be inactivateal aE a result of the DOD budget cut.
Th USS OXFORD ae well as aI1 the fRSs were inclualeal
in the 1is
or
ps from Navy lprogrammlng
g lnventory was coreleteal.
(r'riI
(br13)'50lrSc 403 on 20 october. the Uss OXFoRD departed her opera-
(b)t3)-14 usc 798 tlons area and sailed to Yokoguka. ilapan to conmence
stripping anat deactivation. The ship was stricken
from the Naw ledcrer and strippeal fof, re6ale,
DOCID: 33I4426

USS GEORGITO9{N I ,

On 2 January 1964, the USS GEORGETOI,V-II departed

Portsmouth, virginia enroute to Guantana$o
three weeks of general shakedolio training exercises.
On cornpletlon of the traiDing periodr the ship pro-
ceedea to Montego Bay, ilahaica and then to Key West.

i!l
tr Ie urc t!_j!
r,l E,L, sa ra
 DOqI!

THTRD DEPLOYMENT OF TIIE USS GEORGETOWN

on 5 ,lanuary 1965. the Uss GEoRGETOWN departed

iLr) .ll 5Ll irti lrlj NorfoIk. Va. tg conaluct special operations in Lhe
lrl il I', . _'i_
I rarea and along rllel
coasts. The cruise was divi
1) bet
 DOcID: 3314425

1L.r (lj 511 LISIj 4/l.l

llrt r3t r8 usc i-q!
LLrl (lr E,L, Sa .6

.Letion of thia l|dssion, the

the USNS MUL],6R
Ihe USS remaineCl on station until
le I May by the USNS MULLER and then proceeded
to Norfolk.
u!/Lru; J.Jl!+{:b

tl

lLri3i-tl usa .t:i3

; The GEORGEToWN returned to Norfolk on 1966.

RE],IEF OF THU USNS MULLER MAY-JU],Y 1966

conrpletion ot upkeep, the USS GEORGETOWN

Noxfolk 17 f4ay 19 66 enroute

,t ir _rir r_rsi llrl

rLlit Il !I::ar r-9ll
iti 1:r f.L, ta tij
EO€I!: 331 4 4?6
- , . .. 1

ib l

On 23 August. the uss GSORGETOvIN arrived in

. ::j F.l, Norfolk where she remalned in port until 4 october 1956.
DEPT,OYMENT OCTOBER - DBCEMBER 1966

4oc GEORGETOWN
Noffolk fhis curise was divided
rnto two arts 3

: ..,i;-i
: aa :i
DOCrD: 3314426

The USS GEORCETOVfN returned Eo Norfolk,

DEPIOY},IENT }IARCH - MAY .I9 6 7

The USS GEORGETO$N deparled No.rfolk ? y,a:c. l9€7

for deploynrent to n< i h r-Fc
2 Ehases:

On 25 Uarch the cEoRGEEol'lN suffexed a boiler blow-

out off fhete ltere no petsonnef
necessiLateil hei return
to Cristobal. c. Z. on 31 uarch where she renained under
repair until 15 April 1"9 67 .
MULLER RELIEF MAY -.TUNE 1967

On 23 June, the USNS MULLER returned to station and

the USS GEORGETOWN sailed to Norfolk.
I IDEPT,oYVEN'I - NoIEMBER 1967

olk, Va. on 16
October enroute the Fl"eet Training Center at Guantadardo
Bav for trzo greeks uflderrdav refre

-t*oRGETo,oNarepartearNorf
DOCID: 3314426
(3| -5i
i3, It

the GEORGET'OWN
but was to retutn
DOCID: 3314426

: i:
=.a -:-;.
the game day because of salt water corlosion in the
evaporators and 1or, feed gater. Repaits wele comeletei
on 31 Decenlcer L967.
 DOCID: 3314426

MuttER RELIEF - JI'NE-Auqust 1968

In ,r4ay 1968, DIRNSA propggsll

il,i i.rt !a rrsa 4a:

fr ltr 1.o u:a: 7!f-
r_) i.l) P.L, !q.: l;,
 DOCID: 33744?6

The GEORGETOWN relieved btr the USNS MULLER on 1 Augustf

arrived in Nolfolk 7 August 1968.

ibr (1)
iFt (-1r !, usc 40.1
ibr (3, l9 rJsc r!!
L- /l F. L. rl€ .lf
 DOCID 3314 426
::.

The GEORGETOh'N departed Norfq!! out. Eot

17 Septembef, and operaeed in the
October r,rhell she sailed for the east coasE 3i't"=*1 "
a
L)
.lr 5i u:ic lrrl
i ll l' L. rJ6-.16

oort ca -L -L was scneoute

NO for badly neealeal waLers ide/fi reside
cleaning of boiler and tnaintenance of the aur<lllarv
equipment,
wnl1e tne ship was ret-lldlg the
resume coagtal eratio
_'Y,!ILr: JJll.tlO

On 13 Noveriber, the shj.p reported a boile! ouiaoe

which the ship's forcewas abie to correct by 16 Novexber.
On I January 1969, the shiD reported the loss of the
nunrber I diesal- generator and engine craDkshaft; the latter's
repair was not within bhe capability of the shiprs force,

DBACTIVATION OF THE USS GEORGEEO'{N

The GEORGETOWN arrived in Nolfo1k on 6 uarch 1959

af ter an extenaled east [ruise.
DOcI D r 33f4426

on 17 octobe!. cNO publicly announced gbe_lggl.relleh:

of the USS GEORGETOWN. on 17 December 19591 l\..as
di ses tablished.

ir, ) 111
tb) 1-1) 50 IIric 403
rb) {:r P.r. 8t l6
]]CID:

LSS ]AYESTOi"A' I I

?3e USS J!,!{ES?OI\t, a converted Liberty hulL, began

s=:-.'i.e as a Technical Research Ship on 20 January L964
;:..r she left Norfolk for shakedown operatlons in the
:a!::ira€an, The five week cruise included stoDs at
::airanano Bay, Kingston, Janaica and a week of operations
c:: ?avana.
II?ST DEPLOY}IENE

first full depl-oyhent, a scheduled

The J-AmSTOWN's
c gation of Africa, began on 9 April 1964. The
i rc j.mnav j-
130 day deploymenl covered approximately 31,000 engine
:niles and took the ship into th€ Mediterranean, Ehrouoh
the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, south along the East AfricaF
ccast, north al

,Pha /l6h I + area \nas ubitrarily divided Ittto

patts to faci ^ir$ah
litate tagkinq aEd evaluation: Part I-

: ] 5' US': !0l

. '1 ! ri:at l.ir
.r -i -P.1,, ic 3b
DOCID

..''.-.
,: - 1!_ as.::li
L

o SECOND DEP]"OYMENT

43
SoCID: 3314425

THIRD DEPLOY}IENT

The ship d arted Norfolk 23

DocID: 33I4425

._

-:
t,i :
r ;.:.

DEPLOYI{ENT TO SOUTHEAST ASII-

During the first quarter 1965, aliscuasions were

helal concerning t.tie doploymenL of a Technical Research
ship to southeast Asia (sEA) (see sec. 4 , p. 18). A
relief ship wa€-le--be-avai lab Ie within six nonths. On
13 April 1965,1 lrecorMdended to cNo that the JAMESTOWN
be selected as-E E-FE ief shlp for the o)GoRDr the rationale
being the ninimal disruption to the TRs program if
JAMESToWN $rere choseu. l------__lreconsnenalatLon was accePted
by CNO on 24 ApriL.

Throughout 1966 and the first five montha

14 June to 03 ,luly 1967, tte JAI'1ESToy{N operaled

I li" response to special ndssj-on tasking.

-.Eren
 DOCID:33L4426

o
i'r. iir 5! USC ,1ril
',r (:l)-14 usc 198
{b1 ili P.L. 3€ 36
!OCID: 331

During Southeast Asian operations the JAMES-

rOWNrsactivities closely paralleled those ' of the
OxFoRD. Isol-ateti alifferences Involveal special opera-
tions duri"ng irh
other in Dort.
DACID:3374426

the general SIGfNT objectives aele as ic:le'*.s:

(A) North Vietnarn/viet cong
(1) Intercept of vc military, ro deter-
mine strength, equiphent, localion. alesposition, organ-
ization anil mission of enemy forces, in reallime suppoLt
of U.S. llilitary Conunand.ers requirenents.
(2) To identify, catalog nevunusual
comaunications antl signal charac teris ti cs , known ot
suspecteal of enanating from south or North Vietnam
aDal peripheral areas.

(5) To maintain techiical dontinuity on

vc party cofilnudications aPpatatus.
DocID: 3314426

. l' :r'!Sl:-:
b iS Irr jaLj _::
iI,r L:r F.1,. r-a la

49
DOCID: 3314426

(G) fo assist U.s. ARDF tesources in locating

enemy transmillers off the coast of south Vietnafi by
-?^r,l Ai -^ +i^-^aF

' (H) To establish, maintain continuity, and

deterinine operational status and capability of specified
signals.
DOCID: 33f4425
DoCID: 33L 4 425

r : lr L:s,j -!

fhe ,fAMESTowN's operations between January and October

1969 we!e, prinarily routine in nature. On 7 October the
ship lef! Southeast Asia enroute to its annual overhaul
at sasebo. During this period' the decision was made by
DEpSECDEF to deactivate all the technical reseatch 6hip5.
The ship rdas tihen moveal from sasebo to Yokosuka to be
deconnissioneal in mid-Decedter 1969.
,iCCID: 3314425

USS BELI.IONT

The USS BELI,IONT was €he first of lhe Vlcto!-\' --...:e

hull-s to be converted to a Technical nesearch S:-.:--,-
The shiprs fiaximrrm speed of 18 knots made rt r''::_--
responsive than-_--._-l
previous TRSS to situataons ies,ii::i:c-
swifi. diversion fron one operalions area co a:.j.-re:.
The anE provided qS! U-e__e4li_C!e
officer

The BELI4ONTI s shaketlown cruise to the Caribbean area

beqan on 20 January 1965. Undenray training was conducteal
during dayl-ight hours with the ship returning to cuantanamo
each night and on eekenils. , From 20-26 February, the
shi6
-01^.Francd
in +ha I larea anil teturneal to Norfolk
on i,tarch 1965.
FIRST DEPLOYMSNT

The BEtIrlONf r s first full deployntent, starti

ril 1965, was sqheduled. for the !ae6t coast of
337 4 4?6

SECOND DEPLOYMENT

Ihe BELMONT dE
lE WaS tasked

THTRD DEPLOYMENT

On be an its third
DOCID: 3314426

}OURTI' DEPIOYMENT
In Septenber 1966 the BEI,I'{ONT
DOCI D : 33r4425

F]FTE
'E?IIoYEENT

SIXTH DEPI,OY},1ENT
DOCID: 33I4426

SEVENTH DEPIOYMENT

lhe BEr,$oNT did no! depart for[again untit

$id-1968 due to nuneroug delays encoultered during the
ship's valal overhaul peliod and the need fo! refresher
tralnin| for tteflpersollne1 on board. The BELI4ONT's
operations orilers were changed Eeveral tifies enroute to
West coa6t
DOcID:3314426
JlJLIU: JJL11Z6
DOCID: 33144?6

EIGETH DEPTOYI4ENT
P9c__I9;.-3.3J 4426
: : :a --:: _!:
: : :.1. :a :a

",;:si;6! - -:-
3-E-ii--':a:{-
'DOCID:3314426
. r i,_ i :
-.
a- . --- ..
'..-

After a brief pott caII in Rota, spal-n the ship deParted

the llediterrabean enroute Norfolk, On 31 Oclober, the
BETMONT arrived ln Norfolk lshete stlLpFing anal ileactivacion
procedured began. D€activation was coDpleted in January 19?0.
DocID: 337 4 426

! I r:it. l:
,i , ', r'.. r.: : : :.1. !a-la
ir-r -- : i:t r-:!l
,l:,r rr) P.L, !a lil
USS LIBERTY (USN-855)
Febluary 1965, the USS IIBERTY, AGTR-s, sailed
from the Bremerton shipyard at washington.
trans ited to Nolfolk, virginia and arqivql 25 Febr
to beqin lepalinq for

The USS LIBERTY with USN-855 embarkeai, coDducted

shakedown operations at Guantanamo Bay betr,reen 29 Uarch and
27 Apti! 1955, and then deployed to the west coast of
f---------'l from Norfolk on li June 1965.
!?,-r.L: JJ1{q:b

SECOND DgPLOYMTNT ro WEST COASTI I

od 3 Januarv 1966, the U

Norfolk enroute

The ship operated

for approximately 2 inontlts
on 21 tlarch 1955.

SUBSEQUENT DEPIOYMBNTS TO WEST COAST

on 31 May 1966, the uss TTBERTY sailed fronlg4qlL !o

begin her third deployneflt to the ]/est coa6t of L-l
This miEsion, which lasted until 30 August 1966, \^'as conducted

64
::al!: 3314425

fhe LIBERTY returned to Norfolk on 28 leb:!ar1' L9a7

for upkeep,
FINA], DBP IOYI',IENT

On 3 May 1967, the LIBERTV sailed fton Norfolk to the

west coast of f---__l

the ship \das attacked by Istaeli topetlo boats

On 8 ,June,
and fighter jetE. serious alanage was sustainea by the shiP
and casualilies \,aere high. The ship was subseguently totted
to MaLta to unalergo tenrporary iepairs and later to the U.S.
rhere she remaideal out of codrLission until the end of the
shipborne coll-ection progran. (SEE"Report to the oirectcr
NSA - USS LTBERTY (USN-855) 23 May - 8 June 1957)."
-.r-,,IU: J 5 I11Z t5

USNS VAI,DEZ I I
DOCID: 33144?5

EXTENSION OF THE USNS VAIDEZ

The USNS VALDEZ vras oliginatfy slated to be Eiasea c.::

in 1964. As the time for inactivltion approacheC, aj:i
prospect of losing t-t!e ship becane tlore appare!1t/ s::.:_!
voices hrere heard in favor of extending the shi9. tle
basic rationale for the proposal vae as follo\*.s: lpJs 2
and 3 which were ptoglammed for conulissioning by ..]1e e:.3
of calendar year 1963 would not become operatjoil_lv
available r&til late FY64. At that time , the re-LDZZ . }:iL:::F
and ROBINSON were due for deactivation, this le.f t orlv
3 TRS8 to be applied to all exisLing requ.ilements, riSs
4 and 5. progranneil for Decedber 1964 would not be opera-
1e d-
L-UIU: JJIqqZb

1t,l rli
1bl r-1i ', - r'::. :::
lbl ili Le -isri :!':

6g
DOCID: 33L4426
DocID:3314426

(b) (1)
ib) (_1) s0 u:c 403
ib) (:l)-!. L. 8€-16

70
 DoCrD;33f4426
:.:::

in c.p"io*r,

,lil
. I 1.! 1, ]- :] !
:.
3314426

Tlte vA.LDsZ deployed once agalt to east coast on 3,Jan-

uary 1967 anal renaineal there urtil I April \dhen she began
her transit through the Suez Canal to the Mediterranean
enroute cllNus.
VALDEZ RNHASIIJTTATION PI'4]{NING

cotnmisBioneal iD I95? to meet

Droctrammed sr'rce on a -vear-tolEai basis- until 1957.
she had been operateil excluaively flon foreign ports since
196I and because overhaul had rouelnely been acconplished
in capetosn, she had been virtually lrlaccessible for modifie-
ation and updabing of the research depaltrnent faoilities
and electonic installations. In L967. the ship was pro-
q:latltrled for overhaul plior to .lu1y l-957.
DOcI D: 33L4426
,iCCID: 3314426

USNS VAIDEZ REHABILITATION

Between 14 JuDe - 11 septenrer 1967, the USNS VALDEZ

undefi.ient rehabilitation. upkeep and refresher training.
rnchrded io:the yard projects were: rehabilitation of
enlisted men's living spaces includinql ai!-conditioningt
 ]'f,CID: 3314426

installation of half deck in *2 hold above existing

l-hii; .16^L MrrnFD'r! .F:^a.. .i?-^^h,ri+i^hin^ ^€
MILDEPT nainlenaice^ffi^a
area a..rd adninislration spacesi
and pa-inllng of the exlerior of the ship.
RE DE PL OYlENT

The USNS VAIDEZ departed for the west coast of

r after

LL-r i ll P. L, ali

In uay 1968, the ship retLlrneai to Lhe wesl

where she operaleil unti.] 18 December L968 wheo
sail for New York for overhaul.

USNS VAI,DEZ OVERHATJL 1968-1969

2
!___L: JJI jtqlll

ThE USNS VAI,DEZ, then commencing overhauL in the

:,S,, \r'a s exanined as to lts capability to provide this

During the shiprs overhaul period, a TRSSCOMM AN,/SRC-33

system r,/as installed. It was hopeil that this additional
equipment would provide the Ehip trith a ftore reliable
cordnunications capability. The USNS VAIDEZ, in the past,
had.experienced chronic conununications problens espe;ia1iy
\,/nr re operatrng in the | |

. Froh the. .rn. ,,,"

problems
tuIlllllll"ste$ was cotnpleted,
with the equipnent began prina;iLy involving the
antenna and it6 con€rols. The ship, oliginally scheduled
to.ggpart for on It pecembe-r l968-postp-oned saiiing
untrl JanuaryE] 23, 1959, due to recurrihg- problems involving
the installation anal testing of the nerr TitS SCOMlil.
During its rernaining days in the U.S.. the ship received
scuttle/alestruct devices and conducted lraIk throuq-h drills.
DOCIB:33r4426

1rATDE Z
DocID: 3314425

In Aprll, the ship experienced failure of transnitters

lrhich required 26 days in port lvtonrovia, tiberia to correct.
At the same tine, TRSSCOMM systen developeil problens.
correction of these problenE vras hanpeved bi excessive heat
in the equipnent bays. It waa necessdry to send a tech-
nician andpafts fre:m the U.s, to I'Ionrovia to accomplish
repatrs.
on 5 ilune, the ship suffered a nain englne disablement
which l-eft it dead in the water off Luarda. The ship was
towed to port lihere repalls wele completeal on 14;tune.
On 13 August, CNO withbeld the obligational auLhotity
ro cover the operations of v ER beyond 1 Octo-
be! 1969 (ref section 6), recomnenaleal the
inmediat.e return of the VA-LDEZ-To the-T.El and CINCLANT,
on COMSTS' estimate that 60 day6 would be Ilecessaly to
deacti.vate the shi.p, orilered her retuln on 23 August,
The USNS VALDEZ, in port Monrovia for routine pott cal1,
receiveal oraleles to sail to Norfo1k, Va. on conpletion of
the in port period. The ship departed on 27 August and
arriveal in Norfolk on 18 September to cornmence
cotnmence aleactivation.
-rrOCID: 337 4 4?6

USNS MUI,],ER

In response to the mD
di. re ctiv e---a.Ddjo
determine the resources thj"s wouiC
I ldeveloped a two-phased progra-n i-or su-b-
rni ss ion c-6-TFe Assistant Secretary of Defense and arianged
for the chalter and convelsion of a ship through t'he
!4i1i tary Sea Transportation Service (MSrS).
In August L962, COMSTS advised tbat the USNS Mitl,LER
haal been selected for reoutfitting and by SeptemS-erl a1-
teration procealures had begun.
23 April 1963, the USNS MULT,ER T-AG-169 left
Hi99ens Shipyard
30 ADri 1 the shi
ll.CID: 3314426

(b) i11
(b) (:J)-5! rjgc 4Lr3
rb) l3i ?,r,. la .ib
DoaID: 33I4426

FIRST DEPTOY}TENI APRJ], 1963 - APRI' ]964

/tr 5rl us.l ,1i .l

ti P,t, a€

On 21 April 1954 the ship saiJ.ed to Tanpa, Florida

to uhalergo ils first annual overhaul.
SECOND DEPLOYMENT MAY 1964 - APRIL 1965
on 19 May the MULLER s3j_Ied_jEIg4lbC ards to
res ume ne! norna.L m]-ssaon

TIITRD DEPLOYMENT MAY 1965 - MAY 1965

USNS MULLER returned to oDerationg
when she relie e USS GEoRGET'oI{N !n K 9{es t.
-.aarD: 3314 426

FOURTH DEPLoYMENT ,ltl,IE 1966 - MAY 196?

On 29 Jwre 19 6 6, the USNS MUILER, on corFletion or
drydock anal overhaul in New York, relieved the Uss GEORGE-
TOI'|N at Key tles! anal

MulLer cenerator cagualty

on 1r Jul-y, the USNS MULTERI having ju8t conpleteal
overhaul. reported failure of 2 generators. COMSTSTANT
directed the ship to rglEll1-jlgI
preclude drifting into before a
tow could be arrangeal,
_: .:i1-t.t:5

i!-:i:e a?aiting tow, the ship established a

for approxinately elght hours whife all power
iras s:r.!i:ed. ',c iTe Research Operations spaces. and then
ret'Jlriing io i..s original pasition by shiftin all shi.prs
er back

The follolring dayf tjre uss EATON took the MUT,LER in

tow to Key West vhele repairs were conpleted on 29 July.
Underwater Eull Inspection

in turn reconmended that nernbers of the

COMSTSLAI{I
MULLERts ulr,onpr f--------------- be traineil to accomplish
hu1l inspection rather than contracteil personnel because
this qoul-d offer an opportunlty to attach objecte to the
hu11 as \4ell as illaw unalesira.ble attention to the ship.
DIRNAVSECGRU objected to the use ofl lpersonnet for
this tagk anal recornmenaleal use of shore-baE6?l-military pet-
Eonnel. COMSTS Port Canaveral subsequently alrangecl for
in-port iliving services to accomplish hul]' inepection anal
the M[J],LER was directed to report satisfactory completion
of the job in the first srTnEP follorling the inspection.
FIFTH DEPLOYMENT JUNE 195?-JUNE 1968
On 22 June, the USNS K re-Lleved tne u55 GEUKUts-
TOm{ at West and resumeal
qoclD:3314 425
a : :: 'ji: -93
 The l'luLlER was acconganigd by an escore at all timee
until he! finat recall iD october L969. The threebut within
isiignea normally opelaled outboalal of the MULLoR 'lestroye!3
quici reaction r-a:rge for Periods of no less tian flve gayB'
The special Ptovi"sioning and refueling requilements
of the destroyers necesEitateal several cnanges Eo tne
echealule rout-ine the ship had Previously employeil (see
Sectio$ 5, p. 103).
SIXTH DEPLOYMENT AUGUST 1968.OCTOBBR 1969

August 1968, the

to be he! 1as t 1

o
the ship was off-station in dry
on L6-l-7 Decernber
dock in Tanpa, Florida undergtoing repairs lo qenerators.

leacEvation of t'h{tlsNs lluLr,ER

fn July 1959, cNo in response to the ProPose'l Navy

Fy-70 reduclion in funding' reconmenaled the inunediate
inactivation of the OSNS VAIDEZ and USNS MULLER'
in
The
MLnTLER was due for her annual yard overhaul septemloer.
but due to CNOrs Proposal to wlthhold obLigatl-ona1.authority
to cover her operltions, COMSTS recordnended the ship be
Jiuuat"a a" robn .s posiilre eo NoRVA to cofimence striPping
oPerations.
 D3CID: 3314426

fhe ship arrived on f6 October and removal of the

_S-pgn-Eglls equipnent began ifiunediately. On 28 Oqtober
I lwas deactivated.

Ll-l (1, 5! USc 4irl (1t

1Li13r t3 U9C 79€ (.1I 5n rlsc 40_l
LL.l (lr ?.L. E., 3a (:i f,L.36-36
DOCID: 3314426

CHRONOLOGY OF CRUISES BY SHTP

04 January 1962 - 08 May 1962

16,fu1y 1962 - 02 Uarch 1963

- 06 september 1963
lvlay 1963 East coast
3I Decenber 1963 - 3l ,fune 1964 ca!ibbean
19 February 1964 - 10 ,lune J964 West coast
05 August 7964 - 02 Decernber 1964 West coast
uJ leprualY J.yo5 - uJ Lrune lyb5 West,/East .ou"t
subic
l----l
17 ,lune 1965 - 31 August 1965 South China Sea

25 September 1965 - 31 October 1965

-Lr NOVenDer r9b5 - ru DecelnDef rvb5 South china Sea
]6 February 1966 - 05 Malch 1966
12 !4arch 1966 - 05 June 1966 South China Sea

19 June 1966 - 28 July 1966 South Cbina Sea

12 August 1966 - 07 Septenber 1966 South China Sea

13 Septenrber - 28 oqtober 1966
03 November 1956 - 5 December 1966 South China Sea
13 Decer'ber 1966 - f2 January 1967 South china Sea
23 January 1967 - 24 April 1957 50ucn china sea
05 May 1967 - 03 July 1967 South chi.na sea
20 septehber 1967 - 29 Novenber 1957 South chlna Sea
12 Decenber 1967 - 15 March 1958 South China sea
18 April 1968 - l7 July 1968 south china Sea
locID: 3374425

28 July - 23 August 1968

1968 South China Sea
?1 Sepletrber 1-968 - 2I Decentber 1968 South China sea
03 Jaltuarf 1969 - 09 April 1969 south Chi"na Sea
24 Apri] 1969 - 27 ,lu1y 1959 South China Sea
11 August 1959 - 03 November 1959 South China sea
DEACTIVATED
I l:iE: 3-r14425

19 April f964 - 26 May 1964

0I JuLy 1964 - 26 October 1964 nasl- co4st
06 January 1965 - 30 March 1965

03 Aprt] 1965 - 08 l4ay 1965

2I JuIy 1965 - 13 October 1965 East coast
Dece$ber 1965 - 07 March 1966 North coa6l:
18 Uay 1966 - 30 ,lulte 1966

05 July 1966 - 23 August 1966

05 ucEoDer -Lvbb - zr uecemDer rybt) North Cqast

08 March 1967 - 13 May 1967 Nofth coasL

May 1967 - 30 June 1967
17 october 1967 - 04 Novenber 196? Refreshe!
07 Novenbe! L967 - 22 Nove$ber 1967
23 Noveniber f967 - 13 December: 1957

15 December L957 - 26 March 1958

08 June 1968 - 09 Auqust 1968
18 September 1968 - 05 October 1968

06 October L96a - 21 ilanualy 1969 Ea6t fndian

Ocean

28 ,January 1"969 - 07 March 1959 South Atlantic

Norva

DEACTIV.AT!D
-aOCI D : 33I4426

qqs .r44Eqlqryryl rAGrR- 3 )

09 Apri-1 1964 - 17 Auqust 1964

14 october 1964 - 03 February 1965 w"st coas-t I

24 I'iarch 1965 - 23 July 1965 East/west .ou"t I---__l

23 October 1965 - 02 ,ranuarv 1966

07 January 1966 - 0I April 1966 south China Sea off S.Vietnam

22 April 1966 - 03 July 1966 South China Sea
14 July 1966 - 30 septerlber 1966 South china sea
.11 october L966 - 23 December 1966 south china sea
31 Decernber L966 - 02 February 1"967 south china sea
12 April- 1967 - 11 July 1957 south china Sea
07 August 1967 - t3 Novenibe! 1967 South china Sea
19 Novenber 1967 - 20 February 1968 south china sea
03 March f968 - 13 ,fune 1968 South China Sea
02 JuIy 1968 - 30 Septenrer 1968 South china sea
L7 october 1968 - 15 ,tanuary 1969 south china sea
07 February 1969 - 17 Malch 1969 south china sea
31 t{arch 1969 - 30 June 1959 south China Sea
18 JuLy 1969 - 18 October 1969 gouth china sea
DEACTIVATED
_ttiE: 26

uss BErr'loNT I yAcTR-4)

'1"964
02 Decerlber - 2I December l-964 Bremerton-No:fc Ik
18 January 1965 - 0l March 1965 shakedown cruise to GT]1o

26 April 1965 - 16 ,July 1965

15 Septeniber 1965 - 28 January 1966 West coast
17 March 1966 - 19,lu1y 1966 WeE t coas!

08 September 19 66 Northwest
"oastE
02 February 196? - 08 ,lune 1967 circumnavigation

15 August L96? - 03 October 1967 West coast L__l

04 october 1967 - 15 Novenber 1957 "-.* ^^.-* r--------1
1? Novenber l-967 - 14 Decenlcer 1967 Wa"t
"o."t.
transit
I
to CONUS
15 May 1968 - 14 June 19 68 Refresher traj.ninq at
GTMO

15 June 1968 - 25 September 1968 west ioast | |

26 Septenber 1968 - 30 October 1"968 Indian OceFn,/Wert /,

West coaat L_l
31 october 1968 - 28 Novmeber 1968 gransit South Atlantic
East coa€t
l-----------1 Norva
rd !, une -Lvb9 - 30 october 1969 Meditefranean
DEACTIVAII.ED
:OCID

USS ],IBERTY (USN-85s./AGTR-5)

nC FaF,v,,.F' 1O<( - t< E6}\rJrrn, lOa< Brettterton - Norfolk

29 March 1965 - 24 Ap!i1 1965 Shakedown at GTMO

15 June 1965 - 27 October 1965 west coast l---l to

03 January 1966 - 2L March 19 66 w"rt.ou=t[---l

tl
3I t{ay 1966 - 30 August 1966 w."t
"o."t l----l
01 November 1966 - 28 February 19 67 west eo.st I
03 May 1967 - 24 May 196? West coa ..1--l
01 June 1967 - 08 June 1967 Ma7{i +ArFrn^.h
^he
(Torped.oed during Arab-
Israeli crisis and
subsequently deactivated)
]]C]D: 3311426

USNS VA.LDEZ I /T-AG-I69 )

i. -F+hAr 'q6- - FpLr.lF'v 1962 Souti

West coas t
october 1962 - March 1963 wes! coast
08 March 1953 - 24 ,fanuary 1964 wes t
26 February 1964 - 09 August 1954 west
15 August 1964 - 10 February l-965 East coas t
2I March 1965 - 20 Oatober 1965 East coast
26 october 1965 - 15 Decenrer 1965 West coas t
27 Decemirer 1965 - 24 May 1966 Ea6t
2I Juhe 1956 - l0 October 1966 East coast
20 October 1965 - 13 Decenber f966 Wes t
03 iranuary 1967 - 30 March 1967 East coast
09 April- 1967 - l-6 April 1967
21 April- L967 - 22 May 1967 Mediterranean
18 Decenber L967 - L6 May 1968 n""tl---l
l-7 May 1968 - 28 August 1968 West coast
29 August 1968 - 18 september 1968 Transit to CONUS for
overhaul
23 \lanuary 1969- fB February 1969 operatlons
19 February 1969 - 26 August 1969 w".t "o.=t[
27 August 1969 - 18 septenlJer 1969 Transit to CONUS

DEACTIVATED
IOCID: 33!4426

usNs uuLr;ER I fr-AG-171)

30 epril 1963 April 1,964

- 21
26 t4ay 1964 - 01 April 1965
10 Malr 1965 - 21 May 1965
02 July 1966 - 15 May 1967
25 June 1967 - 11 June 1968
06 Auqust 1968 - 07 October 1969
. DSACTIVA'IED
I l3ll: 3314,126

R.ITIO OP OY-STATION TIME BY SHIP

:'.
uss o)slf,RD | 11967-1969 b r :. . :: :'

.L9b /

ON STATION 668

OFF STATION
. 33g
* 80 days off statlon for annuaL overhaul in Japan and
further delay due to englne faifure.

1968
ON STATION 738

oI'P sfATroN '272

* 33 Days -delay in subic, P,f,. for engine repaire.
!9!9 (308 days only)
ON STATION 798

OTF STATION ].IB

DocID:3374426

uss GEoRGETowN | 11967-1969

1957
ON STATION 38S

OFF STATION 6 2Z*

* 65 days in Norfolk, Va. for nornal RAV. t i : 'l:::'.i
I09 days in NorfoIk, Va. for annual overhaul, l: a a.L- :.', 3a

1958
ON STATION 5rt
OFF STATION 49I
* L3 days delay in NapLes, Italy due to USS PUEBLO incident.
74 daya in Norfolk, Va. for nortnal IIAV.
74 days in Norfolk, Va. for nornal I{Av,

1969 (only 63 davs)

ON STATION 85r
OFF'STATTON 158
DOCID: 3374426

uss JAuEsrowN I lr9 6?-19 69

ON STATION 64*
OFF STAEION 36*
* 69 days for overhaul
27 day6 in Subis Jor

1958
ON STATION 81S

OFF STATION

" r/ oays an to geaeralor failure.

1ff9 ( 291 alays only)

oN sTArloN 744
OFF STATION 22N
* 23 days in Subic for engine repairs.
18 days in subic for upkeep.
:aalD:3314425

uss BBI,MONT I 11957-1969

ON STATION 48r
OFF STATION
* 32 days in Norfolk, Va. for nornal llAV.
67 days in Notfolk, va. 1:or normaf RAV.

t_968

ON STATION 34I
oFF STATTON 65t*
* 105 day6 annual overhaul /tefteat.et training.
14 days in Terna, chana for engine reparrs.
33 days in Norfolk, Va. for nomal RAV.

f9!9 (304 days only)

oN slrATroN 34*
OFF STATION 66t *
* 140 day6 in port Norfolk.
DOCID:33L4425

uss TJTBERTY (usN-8ss) 1966

1966
ON STATION 51t
OFF STATION 49I *
* 72 days annual overhaul
53 days in Norfolk, Va. for RAv.
DOCID: 3314425

usNs .

L9 6'7

ON STATTON 59*
OFF STATION 4]"8*
* 86 days state-Bide overhaul in New York.
6 days in Luanda. Angola for engine repairs.

1968
ON STATION 55?
OFF STATION 45**
* 9I day6 in Norfolk, Va- for TR.SSCOMM repairs,

!959 (26L days onl-y)

ON STATION 64t
OFF ST.ATION 36r*
* 35 day6 in pott Nevt York for TRSS COMI4 rapairs.
26 days ln Monrovia. Libelia for transnitter rebairs.
DocID: 33I4425

l)
I, :0 !i:c 4 )-i
1967-1969 ,:t-!.L.34 3;

1967

ON STARION 58t
OFE STATION 42X*
* 23 dalrs-for yatil overhau!-
40 days annual overhaul.,

196 8

OFF STAfION 48T*

* 24 days in port alue to pUEBtO incidenl.
12 days in Key West tlue to engine failure,
42 days annual overhaul in Hoboken, N-.t.
14 daye in Earnpa, Florida for gelterator repairs.

1969 ( 289 days only )

ON SITIATION 63S

OFF 6TAIIION 3?t*

* 41 days for installation of ilestruct and 6cuttle alevi6es,
4 days for cooling systern repairs.
4..i.ve F^, hi arFrr6r,
'lrlarrc

\82
:::iD

.^NJ-T NFDATTNNq IFFF''T!TNIi1 dP!]PAITIdNq

MSTS AND MONTSLY, SCIIEDULE SUBMISSIONE

monthly prepalation anal submissiorl a! schedules by

I lfor the MSiS ves€els (USNS vAaDEz and USNS I{[]'LLER) ,
-The in a rocurrlng problern. rhe lonthly schedules
were prepared and subnitted accortiing to the informal ouiale-
-iesulted
lines esta.blished h'hen the ship6 lirst joined the L--------l
,

tleet (i.e., Eprepaled schedriles for the fgllowing month

and coordinated then infornally wlth MSTSLANT before sub-
channels to JCS).
rnittl-ng.them through officialaI channe-Ls 'fcs). lnrs plo-
This-_plo
cedure ccintinueal dullnq procealures were definetl
and docunentedl in On n1merous
occasions, proposed--s-dFe-du-I5F-Fdi- dE-Ed fi odi f ications
at the requeBt of MSTS. These changes apPealeal inconsistenL
with tl.'e informal guiilelines alevelopeil in the past and
causeil an excessive anount of comnunications in finalizing
the sqhedules.
A TDY visit to IIO!4STSLANr ln Brooklyn. N,Y, \.tas arranged
in order to discuga the development of schedules (the UsNs
MULITERTs in par ar) - The meetind tookplace on 0l Nov-
enber 19 68 with

rt \,/as agreed that tha operating latio should be main-

tained at no nore than 25 days at sea folloving 5 days jn
Port Everglades. This was the MSIS requiretnent for. nolmal
oper.atlons - for occasional operational requirements, -MsTs
would Dotobject to a sLight extension of on-statlon tlne
beyond the 25 day operating period.
Because of ptovisioning and refueling requirelrents for
the MULLER and her excortf Msl]s lequested the 25 day at-sea
pe:iod be subdivided as follolts: I day enloute from Port
Everglades to station; 9 days on-station (ninth day for
visit at Key West Buoy for mail etc); 4 daya on-stationt
I day to Xey wese for water and teturn to Etai:ion; 9 days-
on-slation; L alay return to poit' Etelglades. fhe 5 days in
porit Everglailes included the day of arllval and day of de-
_Naturally,
partuie. due to norrnal constraints, this schedule
tould be interupted flom tine to tine, but it \das aleemed
impractical to deliberately vary the Patteln without sounil
j usti ficatj-on.
 i_ : : .: - :
L, : :. . :: :

YS:S .:e:er::ed ilai arrivafs to and departures from

fc::s be ::s::icaed :o days other than SaLurdav, Sundd,'
o: ioliCa!s. irouch such E.ining had lit.tle cost effect
il6 Itqrni -rau .Fre^nhFl :.ldiri6hal .d.fs fdr +rrdq
^h
bertl.inq, sEevedore supgort/ eEc., nade these arrivaLs
and departures expensive. However, MSTS agreed to support
these arrivals and departures in emetgency or urgeni
operational situations.
MSTS would not support the need fo! an overnioht oorl
call ln Key west (once standard operating proceilure) ,
except in the case of an energeocy or urgent operational
requirernent. STS aLlov)ed only 5 days in port Liberty for
each 25 days at sea; any additional in port tine would
reduce the 5 da:/ port call in Port Everglades, Since the
najority of the l4sTs c!e\^r maintain homes altd fandlies in
Port nverglades, port cafls elsewhere could result in a

fhe one-day port call in Xey west for trater anal pro-
visioning took place mostly during day 1ight' hours. The
ship nornally departed Key l,lese at 2030 hours, s
arrive on station at the first liqht of rnl

In the event of the threat of extreme weather cohdi tions,

the v.rould normally head for Port Evef,dlades antl
MULLER
ride out storm in port. At t

f -F&ii Efon511y, 7 knots (6peed of

ship) nas insufficient to maintain a headi4g against the
beaw wind and seas which nonnalfy extend far bevond the
actull eye of the storm. It was lgree<i I rvouid be
advised irFediately of the departuie or TEE-EI]p- in tire
eventofasto!nthreat,andthatthedecisiontomove 1rr-P.L.
the ship in this gituation was a coftutand decision for the :rbiiI la
l4aEter skipper) /!4STS i
.!
( l

ltith fu]I appleciation that

and in view of the numerous administrative
eEd-jEEIEETaL cons traints, MsTs inf ornally proposed ptilt
or:ei]era and fonrard
MsTs prepare
JIEIE monthlv- schedule L
forr,raral the initial monthly f-.1
lltor review and modi fi ca ti on/coicurrence , instead of
EEdreverse which had,been the standard oPerating procedure.
upon coordination/concurre d schedule \rould
be forwardeal in accoralance procedures
yas aLso

104
U\./LJ.U: JJ!(]126

I lshould include L-- reason for t-lte cianqe

-1E-g. urgent technical lequirement'
n

so that l..lsTs coul.d better appreciate

effectively coordinate ilrternal MSTS
This proposal \das formally nade to anal accepled I I

Tn concluding the neeting,, MSTS requested thatl I

tisit Msrs atproximately every gix i1o-n-A1s
croximately every
for cooralination of operatipns.

Lbl ill 9.r. !i-:a

r05
l lCID: 3314426

AERL?T CE4N6ES IN SCHEDULES

Earfy publicatlon of fironthly schedules y?as nece=j:-

to allolr anple time for MsTs and Na!'}' to coordiDa+-e,
thfough Ealitihe and comnerciaJ authotities, tle ava:1-
ability of berth. tug support, and delivery of perisha:le
food and other supplies, etc,, Hith the arrival a.d Ce-
paltures of other vessels.
A-brupt changes in schedules aLso involved oLher aoencies
such as the U.s. State Depart-nent in arrangj-ng for porE
clearance€ anal visas for person[el joining the ship al
foreign ports.
In etnergency or quick leaction situations these in-
coveniences coulai noL be avoided but it was generally re-
cognizeil that nial-stream changes in schedules reqqir€fl
stronq iustification.
l:CID: 33144?6

CO]I\TEFS ION TO }ISTS

i.
of AGTFS as TRS€ (entirelv Naw :r2:.-eC)
The use
was challenqed in Novefilbe! 1963 and aqaib in February 196+
by PGDId ,1.n, Aifes I1I, Conunander, Selvice lorce, AtIar_,:!e
Fleet. gis objection was basecl on the r]se

The objection was forwarded to ct{o wilh a prooosPli :l

he TRSg to MSTS ooerations in support ofl I

thus releasing tl]e involved Navy bil Lets lot

op-erdEions. (6)
The recom enalation was rejected by cNo in Jurle
1964, but was subsequently apploved by that'office in
Novehber 1964. At that tine CNO directed a proErarn"be
prepared for an orderll' transfer of the Navy's responsi- ii
bility for operation of the AGIRS to l.'ISTs.
The Bureau of Ships estimated the cost for conversloq
at 1.4 million per ship and the tlme in the yard to accom-
plish conversion at 4 honths. MSrS estimated annual opela-
ting cost for the three r,iberty ships at I.42 nillion and
the tido Victory shLps at 1.65 rni11ion.-(7)

lans for hodificatlon of the ehips to accomo_

date bogged down ln 1966 for the following

an estimateof co6ts to converl_aLI 5,[S6{'f rom-the BUSUIPS.

The estirnate, in April 1965, of eigh€ iaonars for expen-
diture in FY68 \r'as Eubsequently approveil by SECDEF in a
PcR of 21 Decedcer 1956. Howeve!, in 1966, in addition
to other alterabions, the nunber of pereonnel to be
. accomodated rose fron 735 to 813 anil it becane appatent
the basis for SECDEF's apptoval for conversion was unreal-
i sti c.
ffi 2l November l-963, "use
nf
of !'lacf rlniis in Srmoor.t
Eleet Units support cf Non-Military Operations"
(7) BUSHIPS ltr ser: 44-042, dtd 29 May 1965-

IO ?
 3 3.11 426

:he :ev-iseC estiftate cane to 28.7 ni11iod. This

::lcI icec : ncreasei r.anning f iqures, habitalility inrorover.P:1!s,
aCiit:cn o: traciiine automation equipnent and Coast Gualc
it was decided that it vtas
not feasible to convert five ships in one yeai and in
view of lhe fact that only eight million was included in
FY57 CCP for conversion of all flve ships it was necessary
for Naqr to replograr its manpo\./er resources in FY68 to pro-
vide for continued opetart[on of these ships during that
fiscal year.
I land Navy's proposed ptggrans for con!'ersion
ilenonstf,ated the atlvantage6 of ope"ating unaler MSTS in
peacetime conditions. opexational days per year undel
MsTs operation would be 259 conFareal to 193 undet Nav!'
operation,
NSA's propo€al, however, calleal for conversion of only
the two victory ships 1,'ith an estinateil life e>Qecbancy of
t'en more years, If accepted, this program would requile
that orle ship be out of opelation for tnost of FY68 and
one for seven months in FY69. Under the Na1'l7 program one
shi-p would be out fo! tnost of FY68 anil three in FY69 and
one ln !,/u.
I{hen the above proposals were submitted to the OSD
Revlew Group during the cCP subniasion 5?*73, the gtoup
decided. that the operational need fbt the AGTRS would not
alecline in the coning years and that until the hostilities
in Southeast Asia were telminated, it t{tould not be fea-
sible to a11ow any ship to be out of selvice dutillq FY69.
Therefore, Ehe Revie\,r croup recomnenaled t.B:_L49!39......-
operated by the Nav-v and thatl I
be adjusted accordingly.
The reconnendation was subsequently approved by SECDEF.

lr lrl F.L, Bb lE
 E: 33r1426

A RESULT OF CLOSURE OF SOUIH

NAVAL IESSEI,S

As a result of an incident involving U.S. Military

personnel fron tbe USS RoOSEIELT lrhi1e in Capetown,
soulh Africa in lg!:q]_, the U.S. state Department
announced the unofficial cloEure of south African ports
to U, S. shios,
(Lr lIl
lLr r ilr 5C Lr:ra rll
i !:19
ifr: ?.L. !

ross of these porls F

--------rJ:e
L-by requiring long trans@ts
for overhaul anal logistics. The material reliability of
the ship was reduced as voyage repair facifities were
redlrceai in quality and there was an increase in cost and
tine for vAIDEzrs Burface and air logiatics support now
coming from the U,S, to othet African Ports where the
survice was erratic. (8)

(8) fepartment of the Navy i4emo dtd 4 .llarch 1967, "DoD

Requlrenent for FaciLities and Contractual Support
in the Republlc of South Africa."
iE 3314 426

linsorporated into DDR&E's paper, as

well as studies fronr Navy. ai! Force and NASA, were for-
warded on 5 June to the Deputy Secletary of Defense anal
thence to the UnCler Secretaly of the state Department for

In the interim, an exchange of correspondence

wi.th CNo and MSTS in velop mutual ly acceptable
pl-ans for rnaxirdun use of the extremely l inited h^?+ F,^ili-
ties.
On 27 April 1967. co!4sTs provided cNo wi t-h cominents
and recorunendations for alternative solutions:

]s:20 uarch f967, "DoD

REQUIREMENTS FOR FACIT,ITIES AND CONTRACTUAL SUPPORT
IN THE RIPUBLIC OF SOUTI] ATRICA (U} ."
(fO) coMsTs 2613242 Aptil 1967, trAcTR/!'lsTs Deployments'i.
ll:lt: 3-114425

aSVqrq :lc- n^inra.l ^,r+ +h:+ limiri+i-nc..:

ja.iIi::es .rou1d require larget and nore freoue]:: s:.:---
T-.r< -i:11 c,hnli-c t^ +hd ahinc ir -io:-6:
^nAF.+ind
axd because of this, operating flexibj-lity \could re !e-
drced by !he necessity to scheduLe opelatio:1s ::oL::.i s--
F:-6 fr>ne^6rf ranAaTrr^,rc mMcnc ac+iF:po.{ : ,i; -5: --i -
in productlvity fron the VAl,DEz as a result of ::ese :eh
res trictionE.
CINCLA.IITFLT, in providing clrnments l.a__eIQ St !5L
reffe-slE t+s _situ-ation woild have "n T---------------
new
L__________l stated:
...present 16 week deplo)4nent remains !!ost efficient
in utilizaLion anal produccive covelage of desired areas,
lecognlzing that there will be some d.egradation of
cf fd-i- /r11-i nd 1 ef -pr na-l- af ,Jan'^wch. d.1- -.iarial
problems, inadequate logistic support and operato!
fatigue.,.with I0 day logistic resupply perioal at
Rolar depLoianent can be incleaseal !o 21 weeks nith-
out degrading operational capability of AGTR,.,If
Navy respoDsibility extended to cover east coast in
addition to lrest coast duxing overhaul of MsTs ship'
21 week employment with 10 day l"ogistic support stop
!t at Rota i'l mid-cruise feasible...anv increase over L6
week depl.oyrnent shouf il incluale comrfensurate increase
from 8-1I weeks CONUS time between deployments... (11)
,- In July,l lrepresentaLive6 rnet r"ith .TCS, CNO aod
LlrepresentaEs to discuss the denial of south African
ports to U.S. Naval ships. fhe result was a proposal Lo
initiate a tesC actj.on by scheduling a port call for the
USNS VALDEZ at Durban, South Africa. The Director of
African Xegion, ISA, indlcated a wiLllngness to process
such a request and try to obtain State Departoelrt clear-
ance, A rnessage was sent to AsD,/IsAIrequesting
ASD/f,SA make preliminaxy approach to State Departtnent to
help iasure a favorable response in regaral to Dutban entry
when JCS/JRC request for cleaxance was presented.
Thlough informal channels, l-]"u" advised lhat clear-
ance for the shiprs entry into Durban voulal not be forth-
coming bu! state Departrnent had indicated that if suff-
icien! justification l^ras providedr they would not objecl
Lo a porr call in souLh Africa by a TRS.
ffiRDEPLoYMENTSn.
111
I C.3I D : 3314 426

l
g€tl.een July of 1957 ana the final de'parture of TRss
:rcs t-he Afrjcan waters in 1969, no situation of sufficienC
r.lrgeDcy arose thal s'ou1d pernit t]re Euggestion to be testeil

ib) i:i ru u.. t 30

il) P.1.86.
tl 33!1426

ClaiEed territoriaf sea is the area of water cvg::

a coLrlrtrl, clains teiij torial righEs. CPA is ..ie
wl--rch
closest DoiDt of approach a ship may mal<e !o lhe :oreigr.
iandmass, and is Beasured fforn the coastal baseline of
the counery in question.
Although the U.6.does not recognlze any cla-imed
territorial sea€ beyond 3 NM, Technical Research Ships
usualfy cobducteal operations outside the claimed terri-;
ljllaar waLcr- \er9r, t_-_l ^iiiiii",-i]ir i,i;;"":' i: -
L_l USNS MULI,ER operatell{q In cases in which
there were overrlding conside!ations.
would be consialered o$ an inalivialual ba8is. (12)
The ,fcs arld conunanders of the Unified and specified
comrands designate senBitive aleas for programs where
appropriate, and lrhen requifed, designation of such areas
incl-ude geographical bouldaries.
The tjnlfled and Specified comlands lttay increase but
not decrease CPIrs beloi{ the linits €sta-blished by ,tCS.

2I December, the USS GEoRcEToWN received sai 1in9

On
orders fron COMSIXTHELT, then her parent co{unandr with
uvAs artlxed as folrows:
CO{TI{TRY CPA CLAII.IED DISTANCE
6
6
6
6
unspecl fied

"operatioDal Guidance
 l:r;:ti__:t:
:a:tir:.-:- cpA g'AIMED DTSTANCE

25
6
T2
T2 L2
6 6 (13 )

Afier he! January port call/ the GEORGETOWN colrlnenced

ogera: ion
"CP-A fo!
shal l De t-hirty- five beyon the 100
cur!.e whichevet is greater. " (14)
At the trernination of the GEORGETOWN I s Medite rranean

(!l LI)
.l
ji i! rJsc
rl-,r ,
Lr l l -P.1, !i-

(13) COMSIXTHFLT SATIO 2:6f--Eor UsS GEoRGEToWN, dtd

er 1967?
(14) to .lcs^Rc, ADP-43, 2621492 January
(15) to CINCUSNAVEUR I K-731 . l8224az
IIED OPS (U) bt(3) p.i,. 8a l.

1r4
 3 371 426

! ::. :.i :e:riary n ai , f-l

::::---€:.:1::c.-. fo= the us-s
tolwariieo a dep-o],nent
eeluoNT, to crNclANb. :his
:oymen: !o Lhe Mediterra.')ean Sea

.: )it I
:--. l: J-,me, JCS approveai the schedule for th;:t;!;t.-'lj
:!-.:-r := :re .:roposed deplolrment excepe fot the CpA to
,as increased fron 12 NM to SO NM. (16)
-_---__lrr::f.

(16 ) JCS L320522 .luen 69; nJUNE EEbT-rv scnsourn'

(r7) USCINCEUR 25I5192 Julv 1969 "DF.FDT-f,T^Ia ^n
| |

(r8) E=oPERArroNs". ruly 1e6e, rlnsrRrcrro*s oor I

@ug11gg1-:1-134e2
(19 )
f] oennar rous'.
CO!{SInHFLT 0 91510 Z August 1969,
It5
]OCID; 3374426

!{-hlle tle USS BELMONI nas suceessfuf ln completioD oi

her prisrary missioh, t?te cruige pointed out a prob.len
Lhal eould have to be faced in subs
ru sst

The USS BELMONrTS Elrfiner cruise was the last by a TRs

in the l4editerran rt
the fall of 1969.

(br itl
iLr 3 5!i u;c 4..r3
lL) 13 )- 1! U:a 1-'i
ibli3) r.L. dr-Jc
DOCID: 3314426
]j : : '.:.: i:
i ' .. '. :.

ESCORT AND PROTECgIIT OPERATIONS

s were introduceal to
ev wefe hot armed for
and
t would free of t-he re6 erictioas applied to U.S.
\rarship6 fore ign POlts,

The ifinediate solution to the ploblen wa6 to provide the

ships \,tith the protedtion they needed in order to caryy out
their operations without undo lisk Lo the ships theinselves,
Thls was a cott[nanil deciEion and took the forn, in certaln
lnstances, of arned escortg (ueually DDs) and air cover.
There 9/as initial concern over the qu€stion of whether
lhe appearance of an armed vessel in conpany vtith a TnS
might not provoke the velY hostile reactlon we were lryj.ng
to avoid, ft wa6 aleetned however, that if th€ role of Lhe
DD excort i{as fairly passivg; i,e,, it renained outboard
of the TRS, maintaining a l-oose patroL and not cl-ose in
unless requested to do €o by the TRS, it probably would
not cause overt hostile reaction.

The niasion of the es

cove r rth I,XR

Lbi 11i "Enclosure (?) to CINCLANT letter sefial OO02?8,/

1LrI -tl 5,r usct of 15 September 1966..,provided guitlance for pro-
331
'Ittl tive measures to be taken in applying ttre riqht of
:. ES:LE:PIggervaLiqn ir1 PeacetiRe and rules of engagenent
-ra In addition to these rulesr the followlng
engagement were prof ided:

, f17
 3374426

v'-rrER i6 forced to enter

L--------l territorialvatels, the coEunanding office:
ci i-l1e escort is authorized to pulsue.
(2) :r. lhe evenE of an engineering or other cajllgll
ic YULLER q/hich causes the ship to drift inlo | |
'territorial lraters, every effort shal! be made--T6-
tow the MULLER into international waterE. The escort
vesselr in any case, will temain with MULIER to
orovide Drotection i.n the event the MUltfR drifts
rnto i----l te rri Ler;Lj":- waters.
(3) ri-EE event I lforc"e are declared hostile
...u.s. forces i n--Ee-fr-defense, may deliver such
file and perform such tactics as are necessary to
provide for alefense of MIILER as well as themse].ves,
including-'firing into f--lterritorial waters and
alr6pace. Izu,
Fha Aaq +r^rra F eecort assroneo co tne mulLl;rr
maintained a foose atrol 4- I -ndles outboaral of
libenever she noveal The alestroyer
assig nents for duty were levied by COMSECONDFLT and
COMASWFORIANII on a quarterly basis.

In addition to the destroyer, fighte! aircraft, as

made availabl-e to COMXWXSTFOR, were put on alert. These
aircraft were expeched to be on station approxinately
IO minutes after call and had an estimated 6tay tirne of
approxinately I hour and 20 minutes.
The requirement for alestroyer escort, rdhich remained
in effect until the MULTER discontinueil olterations, thouqh
not hanpering MULLERTS activitles to any extent, did
result in several changes in hel routine '
l:: l - l The destroyer, accordiDg to Nav!' regulations, haal to
hriF!r,- tnc.f i1-s FueL at. all tines. fibis made it necess-
' -_ -ary for the escdrt to leave station to refuel at KeY Wes!
approximately every 9 ala:/s. This, of
the MULLER, noC atlowed to lemain
North without her escort.
ci+,'-+i^nc
^-^"..a F
I lthac r'equired the YULLER to be on statjon cturlng
she was scheduleil to be in Key west with her
.gio.t, Normally, a schealule rnodification for the MULLER
=j-e-Fio-dJwheD
Houfd quickly aFend Lhe situatioo, but ln vievJ of the
escortr tv/o schealules had to be taken into account.

t20) CINCTANTFLT 0223042 februar:y 1968, CIIICT,ANT OPORD

2130, "USNS MI]LLER PROTECTI!'E OPERATTONS" ,
 :a:!E: 331.4426
: 'l

I:1 urgeni situation6 howeverr the descroyer could

:e:--ain oi1 station longe!, or, if lead-time pernliEted, be
brought into Key West early for fueling, During several
instances when !escheduling of the escort was neceBsary
jr-+rder to sacisfy high prjoriry technical req[irementss,

Lril Like the lfUtLER, the USS GEORGETOWN, conaluctino op---l

I- Lt: !r trsa. erations io the t4editerraaF.h Fl- i-hA t-imF df l-hal
| | was assigneal a desLroyer escolt. ADMINO CINC-
Liilt P.t, USNA\IEUR in January 1968, directed one desbroyer escort
ili i'i vide direct ort to USS
r
alroyef sras to
patro etween GEoRGETOWN and the shore, and naintain a
CPA of no less than 25 NM. t21)

Jcs approved the GEoRGETowN ' s Februaly

schedule with one exceptioni the escor! lras !o renain 10
NM outboatil of GEORGEToWNTg track. l22l
on 1l Februar}, one UAR BeagLe airclaft maile three
low passes ove! the GEORGETOWN. As a resuLt of the over-
flight, COI{SI)fxHFtI! took further precautionary neasures
for advisory warningi to the shj.p. rr additioA, the UsS
F.D, ROOSEVELT and her escort'g the USS PUTNAM and USS
coNINGgAM, were placed on one hou! notice in support of
GEORGEIOIIN ' s operatioqs. (23) The USS SrORMES rias assigneal
/l lil q ::i- q l as an addacaona.L escort l:or tne Ri-rJ!jEV!j.L,t. '.!.ne uss
,tr i: 1:i I ri ,!; TALAIIATCHIE C{)UNEY !/as placed on t'wo hour standby.
| ,. :-.,. aa a. !'urther. orle VP aircraft waE placed on 24 hour coverage
to maintaj-n and document a continuous naviqational plot
of the ship,
Later. an SP2H aircraft was assigneal to report all
surface conLacts within 50 Nlt of the GEORGaTOWN. (24)

j
(22) ,JCS 8863, 0723L12 Februafy 1968, iFEBRUARY 1968
RECONNAISSANCE SCHEDTIII' .
(23) CINCUSNAVEUR 1-111352 February 1968,
(24) cTE 67 IL2038z February .1968.

1t9
UUI I U: JJI'IqIO

Un1lke the USNS MU',IER, the USS GEORGETCi,'r--ri I s a:-:.

were increaseal in addition to the escort,
a 1 +h^,rrth
er hbr operations the excessive !:c --ec--:_,_e
cover involved a number of Mediterranean .eso\::ces a:d
considerable reaction planning.
The requireloent for escort was dropped as cEc?cE:'O',\'ll
moveal eastvard anal eventual-Iy out of the iledi te Lra.neai .
Again. unlike the USNS I4ULLER, the USS GEORGETOFN'S
escort and cover was not to become a routine operation
since the Mediterranean lras not her Dermanent oDerations

Evaluation of the tvro situations (the srnooth transltion

to escort and protective cover by tie l'lUtLEn; the rapid
addition of escort anil protective cover pertraps as an
over-reaction to the UAR overfliqht), indicatetl that re-
€gircBenlpf esEort for _TRss ali al-not degrade f---:
I lbuc dlct polht out tnac escor! operaElons
E d proEectlve cover planned in aalvance createal less up-
heaval in ffeet operatione arld aLlowed for the proper
prograftning of the resources involved,

:ib i t1t
1bj l-t j -51. u:j.: 4 tl
1l_rli3) l! Ula lrt
!bl1.l) F.l. 9r- J.-
 DocrD: 33!4426

nl
rLrl.li f,1,. !6 .la

(2s) c-r!14-67, dtd T0 EenEffier t967. "Diversi.on of the

USS BS,MONT (AGTR-4) ".
 DOCID: 33'J.4426

- 5D Lrsc l
'bl r:
ih) l! t, r,. Ea-
 DOCID: 3314426

4nl
(lr ) (l l -!. L. .l1l
 DOCI D 33L4425

1l: i:l
r 5,i lr:. I r:
c ,-: e
rf r (t) P. Et -ri
 DOCID; 33I4426

.t ;:r 5tr usc

iit,li"l'!,
DOCID: 3314425

COURIER PROBLEM IN .AFRICA

Th llahiri:rrr 1q(q r ra-lrviihd nr^hl-F

the disposition of courier material handlei iry ::ls
operating in African taters was addressed by -re :_,
Regearch Operations Detachment, USNS VAI]I5 Z.
until t'his time, $rhen a ship arrived ir. :{o:-}asa,
Kenya, a courier fron the redearch deDarulen: h3l :c
fly to Nairobi to deliver the outgoing ARFCOS tuaterial
to the .American Enbassy and pick up the incomihg material.
The problem lras a nratter of security, The couriers
traveled in civilian clothes and carried only their niLi-
tary I.D, anal goverlmeht pasEports. on alemand by local
nilitary or police authorities to open the package the
courier woulal have no choice but to conply. fhough the
Kenyan governnent was traditionally pro-west, the generally
unstable conalitions throughout Africa naale such procealures
risky and revelation of some sensitive material could
prove extrenely eEbarrassing to the u.s..
I lrecornrnended that the Departrent of State
arrange to nave tne Amerlcan lirnbassy provrde coutrer
selvicb to neet the shLp on arrival in Mornbasa ot provide
the RScdoPDET with some kind of authorization which
woulal glant the detachmGiit couriers diplomatic tmnunity
F^7 +hAa6 +vi hd

Liaison vrith tl|e Pouch anil courie! Division, U.s.

Department of State revealed the fact that the courier
service is ope!.ateil from washLngton and is not subject
to local controls nor is the setvice obligated to handle
ARFCOS or other Depalt$ent of Defense courier rnaterial
beyond the llmits of established courier roqtes. Nairobi,
(enya is a point of entry for state Departnto,lrt courler
naterial- anal a regular €top oa State Departltlent courier
routesi there ls no U.S. gonsulate or other post in
Mombasa,

The u.s. Enbassy in Nairobi had iro resourcee specifically

allocateil for courier tluties anil used its own personnel to
perform couiier functions. ft perforfied Eimilar functions
for u.s. lavat ships on a courlesy basis r,,hen personnel
vere avai Iab Ie,

i3@ 69, "courier MaLeri al" .

 DOCID: 33L4426

Tal(ing the above into account, I lproposed

two possible solutions to NsA/ Nrc. DrRAnrms, Th;
Pouch anal Coulaier Division, U.S. DepartmeEt of SLate
advisedl lthat it could request the Afi.bassador io
Kenya to provide Letter or l'aen tification for specified
couliers of the RSCHOPSDEMLDEZ. fhese leteef,s eroulal
protect. the material only and confer no diplornatic im-
munity on the couriers. AdditionaLly. funds 9,ould probably
have to be provided to coqer coflnercial -anaair costs between
I4or(8laaa and (airobi.

On the other ha!d. V.IA-LDEZ could digconCinue using

Monbasa as a courier point while continuing to utilize port
facilit.ies thefe fof, liberty and dock serviceE. the
haterial $rould be handled only through African ports where
the State Department maintainea foreign mlssions irith rOP
SECPST CONTFOL Officers such as Aalen, !4ogatliscio, Dar es
SaLaam. Lourenoo llarques and Capetown. Thls would result
io an undeglrable accumulation of sensitive naterial on
board lhe ship ahd voulil require rescheduling procedules
to arrange for coutier drop-offs in ports not nof,mal1y
utilized. l32l
The aalalressees of the nenoranilum were asked t.o corment
on the proposal-s lrith respect to the adequacy lrom a
standpoint of security ana the feasibility from an opera-
tional standpoint.
then involved an on-going review of t'he world-
vride I redotrunended, the p roblem
be sses ac 33) fhere were no 6hiDs
then anil later events
s eliminated the probleil
for the moluent.
If however
ssels
the ptoblem w ave to sses agarn.
L i3r F.t, 8a li

May 1969, "courie!

Material for RSCEOPSDET A]co USNS VA],DEZ (T-AG-
169) ".
( 33) [:]094, 2aLTzBzrqay 1969 , "UOVE}{ENT OF COURTER
MATERIAL AT UOMBASA KENYA[ .
iL' r 1l
3t 5l rjsa .l:i
127 lr 1! LrSa i!i
ibl
DOCUI.4ENT CONTROL/DESTRUCT/SCUTTLE

In addition, CNO authorized the u6e of certain existing

ordinance alevices for alestructlon puf,pose. They !,rere the
M-3 Destruct.ion Kits permanently installed in the Research
operationB spaces of sohe 6hips in netal _Ll!g_l{tsLgb__g199
serve as the normal Gtol.age location forL-
the ABC M-4 PiIe Des-
@, loceledj-r__sCp
conpartrnents thtouqhout the ship and the

wlth sliqht variationr the TRss.were equipped with the

"VAIDEZ Ouick-Fix" type systern for equlprnent/ilocument
desLruction and scuttling:
"fhe qSNS VALDEZ has on board alevices to scuttle
lhe ehip aud to tlestruct electonic deviceE and flocu-
ments. An electric ignition and firing method has
been provtded...The scuttle devjces are 14 square
shaped e)rplosive qharges which vi1] cause a total of
-:::ID: 3-11i.125

14 agproxi(ateIy 18r gquare hul-I peaetrdtions befow

t}Ie waterline in 3 conpalt-nentg. , , The file destruct
are standaral stock itens (sodiun nitrate) (M-4).
The etectronic eguipment alestruct devises
are standard stdck iters (therttit) (H142). fhe
document and circuit board destroyers ate stanalard
stock itefts (sod1u$ nitrate or Fodilun trlcalcium
nitrate) (H-3), NWC China Lake devised and lnstalled
a methoal to electrically ignite file andl electronic
destruct devices from a central point nrithi[ the
research spacesr scuttle chargies are fired ftorn outside
the research spaces. Scuttle firirg and destruct
ignition are lnstalleil separately by standard t[ine
safety appliance blasting units. These are liattery
powered anal independent of shiprs power.rr (34}
The destruct alevices were repeatedly tested fo! effec-
tiveness. fhe syEtem was iever proven totally satisfaccory
regardlng the 30 ndnute -goal set fof, destructioni however'
it was aleternined that if allalred to fire. Eifter 30 rninutes,
the process of conflagration woulal be too great .to levelse.
Prior to tbe deactivation of the [nss, no incident
occureil that w4rranted the use of thege devices so to clate
the systen has never been tesLed unde! actual conditions.

@,"scuttleanal
aa-^rl. ^n -. rerin :rs!allation.i'
F===
 -\Gt\G li',ia:s

Re-oei.itive nechanical failure was a problefl conmo:l

Eo ail the Technical Research Ships. The origianl 'fRS
-r^d':h -:l I6.1 F^r ral-i rAnan+ ^f +hA fi rc* ehi ha re i +
advanced tonards that time when TRSS wete nerdly con-
structed from the ground up. but, \,rhen the time came to
retire the usNs vAfDEZ j,n 1964, the progralr had reached
a point where funtls i,,rere not available for new construc-
tion anil strong justificacion for euch on-gioing construc-
tion \aas required.
Funals and justification for fu!:ther shlps were lrever
approved so the original 6 ehipa represented the total
resources of the fRS program until its conclusion. (The
VIcorRY ships LIBERTY/BELMoNT had a life expectancy of
10 years beyond 1967; the Liberty ships OXFoRD/GEORGEToWN/
JAMESTOWN had a life expectancy of 5 years beyord 1967).

rhough yearly overhauls and periodic upkeep was the

sLadalaril opelating procealure, the vessels and installeal
equipment suffereal nutnerous casualties t-hat can be blan€d
,p rinelll
vri t-h
veBsel not constructed originally for that purpose - For
exa&p)e: the USS GEORGETOWN suffered a boiler casualty
off venezuela on 25 March 1967 which lequired 15 days in
port for .rbpafrs; lost pump engine 14 December 1967 \^'hile
enroute to the Medilerranean on a quick reaption nission;
suffereal a generator outage I - 26 May 1968i main engine
disablerenL 27 l4ay - 05.rLrne 1968; failure of a fuel in-
jec'ion syslem in August 1968r lost sA-01 positlon due to
a hydraulic pump failur.e 14 - 25 August I968i experienced
boifer steam rl1ain ala$age 13 - 15 Novenber L969r and had
a crank shaft dardageal beyond repair Deceniber 1968 - 1B
iaiuary 1959. The USNS MULLER lo6t $to generators 1I -
29 Jrly L969; suffereal a nain enqine failure 23 March -
a5 Aplil 1966 vihich requlreil the ship to be tolreil to
s3fe!y, lqst DCGB-o4 position alue to a ahort in the
eq.ri_lnent with llo spare parts availabLe on boaral 2l- Deq-
ej::e r - 29 December 1968; and lost a iliesel generator
l2 --une 1969.
The problem can best be sunmeal up by a statenent frofl
CINCLAIiT concerning the delay of GEORGETOWN's last pro-
gosed deDlovhent;
:1.i

"The e*Lent of GEORGETOWN I s engineering D:_o51e:..,

canaoL be deterndned for several days because c! lack
ot inforrnaEioD on avaija-loiljty of parts for an arc:e:::
power plant qhich has been out of production ic= :r:tl
years. r' (35)
wi +h AltAnr r:+6ri:1 caEualtv the re liabl lltv
decxeased and as the da E off. station for
as re€oulces for quick
reac!ion anal re-
many were apgloaching
tixement anal unable to satisfv these requirelirents.

I
5t usc ti:

crNcLANf 0516402 July 19 69, USS GEORGETOWN Deployment

Reconunendatiol!".
 SECTION 6

DIAC]II,'!-:IC\ OF TECA!IC}J, RESEARCH SIIIPS

In JuLy 1959, oSD becau€e ef budgetaqr. fi4j&g!.ip$

reduction to each DOD departmentrs
Each departEent *as askeal to slbmit a plan ba6etl
and 109 DloDosed realuction to indicate flom where
the cut6 i.ioulil come.
cNo srbsequently [of those
"drri".d
prograrns con s i de re d mos t e xpei?iii6l- and propoEe-d-TfiE-
imneiliate inactivaeion of tl.e USNS VAIiDEZ and USNS MULLERI
" . . . irl_yie.__9ljhe high cost and difficulty in protecting
these L_Jand due to the f act that the program aloes
il i1l not proviile sufficlent !esources for aalequate upqrading."(36)
)l .t\ Ll':.:
on tB ,lutv, f----lforwarded to DEISECDEF, che proglam
adjugbnents for -F!76-lasea on a J-!-3!!4-l!!--fgduction - in
aa 1.- funds. With the tog reduc;Lqr, I llo retain only
2 ships for deployment inl lwaters anal one for aleployment
with a pos6ibi 1:-ty of ottrer aleployments in the
t-u-id-Tt- priortties chanqe. ( 37)
Tha first indication of Na\,'l' I s actual deactivation move
carne in A.ugust when CNO, because of retluction ilr oPerating
funds, initiated some preliminary shlp novenents piior to
the final desposition determination by DEPsEc. The AGTRS
vrere placeal on the Navyrs 703 list- the names of the shiPs
to be inactivated as a result of budget cuts and the Uss
GEORGETOWN, undergoing upkeep prior to relief of tlle MUtl,ERr
was orderetl Lo remain in port until further notice.
As a resuLt, cNo advised coMsTs that obligation to cover
the operations of the VAIDEZ and MUI,LER itould be ltiLhheld
effectr ve 19b9.
E6tinating that 6q days would be necessary to strip
the equipment, obtain disposition directions anil prepare
tbe ships for lay up, COMgfSLAIflI reeommendeal that CNO
3i-reri-the vAi,DEz, then operiiting of f the L__ileactivation.
be returneal to CONUS innediately fot
On 22 August, CNO directed CINCLANT to teturn the VAI,DEZ
and indicated the l4uLr,ER would continue operating
until earLy Sept_ember before aleactivation. (38)

MU],],ER
3314426

l-o6s of Ehipborne capability, forwarileal a nes6age to CNO

expressing reaction to the tnoves taken by that office to
deactivate the ships. These action6 \irere neithel coord.in-
-F-r tr---------------l - | |,,-+ir aF+a, +ha rr--

In view of the possible deactivatlo;n 6f the-TRSs,-E

requested corndenta from the CINCS regaraling their posi'EIo-h
on this natter- CINCLANT lecodnended retention of one
o! nole of the TRSS for use in contingedcy support role. 1l'l i.ll
CfNCPAC recomended retention of the lwo Tf(s6 in Southeast
Asia because of tlelr 'rvital role i4 support-ing current

could best be satisfied by other

JcS then advised osD (DDR&E) that the nllitary
nilitary ,reqrrllei
rnent to retain three AGTRg as previously suggested | |
was not of sufficientLy hish priority to warrant thE-TEft6fa]
f

AuirGt 1969,
L2I246Z sEP 69/ "Deactivation of Technical
Research ships. "
DocID; 3374426

By nid-Septernber, Deputy Secietary of Defense haal

not yet maale a final aleciaion concerning the disposition
of the TRSa. In t}!e mean while, CNO proceeded with de-
activation planning. The USNS VALDEZ- was oralereal hone and
arrived in Norfolk on l8 Septen oer to connence deactivation
and the MULLER departed etation 7 october and proceeded
frorn Port Everqlades to Norfolk Lo arrive 16 Octobe!.
On 01 october. Deputy Secretary of, Defense Packard
conclualeal that'rretention of the 4 AGIRS in the active
fleet is not requireal to satisfy
or military requilements. " (41)

Ttre s tudy hail been concludea apparerrtly with out knou-

ledge of the DEPSECT9 final decision on 01 October i:o de-
activate the M.UL].ER. fn view of his decislon, no further
acLion on the feport was corsidered necessary. The fitst
enclosure to the meno was hwoeve!, forwarded to DEPSEC a€
additional infornation relating to the deactivation of the
USNS }TULLER,

once the decision on final- dispositj.on \das firm.

schedules aAd guiilelines fot aleactl,valion were formulated
fora each ves6e1.
The USNS VALDEZ arrived in Norfolk I8 Septr,leber 1969.
The UsNs MULiER arrived in Norfolk on 16 october and
completeal aleactivation on 28 Oqtob€r 1969. .

The UsS ln port Norfolk sl-Dce 7 MAR 1969

GEoRGEToWN.
conpleted deasti-vation on 19 Decefi rer 1969.
The IJSS OXFORD and JAMESTOTiN corunenceal deactivation in
Yokosukar ilapan on 4 NovenibeE. Since these tt?o ships were
stricken frotn the Navf' ledEer, antl the shlpswere to be
stlipped for resale no fofiia1 aleactivation notices nrere
fonvardeil.
The USS BELMONT the last t cofifitence stripping.
cotllpleted deactivatlon in ,fanuary 1970.

( 4I }lE!€EelEI {eae j