USNS ''Flyer'' (T-AG-178), was a type C2-S-B1 cargo ship of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, built for the

Maritime Commission The United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) was an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government that was created by the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, which was passed by Congress on June 29, 1936, and was abolished on May 24, 195 ...

(MC) as ''Water Witch'' in service under charter by the commission to several lines until purchased in 1946 by

United States Lines United States Lines was the trade name of an organization of the United States Shipping Board (USSB), Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC) created to operate German liners seized by the United States in 1917. The ships were owned by the USSB and al ...

and renamed ''American Flyer''. After being placed in the Reserve Fleet 14 December 1964 the title was transferred to the Navy for use as a deep ocean bathymetric survey ship supporting installation of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS). The Navy placed the ship in service 9 February 1965 with the name ''Flyer'' given on 22 March. The ship operated in that role until 1975.

Construction

''Water Witch'' was built under Maritime Commission] contract for MC hull 1209 by the

Moore Dry Dock Company Moore Dry Dock Company was a ship repair and shipbuilding company in Oakland, California. In 1905, Robert S. Moore, his brother Joseph A. Moore, and John Thomas Scott purchased the National Iron Works located in the Hunter's Point section o ...

Oakland, California Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast of the United States, West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third ...

, yard number 296. The keel was laid on 30 October 1944, and the ship launched on 20 December 1944, sponsored by Miss. Margaret Helen Finnel. On registration the ship was assigned Official Number 247417 and signal ANQN. Registry information for ''American Flyer'' shows a crew of 54.

Service history

Commercial

The ship was completed 14 March 1945 and placed in service under Maritime Commission agreement with

McCormick Steamship Company McCormick may refer to: Business * McCormick & Company, an American food company specializing in spices and flavorings * McCormick & Schmick's, an American restaurant chain specializing in seafood * McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, a manufact ...

. On 6 July 1946 ''Water Witch'' was bareboat chartered by American South African Lines until 22 October 1946 when

acquired the ship under the MC agreement until purchasing the ship from the Maritime Commission on 8 November 1946 for $960,642.42. On 27 December 1946 the ship was renamed ''American Flyer''. On 10 October 1962 the title to ''American Flyer'' was surrendered to the

Maritime Administration Maritime administrations, or flag state administrations, are the executive arms/state bodies of each government responsible for carrying out the shipping responsibilities of the state, and are tasked to administer national shipping and boating issue ...

as trade in credit with the line operating the ship under a bareboat charter until delivery to the

James River Reserve Fleet The James River Reserve Fleet (JRRF) is located on the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia at () near Fort Eustis. James River Reserve Fleet, a "ghost fleet,", is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The Reserve Fleet ships in s ...

on 14 December 1964.

Navy auxiliary

The ship was acquired by the US Navy from the

(MARAD) in a permanent transfer and placed in service on 9 February 1965, with the name ''Flyer'' assigned on 22 March 1965. ''Flyer'' was converted for Naval service as a Miscellaneous Auxiliary, bathymetric survey ship, designated T-AG-178, to perform deep ocean surveys for ''Project Caesar'', the unclassified cover name for installation of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS). USNS ''Flyer'' was operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) (current Military Sealift Command) for Project Caesar. The ship had a civilian MSTS crew of fourteen officers and thirty-seven seamen. A complement of civilian specialist would compose the survey party.

Fate

''Flyer'' was struck from the

Naval Vessel Register The ''Naval Vessel Register'' (NVR) 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 t ...

on 17 July 1975 and delivered to the custody of the Maritime Administration in the

suisun Bay Reserve Fleet The Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet is located on the northwest side of Suisun Bay (the northern portion of the greater San Francisco Bay estuary) in Benicia, California. The fleet is within a regulated navigation area that is about long and wide. It ...

on 22 July 1975. On 27 April ''Flyer'' was sold for scrapping to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc.

References

External links

''American Flyer'' photo, C2-S-B1 description
*
USNS Flyer (T-AG 178)''Flyer'' photo at IUSS ● CAESAR Alumni Association''Flyer'' conference room photo at IUSS ● CAESAR Alumni Association
{{DEFAULTSORT:Flyer 1944 ships Ships built in Oakland, California World War II merchant ships of the United States Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States Type C2-S-B1 ships Type C2-S-B1 ships of the United States Navy Survey ships of the United States Navy