USS Guardian (AGR-1), moored pierside, Boston, July 1960.
History
United States
NameJames G. Squires
NamesakeJames G. Squires
OwnerWar Shipping Administration (WSA)
OperatorWaterman Steamship Corp.
Orderedas type (EC2-S-C5) hull, MC hull 3137
BuilderJ.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida[1]
Cost$857,562[2]
Yard number97
Way number5
Laid down20 March 1945
Launched8 May 1945
Sponsored byMrs. Elisa Broome
Completed31 May 1945
Identification
Fate
United States
NameGuardian
NamesakeOne who guards or protects
Commissioned1 February 1955
Decommissioned28 July 1965
ReclassifiedGuardian-class radar picket ship
RefitCharleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, South Carolina
HomeportNewport, Rhode Island
Identification
  • Hull symbol: YAGR-1 (1956–1958)
  • Hull symbol: AGR-1 (1958–1970)
Fate
General characteristics [3]
Class and type
Tonnage
Displacement
Length
  • 441 feet 6 inches (135 m) oa
  • 416 feet (127 m) pp
  • 427 feet (130 m) lwl
Beam57 feet (17 m)
Draft27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m)
Installed power
  • 2 × Oil fired 450 °F (232 °C) boilers, operating at 220 psi (1,500 kPa)
  • 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propulsion
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Capacity490,000 cubic feet (13,875 m3) (bale)
Complement
Armament
General characteristics (US Navy refit)[4]
Class and typeGuardian-class radar picket ship
Capacity
  • 443,646 US gallons (1,679,383 L; 369,413 imp gal) (fuel oil)
  • 68,267 US gallons (258,419 L; 56,844 imp gal) (diesel)
  • 15,082 US gallons (57,092 L; 12,558 imp gal) (fresh water)
  • 1,326,657 US gallons (5,021,943 L; 1,104,673 imp gal) (fresh water ballast)
Complement
  • 13 officers
  • 138 enlisted
Armament2 × 3 inches (76 mm)/50 caliber guns

USS Guardian (AGR/YAGR-1) was a Guardian-class radar picket ship, converted from a Liberty Ship, acquired by the US Navy in 1954. Her task was to act as part of the radar defenses of the United States in the Cold War, serving until 1965.

Construction

Guardian (YAGR-1) was laid down on 20 March 1945, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 3137, as the Liberty Ship James G. Squires, by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida. She was launched 8 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Elisa Broome; and delivered 31 May, to Waterman Steamship Corporation.[5][4]

Service history

She served until 5 October 1945, when she was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Virginia.[5]

Acquired by the US Navy, she was taken out of reserve in 1954, she was converted to a radar picket ship at the Charleston Navy Yard, Charleston, South Carolina, and commissioned Guardian (YAGR-1), at Norfolk, Virginia, 1 February 1955.[5][4]

The first ocean radar station ship put into service by the Navy, Guardian conducted shakedown in Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, and surrounding waters, reporting to Newport, Rhode Island, her home port, 2 June 1955.[5] In 1958 the Atlantic Ocean radar picket force relocated to Davisville, Rhode Island.

Equipped with highly sensitive radar gear to enable her to detect, track, and report any aircraft penetrating the continental United States, Guardian was attached to the Eastern Continental Air Defense Command. She and her sister ships spent 3 or 4 weeks at a time off the US East Coast and West Coast on radar picket duty, even in the heaviest winter weather in the North Atlantic Ocean.[5]

In addition to radar picket duty, Guardian participated in ASW exercises with both American and Canadian naval units and in local operations out of Newport and Key West, Florida. Her designation was changed to AGR-1 on 28 September 1958.[5]

Decommissioning

Guardian was decommissioned 28 July 1965. She was returned to the Maritime Commission (MARCOM) for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrapping, 23 November 1970, and withdrawn from fleet, 21 December 1970. She was scrapped in Bilbao, Spain, September 1971.[4]

Military awards and honors

Guardian's crew was eligible for the following medals:

References

  1. ↑ J.A. Panama City 2010.
  2. 1 2 MARCOM.
  3. ↑ Davies 2004, p. 23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Navsource 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 DANFS.

Bibliography

  • "Guardian". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 26 November 2019.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  • "Jones Construction, Panama City FL". www.ShipbuildingHistory.com. 13 October 2010. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  • Davies, James (May 2004). "Specifications (As-Built)" (PDF). p. 23. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  • "SS James G. Squires". Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  • "USS Guardian (AGR-1)". Navsource.org. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
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