USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg

Last updated

USNS Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10).png
USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10) underway. She was originally USS General Harry Taylor (AP-145)
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
Name
  • General Harry Taylor (1943-1963)
  • General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (1963-
Namesake
Builder
Laid down22 February 1943
Launched10 October 1943
Sponsored byMrs. Mamie M. McHugh
Christened2 October 1943
Acquired29 March 1944
Commissioned1 April 1944 (ferry)
Decommissioned10 April 1944 (ferry)
Identification
Commissioned8 May 1944
Decommissioned13 June 1946
Stricken3 July 1946
FateTo U.S. Army Transport Service
RenamedUSAT General Harry Taylor
OperatorU.S. Army Transport Service
In serviceafter 3 July 1946
Out of service1 March 1950
FateTo MSTS
RenamedUSNS General Harry Taylor
ReclassifiedT-AP-145, 1 March 1950
OperatorMSTS
In service1 March 1950
Out of service19 September 1958
Stricken10 July 1958
FateTo U.S. Air Force
Operator U.S. Air Force
Acquired15 July 1961
RenamedUSAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
Namesake Hoyt S. Vandenberg
In service1 June 1963
Out of service1 July 1964
Identification
  • Code letters and radio callsign NBBP [1]
  • ICS November.svg ICS Bravo.svg ICS Bravo.svg ICS Papa.svg
FateTo MSTS
RenamedUSNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg
ReclassifiedT-AGM-10, 1 July 1964
In service1 July 1964
Out of service1983
Stricken29 April 1993
FateNDRF James River, Movie Virus , NDRF
In service2007
Out of service2008
FateSunk as an artificial reef 27 May 2009
General characteristics
Class and type General G. O. Squier-class transport ship
Displacement9,950 tons (light), 17,250 tons (full)
Length522 ft 10 in (159.36 m)
Beam71 ft 6 in (21.79 m)
Draft24 ft (7.32 m)
Propulsionsingle-screw steam turbine with 9,900  shp (7,400 kW)
Speed17 knots (31 km/h)
Capacity3,224 troops
Complement356 (officers and enlisted)
Armament
  • As built:

USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10) (originally named USS General Harry Taylor (AP-145)) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship in the United States Navy in World War II named in honor of U.S. Army Chief of Engineers Harry Taylor. She served for a time as army transport USAT General Harry Taylor, and was reacquired by the navy in 1950 as USNS General Harry Taylor (T-AP-145).

Contents

Placed in reserve in 1958, she was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1961 and renamed USAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg in 1963 in honor of the former Air Force Chief of Staff. She was reacquired by the U.S. Navy in 1964 as USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10).

Retired in 1983, [2] and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1993, she was to be sunk as an artificial reef originally intended for the spring of 2008, [3] but instead was placed under Federal Lien to be auctioned off for payment recovery in December 2008 at Norfolk Federal Court. A group of banks and financiers from Key West bought the vessel off the auction block and it was docked at the East Quay Pier of Key West Harbor. The ship was sunk 27 May 2009 and is the second-largest artificial reef in the world, after the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany. [4] [5]

Operational history

Transport ship

The unnamed C4-S-A1-design transport was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC Hull No. 702) on 22 February 1943 at Richmond, California, by Kaiser Co., Inc., Yard 3; named General Harry Taylor (AP-145) on 2 October 1943; launched on 10 October 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Mamie M. McHugh; acquired by the Navy on 29 March 1944; placed in ferry commission on 1 April 1944 for transfer to Portland, Oregon, for conversion to a transport by Kaiser Co., Inc., Vancouver, Washington; decommissioned on 10 April 1944; and commissioned on 8 May 1944 at Portland.

Following shakedown off San Diego, General Harry Taylor sailed from San Francisco on 23 June 1944 with troop reinforcements for Milne Bay, New Guinea. After returning to San Francisco on 3 August with veterans of the Guadalcanal campaign embarked, she continued transport voyages between San Francisco and island bases in the western Pacific. During the next 10 months, she steamed to New Guinea, the Solomons, New Caledonia, the Marianas, the New Hebrides, the Palaus, and the Philippines, carrying troops and supplies, until 29 June 1945 when she departed San Francisco for duty in the Atlantic.

With the European war over, General Harry Taylor made two "Magic Carpet" voyages to Marseilles and back, carrying returning veterans of the fighting in that theater. Next she sailed twice to Karachi, India, via the Suez Canal. Returning to New York on 3 January 1946, the transport then began the first of four voyages to Bremerhaven, Germany, and Le Havre, France. She reached New York again on 21 May 1946 and decommissioned on 13 June at Baltimore. She was stricken from the Navy Register on 3 July 1946.

General Harry Taylor served for a time with the U.S. Army Transport Service, but was reacquired by the Navy on 1 March 1950 for use by the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS). She was reinstated on the Navy List on 28 April 1950. Her early duties consisted mainly of carrying troops, dependents, and large numbers of European refugees. USNS General Harry Taylor (T-AP-145) operated in a typical year to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and in northern European waters. In 1957, she took part in the Hungarian Relief program, transporting several thousand refugees of the short-lived Hungarian Revolution to Australia. She was placed in ready reserve on 19 September 1957; stricken from the Naval Register on 10 July 1958 and transferred back to the Maritime Administration the same day. She was placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Beaumont, Texas.

Missile range instrumentation ship

General Harry Taylor was then transferred to the U.S. Air Force, on 15 July 1961, and was renamed USAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg on 11 June 1963.

On 1 July 1964, General Hoyt S. Vandenberg was acquired by the Navy and designated T-AGM-10, as a missile range instrumentation ship, one of ten such ships transferred from the Commander, Air Force Eastern Test Range, to MSTS. in 1974 the ship commanded by Captain Anderson deployed to Dakar, Senegal, to participate in the Global Atmospheric Research Experiment. "Equipped with extremely accurate and discriminating radar and telemetry equipment," she tracked and analyzed "re-entry bodies in the terminal phase of ballistic missile test flights," carrying out those missile and spacecraft tracking duties in both Atlantic and Pacific waters until her retirement in 1983. [2] She was ultimately stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 29 April 1993.

General Hoyt S. Vandenberg at Key West docks in May 2009 Vandenberg-2009.jpg
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg at Key West docks in May 2009
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg at Key West docks in May 2009 Vandenberg.jpg
General Hoyt S. Vandenberg at Key West docks in May 2009

In 1998, some scenes of the horror/sci-fi film Virus were filmed aboard the ex-General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. The ship substituted for a fictional Russian vessel called the Akademik Vladislav Volkov , and some of the Cyrillic lettering applied for the film is still visible on the hull today. [1]

The ship was transferred to the Maritime Administration on 1 May 1999. Her projected transfer to the state of Florida, for use as an artificial reef, received approval on 13 February 2007. The ship was sunk 6 miles (10 km) off the Florida Keys in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The sinking was originally set to take place on 15 May 2008 but was postponed because the ship was placed under "Federal Arrest" by a US Federal Court for failure to pay shipyard fees related to the clean-up and preparation for the sinking. She was later ordered to be sold at auction to pay the shipyard fees. A group of banks and financiers from Key West was able to arrange to pay the fees and title of the ship was transferred to the city of Key West.

On 12 April 2009, the Vandenberg left the shipyard in Norfolk, VA and began the long tow to Key West. [6] On 22 April 2009 she arrived in the Key West Harbor where she was moored at the East Quay Pier. The sinking took place on Wednesday, 27 May 2009. [7] [8]

Artificial Reef

USNS Vandenberg in 2015. Diver at USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10) wreck off Key West in January 2015.JPG
USNS Vandenberg in 2015.

The Vandenberg was deployed by Key Westbased economic development company Reefmakers. Beginning in 1996, Reefmakers set out to create an artificial reef that benefited the local economy and ecosystem of whichever city it was set to be deployed in. [9] From the pre- to post- USNS Vandenberg deployment period, there was a 40.1% increase in the total number of users (scuba divers, snorkelers, and others) on the surrounding natural reefs. A 23.5% increase in recreational scuba diving use occurred on the natural reefs representing 5,214 dives, which is in contrast to a 442% increase (34,394 dives) in the share of recreational scuba diving that occurred on artificial reefs. However, the share of total use on natural reefs did decline from 67% in the pre-deployment period to 46.5% in the post-deployment period. However, the increase in total demand effect dominated the substitution effect of switching from natural to artificial reefs resulting in an increase in total use on the surrounding natural reefs. Thus, the hypothesis that introduction of the USNS Vandenberg as an artificial reef would reduce use (pressure) on the surrounding natural reefs is not supported in a study made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [10]

Awards

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Priolo, Gary P. (29 June 2007). "USS General Harry Taylor (AP-145), USAT General Harry Taylor, USNS General Harry Taylor (T-AP-145), USAFS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM-10)". NavSource Online. NavSource Naval History. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Retired Air Force ship preps for reef duty in the Keys". USA Today . 23 October 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  3. "General Hoyt Vandenberg USAFS". wrecksite.eu. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  4. staff writer. "Vandenberg off central Florida, heading to Key West". The Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  5. "Ship to Become 2nd Largest Intentional Reef". NBC. 25 May 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  6. "Smith Maritime :: Ocean Towing & Salvage Services".
  7. "US warship becomes Florida reef". BBC News. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  8. "Sink the Vandenberg!" (Press release). Stevens Institute of Technology, Office of University Communications. 24 June 2009. Retrieved 21 July 2009.
  9. "REEFMAKERS - Artificial Reef Development and Construction".
  10. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: The Economic Impact of the USS Vandenberg on the Monroe County Economy, July 2011. /, and University of Florida: The Economic Benefits Associated with Florida's Artificial Reefs

Related Research Articles

Vandenberg may refer to:

USS <i>Spiegel Grove</i> US Navy ship sunk off Key Largo as an artificial reef

USS Spiegel Grove (LSD-32) was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship of the United States Navy. She was named for Spiegel Grove, the home and estate in Fremont, Ohio, of Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19th President of the United States.

USNS <i>Observation Island</i> Mariner-class merchant ship

USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23) was built as the Mariner-class merchant ship Empire State Mariner for the United States Maritime Commission, launched 15 August 1953, and operated by United States Lines upon delivery on 24 February 1954, making voyages for the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until going into reserve at Mobile, Alabama on 9 November 1954.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracking ship</span> Class of ships used for tracking missiles and satellites

A tracking ship, also called a missile range instrumentation ship or range ship, is a ship equipped with antennas and electronics to support the launching and tracking of missiles and rockets. Since many missile ranges launch over ocean areas for safety reasons, range ships are used to extend the range of shore-based tracking facilities.

USS <i>Muliphen</i> Andromeda-class attack cargo ship

USS Muliphen (AKA-61/LKA-61) was an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1970. She was sunk as an artificial reef in 1989.

USAS <i>American Mariner</i> United States Army research vessel

USAS American Mariner was a United States Army research vessel from January 1959 to 30 September 1963. She was originally assigned to the DAMP Project by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to attempt to collect radar signature data on incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Caribbean, the South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Her initial operations involved providing radar track on the Atlas missile, which was under development at the time. Subsequently, she provided track on other types of missiles as they proceeded through their development and operational stages. In September 1963 the original contract was transferred to the USAF until the completion of the testing phase in 1964.

USS <i>Kittiwake</i> Chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel

USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) was a United States Navy Chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel in commission from 1946 to 1994.

<i>General G. O. Squier</i>-class transport

The General G. O. Squier class of transport ships was built for the U.S. Navy during World War II. The class was based upon the Maritime Commission's Type C4 ship. The class was named for United States Army Major General George Owen Squier.

USNS <i>General H. H. Arnold</i>

USNS General H. H. Arnold (T-AGM-9) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Robert Emmet Callan. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General R. E. Callan in 1946. On 28 April 1950 she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General R. E. Callan (T-AP-139). Placed in reserve in 1958, she was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1961 and renamed USAFS General H. H. Arnold in 1963, in honor of Henry H. Arnold, the first and only General of the Air Force. She was reacquired by the Navy in 1964 as USNS General H. H. Arnold (T-AGM-9). She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March 1982.

Type C4-class ship Cargo ships built by the United States Maritime Commission

The Type C4-class ship were the largest cargo ships built by the United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) during World War II. The design was originally developed for the American-Hawaiian Lines in 1941, but in late 1941 the plans were taken over by the MARCOM.

USNS <i>Range Recoverer</i> American tracking ship

USNS Range Recoverer (T-AG-161/T-AGM-2/YFRT-524) was a missile range instrumentation ship responsible for providing radar and/or telemetry track data on missiles launched from American launch sites.

USNS <i>Sword Knot</i> American tracking ship

USNS Sword Knot (T-AGM-13) was a missile range instrumentation ship which operated as USAFS Sword Knot on the United States Air Force's Eastern Range during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Sword Knot operated under an Air Force contract with Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range Division headquartered in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

SS <i>Benwood</i> Steam cargo ship of the early twentieth century

SS Benwood was a steam cargo ship of the early twentieth century. Built by Craig, Taylor & Co Ltd., Stockton on Tees, she entered service with Joseph Hoult & Co. Ltd, Liverpool. She passed through several owners, before being lost in a collision off the coast of Key Largo, Florida in 1942. Her wreck is now a popular dive site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Strike Group 10</span> Military unit

Carrier Strike Group 10, is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. As of August 2022, CSG-10 consists of USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), the strike group's current flagship, with Carrier Air Wing Seven embarked on board, as well as the Ticonderoga-class cruiserLeyte Gulf, and four ships of Destroyer Squadron 26.

The following index is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Wikipedia's articles on recreational dive sites. The level of coverage may vary:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outline of recreational dive sites</span> Hierarchical outline list of articles about rereational dive sites

Recreational dive sites are specific places that recreational scuba divers go to enjoy the underwater environment or for training purposes. They include technical diving sites beyond the range generally accepted for recreational diving. In this context all diving done for recreational purposes is included. Professional diving tends to be done where the job is, and with the exception of diver training and leading groups of recreational divers, does not generally occur at specific sites chosen for their easy access, pleasant conditions or interesting features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James River, Reserve Fleet</span> Reserve Fleet in Virginia

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 storage, called "mothballed", that can be ready for use if needed. Many are awaiting scrapping due to the age or condition of the ship. Some ships are used for target practice or as artificial reefs. A few ships became museum ships and other sold to private companies. Ships can be readied for use in 20 to 120 days during national emergencies or natural disaster. The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) provides oversight of the James River Reserve Fleet. For the United States Navy ships the United States Navy reserve fleets stored these ships and submarines.

References

24°27′N81°44′W / 24.450°N 81.733°W / 24.450; -81.733