USS George Eastman

Last updated
YAG 39 USS GEORGE EASTMAN (After being refitted with scientific equipment).jpg
USS George Eastman (YAG-39) after being refitted with scientific equipment
History
Flag of the United States.svgUnited States
NameGeorge Eastman
Namesake George Eastman
Builder Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, California
Laid down24 March 1943
Launched20 April 1943
Acquired2 April 1953
In service20 October 1953, as USS YAG-39
Out of service21 October 1957
ReclassifiedYAG-39 (Miscellaneous Auxiliary Service Craft), May 1953
Commissioned20 October 1962
RenamedUSS George Eastman (YAG-39), 3 July 1963
FateSold for scrapping, 15 June 1976
General characteristics
Type Type EC2-S-C1 hull
Displacement
  • 3,890 long tons (3,952 t) light
  • 11,600 long tons (11,786 t) full load
Length442 ft (135 m)
Beam57 ft (17 m)
Draft30 ft (9.1 m)
PropulsionReciprocating steam engine, single shaft, 1,950 shp (1,454 kW)
Speed10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement100
ArmamentNone

USS George Eastman (YAG-39), a "Liberty-type" cargo ship, was laid down under Maritime Commission contract on 24 March 1943 by Permanente Metals Corp., Yard 2, Richmond, California; launched on 20 April 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Ann Troutman; and delivered under charter from War Shipping Administration to Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Co., Vancouver, Washington, on 5 May 1943.

Contents

Merchant Cargo Carrier

She operated as a merchant cargo carrier until placed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Suisun Bay, California, on 24 June 1948. Later taken out of reserve, she was chartered to Pacific Far East Line, Inc., San Francisco, California, on 24 December 1951 and operated as a merchantman in the Far East during the Korean War. On 2 June 1952 she was transferred by the Maritime Administration to the custody of the U.S. Navy at Suisun Bay, California.

Conversion to YAG-39

Acquired by the U.S. Navy on 2 April 1953, she was designated YAG-39 the following month. She was then fitted out with numerous scientific instruments, including nuclear detection and measurement devices, which enabled her to conduct contamination and fallout measurement tests after nuclear explosions. Manned by an experimental crew in a specially protected control cubicle, she also was fitted with electronic remote control gear that enabled her to serve as a robot ship.

Supporting atomic testing in the Pacific

Following extensive conversion, YAG-39 was placed in service at San Francisco, California, on 20 October 1953. Assigned to Joint Task Force 7, she steamed to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, where from March through May 1954 she participated in atomic tests at the Pacific Proving Grounds. During "Operation Castle", a nuclear test series, she gathered fallout data and carried out experimental ship protection studies. [1] After returning to San Francisco, California, she was placed out of service from June until February 1955.

In May, YAG-39 again served with Joint Task Force 7 during "Operation Wigwam", the deep underwater nuclear test carried out in the Eastern Pacific. [2] During the next 10 months she operated between the West Coast and Hawaii, and conducted various experimental tests before returning to Eniwetok on 8 April 1956 to participate in additional nuclear tests. From 21 May to 23 July she took part in four nuclear-proving tests during Operation Redwing and gathered scientific data to advance knowledge of the atom and the effects of nuclear fission.

Departing Eniwetok on 28 July, YAG-39 steamed via Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, California, where she arrived on 16 August. After receiving additional scientific equipment, she departed San Francisco on 6 February 1957 to resume experimental operations off the California coast. During the next few months she steamed with YAG-40 while testing advanced weapons and ship protection systems. Towed to San Diego, California, 21 October for inactivation, she was placed out of service on 1 November and assigned to the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego.

Project 112 and Project SHAD

Reactivated in 1962, YAG-39 commissioned at San Francisco, California, on 20 October. With her sister ship, YAG-40, she departed San Francisco, California, on 15 November for Pearl Harbor, where she arrived 24 November for underway training. Assigned to Service Squadron 5, she operated off Hawaii and carried out extensive experimental tests in the fields of ship protection systems and scientific warfare analysis. On 3 July 1963 she was assigned her former merchant name, George Eastman.

From 1963, USS George Eastman operated as a research ship between the Hawaiian Sea Frontier and the equatorial area of the mid-Pacific, providing valuable support for various scientific research and defense projects of the Department of Defense. She sailed to the West Coast in April 1966 for a three-month overhaul; and, following her return to Pearl Harbor on 18 August, she resumed research cruises in Hawaiian waters. Her support activities continued through 1966 into 1967.

This ship participated in the U. S. Navy's Top Secret biological and chemical warfare testing program. Project SHAD, an acronym for Shipboard Hazard and Defense, was part of a larger effort called Project 112, which was conducted during the 1960s. Project SHAD encompassed tests designed to identify U.S. warships' vulnerabilities to attacks with chemical or biological warfare agents and to develop procedures to respond to such attacks while maintaining a war-fighting capability.from 1962 until 1972 when President Nixon officially discontinued the program. The USS George Eastman's sister ship, the USS Granville S. Hall (YAG-40) also participated as a floating laboratory and administrative command ship in Project SHAD along with five L.T. Tugboats, a submarine and aircraft. Sarin and VX nerve gas were sprayed on the USS George Eastman by the tugs and aircraft as well as E.coli, simulants for biological and chemical agents such as anthrax and a number of other diseases, tracers and mosquitoes. [3]

USS George Eastman directly participated in the following Project 112/ Project SHAD tests: [3]

Decommissioning

USS George Eastman was decommissioned (date unknown); struck From the Naval Register (date unknown); disposed of by MARAD sale, on 1 July 1976; and, final disposition, scrapped in 1977.

See also

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Carbonero</i> Submarine of the United States

USS Carbonero (SS/AGSS-337) was a Balao-class submarine, the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the carbonero, a salt-water fish found in the West Indies.

USS <i>Bonita</i> (SSK-3) Barracuda-class submarine of the US Navy

USS Bonita (SSK-3/SS-552), a Barracuda-class submarine, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the bonito, a name applied to several types of fish, including the skipjack tuna,, the Atlantic bonito, the lesser amberjack, or the cobia. She was originally named USS K-3 (SSK-3).

USS <i>Monticello</i> (LSD-35)

USS Monticello (LSD-35) was a Thomaston-class dock landing ship, the third ship of the United States Navy to be named for Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project SHAD</span> American military project

Project SHAD, an acronym for Shipboard Hazard and Defense, was part of a larger effort called Project 112, which was conducted during the 1960s. Project SHAD encompassed tests designed to identify U.S. warships' vulnerabilities to attacks with chemical agents or biological warfare agents and to develop procedures to respond to such attacks while maintaining a war-fighting capability.

USS <i>Butternut</i>

USS Butternut (AN-9/YN-4/ANL-9/YAG-60) was laid down as a yard net tender on 11 March 1941 at Houghton, Washington, by the Lake Washington Shipyard; launched on 10 May 1941; and placed in service at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on 3 September 1941.

USS <i>Waxbill</i> (MHC-50) Minesweeper of the United States Navy

USS Waxbill (MHC-50/AMCU-50/AMS-39/YMS-479/PCS-1456) was a YMS-1-class minesweeper of the YMS-446 subclass acquired by the U.S. Navy for the task of removing mines placed in the water to prevent ships from passing.

USS <i>Kenmore</i> (AK-221) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Kenmore (AP-162/AK-221) was a Crater-class cargo ship built during World War II for the US Navy. Kenmore was named after George Washington's sister Betty's house Kenmore. Kenmore was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

USS <i>Tawasa</i> Tugboat of the United States Navy

USS Tawasa (AT-92) was a Cherokee-class fleet tug constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. Her purpose was to aid ships, usually by towing, on the high seas or in combat or post-combat areas, plus "other duties as assigned." She served in the Pacific Ocean and had a very successful career marked by the winning of three battle stars during World War II, two during the Korean War, and seven campaign stars during the Vietnam War.

USS <i>Megrez</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Megrez (AK-126) was a Crater-class cargo ship commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. Megrez was named after Megrez, a star in the constellation Ursa Major. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

USS <i>Kern</i> Patapsco-class gasoline tanker

USS Kern (AOG-2) was a Patapsco-class gasoline tanker acquired by the United States Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations.

USS <i>Tryon</i>

USS Tryon (APH-1) was laid down as SS Alcoa Courier on 26 March 1941, by the Moore Dry Dock Company, Oakland, California and launched on 21 October 1941 sponsored by Mrs. Roy G. Hunt. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, she was designated for U.S. Navy use and assigned the name Comfort in June 1942. Comfort was renamed Tryon on 13 August 1942, acquired by the U.S. Navy on 29 September 1942, and commissioned on 30 September 1942.

USS <i>Navarro</i>

USS Navarro (APA/LPA-215) was a Haskell-class attack transport of the US Navy. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type that saw service in World War II and the Vietnam War. Navarro was named after Navarro County, Texas.

USS <i>Okanogan</i>

USS Okanogan (APA/LPA-220) was a Haskell-class attack transport that saw service with the US Navy in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. She was of the VC2-S-AP5 Victory ship design type and named after Okanogan County, Washington.

USS <i>Bollinger</i>

USS Bollinger (APA-234) was a Haskell-class attack transport in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1947. She was scrapped in 1982.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project 112</span> 1962–1973 US biological and chemical weapon test project

Project 112 was a biological and chemical weapon experimentation project conducted by the United States Department of Defense from 1962 to 1973.

USS <i>Livingston</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Livingston (AP-163/AK-222) was a Crater-class cargo ship built for the US Navy during World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater.

USS <i>Boulder Victory</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Boulder Victory (AK-227) was a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship acquired by the US Navy during World War II. She was the lead ship of 20 ships in her class. She carried ammunition into the Pacific Ocean war zone and, on 20 December 1944 at Manus Island, New Guinea, she struck a naval mine and suffered a very large hole in her side.

USS <i>Knudson</i>

USS Knudson (APD-101), ex-DE-591, later LPR-101, was a United States Navy high-speed transport in commission from 1944 to 1946 and from 1953 to 1958.

USS <i>Granville S. Hall</i>

Granville S. Hall was a Liberty ship named after Granville S. Hall. She was built at the J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida, and launched in 1944, to serve as a civilian cargo ship. In 1953 she was acquired by the United States Navy for use as a miscellaneous auxiliary service craft under the designation YAG-40. As YAG-40 she took part in Operation Castle before being laid up again in 1957. Reactivated in 1962, she was commissioned as Granville S. Hall (YAG-40) and participated in Project SHAD and Project 112. She was scrapped in 1972.

USS <i>Moctobi</i> Abnaki-class fleet ocean tug in the US Navy

USS Moctobi (ATF-105) was an Abnaki-class of fleet ocean tug. She served in World War II, Vietnam, and Korea, the last two of which she received battle stars. She was scrapped in 2012.

References

  1. Martin, Edwin J; Rowland, Richard H (April 1, 1982). Castle Series, 1954 (PDF). Washington DC: Defense Nuclear Agency. OCLC   831905820. DNA 6035F via Defense Technical Information Center.
  2. "Operation WIGWAM, Report of Commander, Task Group 7.3" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Center. July 22, 1955. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Ships Associated with SHAD Tests". Force Health Protection. 26 July 2004. Archived from the original on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships .The entry can be found here.