Ships/Navy: Special mission ships program

Sea Power, Jan 2003

SURVEILLANCE SHIPS (T-AGOS)

BRIEFING: The older mono-hulled Stalwart-class surveillance ships operate in direct support of the U.S. Navy's Atlantic and Pacific Fleets and as counterdrug (CD) ships as part of multi-agency efforts to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States.

USNS Prevail (T-AGOS 8), USNS Assertive (T-AGOS 9), and USNS Bold (T-AGOS 12) use surveillance towed-array sensor system (SURTASS) equipment to support the Navy's antisubmarine warfare capability. The SURTASS mission is to gather ocean acoustical data and transmit antisubmarine warfare information rapidly for prompt analysis. Three other ships-USNS Stalwart (T-- AGOS 1), USNS Indomitable (T-AGOS 7) and USNS Capable (T-AGOS 9)were converted to carry large air-search radars and operate as part of the Joint Interagency Task Force in CD operations. Two of the ships-USNS Stalwart and USNS Indomitable continue in that service. The third, USNS Capable, has been reassigned to air duties in support of fleet surveillance.

OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY SHIPS (T-AGS)

CABLE REPAIR SHIP (T-ARC)

ACOUSTIC RESEARCH SHIP MAG)

MISSILE-RANGE INSTRUMENTATION, NAVIGATION TEST-SUPPORT SHIPS (T-AGS, T-AGM)

Special Missions Charter Ships

BRIEFING: MSC operates five long-term charter ships in support of special missions. MV Carolyn Chouest-based in New London, Conn.-is the escort ship for the nuclear-powered submarine NR-1. MV Dolores Chouest, based in Norfolk, Va., and MV Kellie Chouest, based in San Diego, Calif., provide submarine rescue support for Submarine Forces Atlantic and Submarine Forces Pacific. MV Cory Chouest, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, operates with the fleet in support of undersea-surveillance missions. MV C-Commando provides support to Naval Special Warfare Command's Advanced SEAL Delivery System and is based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.