.jpg) USSGuardian (AGR-1), moored pierside,Boston, July 1960. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | James G. Squires |
| Namesake | James G. Squires |
| Owner | War Shipping Administration (WSA) |
| Operator | Waterman Steamship Corp. |
| Ordered | as type (EC2-S-C5) hull,MC hull 3137 |
| Builder | J.A. Jones Construction,Panama City, Florida[1] |
| Cost | $857,562[2] |
| Yard number | 97 |
| Way number | 5 |
| Laid down | 20 March 1945 |
| Launched | 8 May 1945 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Elisa Broome |
| Completed | 31 May 1945 |
| Identification | |
| Fate |
|
 United States | |
| Name | Guardian |
| Namesake | One who guards or protects |
| Commissioned | 1 February 1955 |
| Decommissioned | 28 July 1965 |
| Reclassified | Guardian-classradar picket ship |
| Refit | Charleston Naval Shipyard,Charleston, South Carolina |
| Home port | Newport, Rhode Island |
| Identification |
|
| Fate |
|
| General characteristics[3] | |
| Class & type |
|
| Tonnage | |
| Displacement | |
| Length | |
| Beam | 57 feet (17 m) |
| Draft | 27 ft 9.25 in (8.4646 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 11.5knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
| Capacity | 490,000 cubic feet (13,875 m3) (bale) |
| Complement | |
| Armament |
|
| General characteristics (US Navy refit)[4] | |
| Class & type | Guardian-classradar picket ship |
| Capacity |
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| Complement |
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| Armament | 2 ×3 inches (76 mm)/50 caliber guns |
USSGuardian (AGR/YAGR-1) was aGuardian-classradar picket ship, converted from aLiberty Ship, acquired by theUS Navy in 1954. Her task was to act as part of the radar defenses of the United States in theCold War, serving until 1965.
Guardian (YAGR-1) was laid down on 20 March 1945, under aUnited States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 3137, as theLiberty ShipJames G. Squires, byJ.A. Jones Construction,Panama City, Florida. She was launched 8 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Elisa Broome; and delivered 31 May, toWaterman Steamship Corporation.[5][4]
She served until 5 October 1945, when she was placed in theNational Defense Reserve Fleet,James River, Virginia.[5]
Acquired by theUS Navy, she was taken out of reserve in 1954, she was converted to aradar picket ship at theCharleston Navy Yard,Charleston, South Carolina, and commissionedGuardian (YAGR-1), atNorfolk, Virginia, 1 February 1955.[5][4]
The first ocean radar station ship put into service by the Navy,Guardian conductedshakedown inRoosevelt Roads,Puerto Rico, and surrounding waters, reporting toNewport, Rhode Island, her home port, 2 June 1955.[5] In 1958 the Atlantic Ocean radar picket force relocated toDavisville, 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 ContinentalAir Defense Command. She and hersister 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 inASW exercises with both American andCanadian naval units and in local operations out of Newport andKey West, Florida. Her designation was changed toAGR-1 on 28 September 1958.[5]
Guardian was decommissioned 28 July 1965. She was returned to theUnited States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) for lay up in theNational Defense Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrapping, 23 November 1970, and withdrawn from fleet, 21 December 1970. She was scrapped inBilbao, Spain, September 1971.[4]
Guardian's crew was eligible for the following medals:
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
