.jpg) USSSkywatcher (AGR-3) underway, date and location unknown. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Rafeal R. Rivera |
| Namesake | Rafeal R. Rivera |
| Owner | War Shipping Administration (WSA) |
| Operator | States Marine Corp. |
| Ordered | as type (EC2-S-C5) hull,MC hull 2337 |
| Builder | J.A. Jones Construction,Panama City, Florida[1] |
| Cost | $1,169,703[2] |
| Yard number | 78 |
| Way number | 6 |
| Laid down | 30 November 1944 |
| Launched | 16 January 1945 |
| Sponsored by | Mrs.Evelyn Anderson |
| Completed | 30 January 1945 |
| Identification | |
| Fate |
|
 United States | |
| Name | Skywatcher |
| Commissioned | 29 March 1955 |
| Decommissioned | 29 March 1965 |
| Reclassified | Guardian-classradar picket ship |
| Refit | Charleston Naval Shipyard,Charleston, South Carolina |
| Stricken | 1 April 1965 |
| Identification |
|
| Fate | Sold for scrapping, 23 December 1970, scrapped, December 1971 |
| 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 |
|
| Complement |
|
| Armament | 2 ×3 inches (76 mm)/50 caliber guns |
USSSkywatcher (YAGR/AGR-3) was aGuardian-classradar picket ship, converted from aLiberty Ship, acquired by theUS Navy in 1954. She was converted into a radar picket ship and assigned to radar picket duty in the NorthAtlantic Ocean as part of theDistant Early Warning Line.
Skywatcher (YAGR-3) was laid down on 30 November 1944, under aMaritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 2337, as theLiberty ShipRafael R. Rivera, byJ.A. Jones Construction,Panama City, Florida. She was launched on 16 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Anderson; and delivered 25 June 1945, to theStates Marine Corporation.[5][2]
In 1946, after World War II,Rafael R. Rivera was converted to alivestock ship, also called a cowboy ship. From 1945 to 1947, theUnited Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Brethren Service Committee of theChurch of the Brethren sent livestock to war-torn countries. These "seagoing cowboys" made about 360 trips on 73 different ships. TheHeifers for Relief project was started by the Church of the Brethren in 1942; in 1953, this becameHeifer International.[6]Rafael R Rivera was one of these ships, known as cowboy ships, as she moved livestock across the Atlantic Ocean.Rafael R Rivera moved horses, heifers, and mules, as well as a some chicks, rabbits, and goats.[7][8][9]
She was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 20 September 1954, and converted at thePortsmouth Naval Shipyard,Norfolk, Virginia, into an ocean station radar ship. She was commissioned on 29 March 1955.[5][4]
In July 1955, she assumed her first duties in theContiguous Radar Coverage System of the United States while operating out ofNewport, Rhode Island.[5]
In September 1958, the ship's designation was changed fromYAGR-3 to radar picket shipAGR-3. Her home port was changed toDavisville, Rhode Island, and she operated from there until early 1965, withRadar Picket Squadron 2, spending over 50 percent of her time on her assigned picket station.[5]
In March 1965,Skywatcher was placed in reserve, out of commission, and struck from theNavy List on 1 April 1965. She was sold on 23 December 1970, to Daewood Corp., Ltd., ofKarachi, Pakistan.[5] She was resold again for scrapping and in December 1971, she arrived atSantander, Spain, to be scrapped.[4]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
