Kingsport (T-AG 164) Class: Photographs
| These photographs were selected to show the original configuration of this class and major subsequent modifications. For more views see the former NHHC (now Hyperwar) Online Library of Selected Images and the NavSource Photo Archive. |
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USNS Kingsport Victory (T-AK 239) USNS Kingsport Victory, previously an Army ship, served throughout the 1950s as a standard MSTS cargo ship. This photo was forwarded by MSTS LANT to MSTS headquarters on 15 September 1953. Photo No. None Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC) |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) Undergoing Phase I of her conversion on 24 January 1962 at the Willamette Iron & Steel Co. Photo No. BUSHIPS 164328, NAID 6929147 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-19-NN, negatives) |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) Photographed on 11 April 1962 after completion of Phase I of her conversion with a legend identifying her antennas. Nearly all of these were for communications and navigation and none was specific to the ADVENT project. Photo No. BUSHIPS 164329, NAID 6929148 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-19-NN, negatives) |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) Underway on 25 January 1963 as a communication terminal ship operated by MSTS for Project ADVENT of the Army Satellite Communications Agency of the Defense Satellite Communications Program. External features added at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in Phase II of her conversion included a 53-foot air-inflated radome to house antennas for ship to shore communications and a large trainable multi-element antenna for satellite command on top of the foremast. Photo No. USN 1065789 Source: Shipscribe |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) Underway on 25 January 1963 as a communication terminal ship for Project ADVENT and then for NASA's SYNCOM geosynchronous satellite program. Note the air-inflated radome aft and the large trainable multi-element antenna for satellite command on top of her foremast. Photo No. USN 1065792 Source: Shipscribe |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) Underway circa 1964 after the multi-element telemetry antenna was moved from its mast to a fixed position on top of Number 1 hatch in a mid-1963 overhaul. The HF discone cage transmitting antenna previously near the bow took its place on top of the mast. The telemetry antenna was removed when the ship was reassigned in 1965 to support NASA's Gemini manned space shots. This photo somehow got into the Record Group 330 collection with a date of 24 August 1990. Photo No. DN-ST-90-11486 Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-330) |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) After being reconfigured in 1967 as a bathymetric and acoustic survey ship for Project Caesar (SOSUS) with the air-inflated radome and multi-element antenna removed and a tall antenna with multiple guy-wires added on the flight deck. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC) |
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USNS Kingsport (T-AG 164) After being reconfigured in 1967 as a bathymetric and acoustic survey ship for Project Caesar (SOSUS) with the air-inflated radome and multi-element antenna removed. She now has a shorter antenna without guy-wires and four equipment vans on the flight deck. She left service in November 1983. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (MSC) |
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