USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
During an inclining experiment on 19 September 1971 at her conversion yard, Northwest Marine Iron Works, Portland, Ore. She was completed with a row of four identical dish antennas forward of the bridge on a long straight deckhouse. The after part of the ship was dedicated to communications antennas.
Photo No. BUSHIPS 187791, NAID 6930268
Source: U.S. National Archives (RG-19-NN, negatives)
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
At Port Canaveral in essentially her original condition. The most conspicuous change since leaving the conversion yard in late 1971 was to the top of the funnel, which originally had "ears" on each side instead of the single short extension seen here.
Photo No. Unknown
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
Photographed by the Eastern Space and Missile Center in November 1979 in the configuration shown above except that the single funnel extension has been dramatically lengthened. Note the log periodic high frequency transmitting antenna atop the after mast and the numerous whip antennas.
Photo No. None
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
Probably photographed in January 1985. By this time semicircular walkways had been added around the bases of the four dish antennas, two to starboard and two to port, perhaps to facilitate maintenance. She was a unit of FBM Operational Test Support Unit Two.
Photo No. DN-SC-85-10327
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file) and NARA (RG-330)
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
At some point after the walkways were added a large air-inflated radome was fitted around the forward antenna position, which probably contained a larger antenna. The black and white checkerboard patterns on the ends of the bridge wings were for benchmarking the antennas.
Photo No. None (postcard)
Source: Shipscribe
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
Photographed by the Eastern Space and Missile Center on 26 July 1989 while the ship was supporting PEM-2. She was still with FBM Operational Test Support Unit Two. but her sensor suite had been completely changed.
Photo No. None
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
A stern view of the ship on 26 July 1989.
Photo No. None
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
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USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22)
A photograph forwarded to Washington in 1994 showing another reduction in the ship's sensor suite, which now consists of only two small domes. The log periodic antenna on the after mast has also been removed.
Photo No. None
Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file)
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