Guardian (YAGR/AGR 1) 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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USS Guardian (YAGR 1) Photographed on 4 November 1955. The first YAGR batch (1-4) was designed with an AN/SPS-17 long range air search radar on the port kingpost of the original forward goalpost mast, an AN/SPS-12 general purpose air search radar on the port kingpost of the original goalpost mast aft of the bridge house, and an AN/SPS-8/A height finder radar on a tower with a nodding antenna resembling an orange peel that replaced the original after goalpost mast. The four ships were completed as shown here without the AN/SPS-12 radar. Photo No. NH 67675 Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command |
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USS Lookout (YAGR 2) Photographed on 25 September 1956 with an AN/SPS-12 general purpose air search radar added, as intended, on an extension above the port kingpost of the goalpost mast aft of the bridge house. In addition, all of these ships (YAGR/AGR 1-16) had an AN/SPS-10 surface search radar on the starboard kingpost forward of the bridge. Photo No. USN 1003649(?) Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file) |
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USS Skywatcher (YAGR 3) In this modification to the first four ships, the crossbar of the forward goalpost mast was removed, a mast supported by wire stays was added between the two remaining kingposts, and the AN/SPS-17 antenna was moved to it. A TACAN (tactical air navigation) antenna was also added on the port kingpost forward of the bridge opposite the AN/SPS-10 to starboard. Skywatcher was photographed in this configuration on 13 October 1960. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file) |
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USS Skywatcher (YAGR 3) All of the first four ships ultimately received the 43-foot wide AN/SPS-17A antenna on the forward mast as shown here in place of the original much smaller SPS-17 bedspring antenna. Photo No. Unknown Source: U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command (L-file) |
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USS Scanner (YAGR 5) The second YAGR batch (5-8) and later batches were designed with the locations of the radars reversed compared to the first batch, the AN/SPS-12 being forward and the AN/SPS-17 being aft. A centerline mast was stepped just behind the forward goalpost mast to carry the AN/SPS-12 antenna and an extension was added above the port kingpost of the goalpost mast aft of the bridge house to support the the AN/SPS-17 antenna. The AN/SPS-8/A orange peel height finder remained on its tower aft. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe |
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USS Protector (YAGR 11) The third YAGR batch (9-12) was configured as the second batch except that a TACAN antenna was added on the port kingpost forward of the bridge. Photo No. None Source: Courtesy the late CAPT L. Bradley Stanford, USNR (Ret.) |
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USS Interceptor (YAGR 8) At the San Francisco Naval Shipyard on 8 January 1958. In the fourth YAGR batch (13-16) and also in some earlier ships as modified the after goalpost mast was replaced by a kingpost pair with a centerline mast supporting the AN/SPS-17 antenna. The ships retained the rig forward with the AN/SPS-12 radar, the AN/SPS-8/A orange peel height finder on its tower aft, and the TACAN antenna on the port kingpost forward of the bridge. Photo No. USN 1033486 Source: Shipscribe |
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USS Watchman (AGR 16) At the Charleston Naval Shipyard on 2 February 1959 after reclassification from YAGR 16 on 28 Sepember 1958. She is configurated as Interceptor, above but has the round mesh antenna aft for the new high-gain AN/SPS-8B height finding radar instead of the orange peel SPS-8A antenna. Photo No. USN 1041061 Source: Shipscribe |
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USS Locator (AGR 6) Moored pierside at Vancouver, B.C., on 12 July 1960. She is configurated as Interceptor, above (including the original AN/SPS-8A antenna), but with the wide antenna for the extended-range AN/SPS-17A radar on the centerline mast aft of the bridge house. Photo No. AM1506-S3-3-: CVA 447-5728. Source: NavSource from City of Vancouver Archives, photo by Walter E. Frost |
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USS Interdictor (AGR 13) This image shows the final configuration of at least the last four ships of the class. This consisted of one goalpost mast forward with a centerline mast just behind it carrying an AN/SPS-12 antenna, one kingpost pair aft of the bridge house with a centerline mast carrying a wide AN/SPS-17A antenna, a tower aft supporting a round mesh antenna for an AN/SPS-8B height finding radar, a TACAN antenna on the port kingpost forward of the bridge, and an AN/SPS-10 surface search radar on the starboard kingpost forward of the bridge. Photo No. None Source: Shipscribe |
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