The USNS Flyer (T-AG-178) was originally constructed as a cargo ship designated Water Witch under a Maritime Commission contract. Built by the Moore Dry Dock Company in Oakland, California, the keel was laid on October 30, 1944, and the vessel was launched on December 20, 1944. The ship was completed and placed into service on March 14, 1945, with a crew of approximately 54. It was built to the Maritime Commission's specifications as a type C2-S-B1 cargo ship, a standard design for mid-20th-century merchant vessels, and initially operated under the McCormick Steamship Company. Throughout its early service, Water Witch was chartered by various lines, including the American South African Lines and later United States Lines, which acquired the ship outright in November 1946 for nearly $960,000 and renamed it American Flyer. The vessel’s registry registered the official number 247417 and signal ANQN. In 1962, the ship’s title was transferred to the Maritime Administration, and it was placed in the James River Reserve Fleet in December 1964. The U.S. Navy acquired the vessel from MARAD in 1965, converting it into a deep ocean bathymetric survey ship designated T-AG-178, supporting the installation of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) under Project Caesar. The Navy assigned the name Flyer on March 22, 1965, and operated it as a Miscellaneous Auxiliary with a civilian crew, including officers, seamen, and specialized survey personnel, until its decommissioning. The USNS Flyer served as a crucial asset in deep ocean surveys, contributing to the strategic installation of the SOSUS system during the Cold War era. It was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on July 17, 1975, and transferred back to the Maritime Administration. The vessel was sold for scrapping in April 1976. The Flyer’s service highlights its role in maritime survey operations and Cold War defense infrastructure.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.