USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16)

USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16) was acquired by the United States Navy as a missile range instrumentation ship in 1964. Originally, she was constructed at the end of World War II as USS Wexford (AK-220) and then renamed Coastal Crusader, but she was found to be excess-to-needs, and was sold for commercial use. She was later acquired by the U.S. Army which used her as Army transport USAT Private Joe R. Hastings.

The ship was later acquired by the U.S. Air Force, and redesignated Ocean Range Vessel USAFS Coastal Crusader (ORV-16). And, in 1964, she was reacquired by the United States Navy and redesignated USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16), a missile range instrumentation ship.

The ship—eventually maintaining the name Coastal Crusader -- had the distinction of serving the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Navy, as well as serving with her commercial sisters.

Built in Wisconsin

Coastal Crusader -- a C1-M-AV1 cargo vessel—was laid down under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2174) on 12 April 1945 at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, by the Leathern D. Smith Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 24 June 1945; sponsored by Mrs. DeForrest Colburn; and completed on 26 July 1945.

On 25 February 1945, the Navy had assigned the name Wexford and the designation AK-220 to the projected ship; but the contract for her acquisition by the Navy was cancelled in August 1945 because of the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific Ocean and the surrender of Japan. Coastal Crusader thus entered mercantile service, never having borne the name Wexford.

Service with the U.S. Army

The vessel was placed in service (date unknown) by the U.S. Army Transportation Service as USAT Private Joe R. Hastings.

Service with the U.S. Air Force

Coastal Sentry was acquired by the U.S. Air Force which redesignated her Ocean Range Vessel USAFS Coastal Crusader (ORV-16). She was used as a missile range instrumentation ship which operated on the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Test Range during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Coastal Crusader operated under an Air Force contract with Pan American Airways Guided Missile Range Division headquartered in Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Coastal Crusader was assigned to the South Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean area, and provided the Air Force with metric data on intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida.

Coastal Crusader operated in the intercontinental ballistic missile re-entry area near Ascension Island, and was home-ported out of Recife, Brazil.

Service with the U.S. Navy

When Coastal Crusader was acquired from the U.S. Air Force in 1964, the Navy redesignated the ship as USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM-16). Operational data while on U.S. Navy service during this period of the vessel's history is lacking. However, Navy records indicate Coastal Crusader was redesignated Survey Ship USS Coastal Crusader (AGS-36) in 1969, and finally struck from the Navy List on 30 April 1976.

Inactivation

Coastal Crusader was subsequently sold by MARAD on 12 April 1977. Her ultimate fate is not known.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - USAT PVT. Joe R. Hastings - USAF Coastal Crusader (ORV-16) - AGM-16 / AGS-36 Coastal Crusader