Name USS Skywatcher Launched 16 January 1945 Tons burthen 6.677 million kg | Sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Anderson Length 134 m | |
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Ordered as a type (Z-EC2-S-C5) hull, MCE hull 2337 Builder J. A. Jones Construction Co. Inc., Panama City, Florida Laid down as the Raphael R. Rivera, 30 November 1944 Acquired by the U.S. Navy, 20 September 1954 | ||
USS Skywatcher (YAGR-3/AGR-3) was a Guardian-class radar picket ship acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1954. She was converted into a radar picket ship and assigned to radar picket duty in the North Atlantic Ocean as part of the Distant Early Warning Line.
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Built in Panama City, Florida
Skywatcher (YAGR-3) was laid down on 30 November 1944 by the J. A. Jones Co., Panama City, Florida, as the Rafael R. Rivera (MC hull 2337), U.S. Maritime Administration type ZEC2C5; launched on 16 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Anderson; acquired by the Navy on 20 September 1954; and commissioned on 29 March 1955, Lt. Cdr. John Anto in command.
Radar patrol duty
Skywatcher was operated by the States Marine Corporation as Rafael R. Rivera. She was acquired by the Navy and converted at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Norfolk, Virginia, into an ocean station radar ship. In July 1955, she assumed her first duties in the Contiguous Radar Coverage System of the United States while operating out of Newport, Rhode Island.
In September 1958, the ship's designation was changed from YAGR-3 to radar picket ship AGR-3. Her home port was changed to Davisville, Rhode Island, and she operated from there until early 1965 with Radar Picket Squadron 2, spending over 50 percent of her time on her assigned picket station.
Decommissioning
In March 1965, Skywatcher was placed in reserve, out of commission, and struck from the Navy List on 1 April. She was sold on 23 December 1970 to Daewood Corp., Ltd., of Karachi, Pakistan, and scrapped.