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USNS ''Observation Island'' (T-AGM-23) was built as the Mariner-class merchant ship ''Empire State Mariner'' for the United States Maritime Commission, launched 15 August, 1953, and operated by United States Lines upon delivery on 24 February 1954, making voyages for the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) until going into reserve at Mobile, Alabama on 9 November 1954.〔 Title was transferred to the United States Navy on 10 September 1956 and, after conversion, the ship was renamed ''Observation Island''.〔〔 On commissioning the ship was classified as the "experimental miscellaneous auxiliary" (EAG), USS ''Observation Island'' (EAG-154) supporting fleet ballistic missile development.〔 On 1 April 1968 ''Observation Island'' was redesignated as a miscellaneous auxiliary USS ''Observation Island'' (AG-154).〔〔 ''Observation Island'' was decommissioned and placed in reserve from 1972 until 1977 in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet until withdrawn and then returned in 1978.〔〔 The ship was permanently withdrawn April 1979 and placed in service with MSTS successor, the Military Sealift Command.〔 The ship was classified in 1979 as the missile range instrumentation ship USNS ''Observation Island'' (T-AGM-23).〔 ''Observation Island'' operated worldwide and monitored compliance with strategic arms treaties and supported U.S. military weapons test programs. ''Observation Island'' carried the United States Air Force AN/SPQ-11 Cobra Judy passive electronically scanned array radar system for collecting data on missile tests. The ship was operated by Military Sealift Command for the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base.〔 ''Observation Island'' was the platform for the first at-sea firing of the Polaris missile in 1959〔 and also the platform for first at-sea firing of the Poseidon missile in 1969.〔Admiral E.R. Zumwalt Jr., (1971) Letter: Secretary of the Navy presentation of the Meritorious Unit Commendation.〕〔Captain W.C. Dotson, (1971), Meritorious Unit Commendation.〕 In 2014, the ship was one of two Missile Range Instrumentation Ships that had been operated by the Military Sealift Command.〔 The ship served the MSC until her inactivation 25 March 2014 after her mission was taken over by .〔 == As ''Empire State Mariner'' == ''Empire State Mariner'' was laid down as a Type C4 / Mariner-class high speed cargo ship 15 September 1952 by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey; launched as ''Empire State Mariner'' 15 August 1953; sponsored by Mrs. Samuel C. Waugh; and delivered to the Maritime Administration and the United States Lines for operation under General Agency Agreement 24 February 1954.〔 ''Empire State Mariner'', Capt. V. R. Arkin, Master, made three voyages for Military Sea Transportation Service. The first two took her to Bremerhaven and Liverpool. The third, commencing in May 1954, took her along both the east and west coasts, as well as to the Panama Canal Zone, Guam, Korea, and Japan. She returned to Mobile, Alabama in September 1954, and entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet 9 November 1954.〔 ''Empire State Mariner'' transferred to the Navy 10 September 1956 with three other Mariner class ships.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USNS Observation Island (T-AGM-23)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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