USNS  BOWDITCH  T-AGS-21
OCEANOGRAPHIC  UNIT  ONE
USNS Bowditch T-AGS-21 was converted from the WWII Victory ship SS South Bend Victory.  South Bend Victory was a type VC2-S-AP3 cargo hull, built in 1945 by the Oregon Shipbuilding Co., Portland OR, Maritime Commission hull number (MCV) 694. Her keel was laid on May 11, 1945 and she was delivered on Jul 27, 1945, an incredible construction time of 77 days!

SS South Bend Victory was converted to an Oceanographic Survey Ship (AGS) at the Charleston Naval Shipyard from Oct 10, 1957 to Sep 30, 1958.  She was renamed Bowditch on Aug 8, 1957, and placed in service with MSTS on Oct 8 1958 as the USNS Bowditch T-AGS-21.
Displacement: 4,420 Tons (Light)
Length Overall: 455'-3"
Beam: 62'-1 5/8"
Draft: 23 ft.
Speed: 16.5 kts.
Propulsion: Cross compound steam turbine with double reduction gear: 6,000 to 8,500hp 
Single Screw, Diameter: 18'-3"
Fuel: Navy Special (Bunker "C") oil *
Fuel capacity: 19,023.3 barrels (2882.3 tons)
Range: 21,300 miles

* - Bowditch Crews Cruz Book July, 1972, p13
- INTERNATIONAL RADIO CALL SIGN AND SIGNAL FLAG HOIST -
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NOVEMBER-CHARLIE-SIERRA-ROMEO
USNS Bowditch hoists her signal flags:
NCSR-320.jpg (86584 bytes)
(Courtesy of Ron Warmuth)