RARON 1 : USS Tracer AGR 15 and USS Catawba ATA 210

**RARON 1** is not a recognized designation for a U.S. military unit, but **USS Tracer (AGR-15)** and **USS Catawba (ATA-210)** are notable U.S. Navy vessels with distinct histories. USS Tracer (AGR-15), originally built as Liberty Ship **Edwin D. Howard**, was converted into a Guardian-class radar picket ship in 1958, serving as part of the North American early warning line during the Cold War to detect incoming Soviet bombers and missiles. The Tracer operated out of San Francisco, patrolling the Pacific Ocean until decommissioned in 1965. USS Catawba (ATA-210), a Sotoyomo-class auxiliary ocean tug, was commissioned in 1945 and provided vital towing and salvage services in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, supporting fleet operations until she was decommissioned in 1971. Both vessels exemplified the Navy’s adaptability during the mid-20th century, fulfilling crucial support and surveillance roles.