USS Georgetown (AGTR-2:AG-165)

• Origins: USS Georgetown began her life as a Liberty Ship, originally named SS Robert W. Hart, launched in 1945 and serving as a cargo ship before her conversion to a military vessel. • Conversion to Spy Ship: In 1963, the ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy and converted into a technical research ship (AGTR-2), equipped for signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic surveillance during the Cold War. • Cuban Missile Crisis Connection: Although she was not converted in time for the Cuban Missile Crisis, ships of her class played vital roles in intelligence gathering during tense periods with Cuba. • Namesake: USS Georgetown was named after Georgetown, the county seat of Georgetown County, South Carolina, honoring the city’s contributions to the nation. • Service Area: The ship operated primarily in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and with occasional forays into the Mediterranean, gathering intelligence on Soviet and Cuban communications. • Nickname: Like other AGTRs, she was sometimes referred to as a “spook ship” due to her secretive and mysterious intelligence-gathering missions. • Crew and Specialists: Georgetown’s complement included not only U.S. Navy sailors but also a large contingent of linguists, cryptologists, and National Security Agency (NSA) personnel. • Onboard Technology: The ship bristled with antennas, dishes, and electronic equipment, making her silhouette distinctive and instantly recognizable to those in the know. • Humanitarian Role: When not on intelligence missions, USS Georgetown participated in search and rescue operations and provided assistance to vessels in distress in the Caribbean. • End of Service: After only a few years in her intelligence-gathering role, USS Georgetown was decommissioned in 1969 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1970, ending her unique chapter in Cold War history.