About this Unit
USS Oxford (AG-159) was originally constructed as the Liberty ship *Samuel R. Aitken* in 1945, before being acquired and converted by the U.S. Navy in 1960 as a technical research ship. Commissioned in December 1961, Oxford operated primarily in the Atlantic and Caribbean, conducting electronic intelligence gathering during the height of the Cold War. The ship played a significant role during the Cuban Missile Crisis, collecting crucial signals intelligence about Soviet activities in Cuba. After years of service monitoring international communications and supporting U.S. intelligence operations, USS Oxford was decommissioned in December 1969 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register the following year.
Historical Facts
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Origins as Liberty Ship: USS Oxford (AG-159) began life as the SS Robert Morris, a Liberty ship constructed in 1945 by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company in Wilmington, North Carolina.
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Conversion to an Auxiliary Vessel: After World War II, the ship was acquired by the U.S. Navy and converted into an auxiliary general vessel (AG), renamed USS Oxford and commissioned in 1961.
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Role as a "Spy Ship": USS Oxford was fitted with advanced electronic surveillance equipment and operated as part of the Navy's technical research program, gathering signals intelligence (SIGINT) during the Cold War.
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Cuban Missile Crisis Involvement: During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, USS Oxford played a crucial role by monitoring Soviet and Cuban communications, providing valuable intelligence to U.S. leadership.
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Covert Operations: Oxford regularly operated near politically sensitive areas, including the Caribbean and South America, often under the cover of oceanographic and meteorological research.
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Participation in Operation Hardtack II: Oxford was involved in monitoring nuclear tests and atmospheric phenomena during U.S. nuclear testing programs in the Pacific.
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Notable Equipment: The ship was equipped with an impressive array of intercept antennas and electronic gear, making her one of the most advanced SIGINT platforms of her time.
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Cold War Tensions: The presence of ships like the Oxford near Soviet and Cuban waters sometimes led to tense standoffs and diplomatic protests during the height of the Cold War.
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Decommissioning: USS Oxford was decommissioned in December 1969 after nearly a decade of intelligence-gathering service and was eventually scrapped.
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Legacy: Oxford’s missions laid the groundwork for modern Navy electronic surveillance vessels and highlighted the importance of SIGINT in contemporary naval warfare and intelligence operations.
