USS Vigil

• USS Vigil (AGR-12) Background: USS Vigil was a Guardian-class radar picket ship, originally built as a Liberty Ship (the SS Raymond Van Brogan) in 1945 and later converted for military use during the Cold War. • Radar Picket Role: Vigil's main mission was to act as a seaborne radar station, extending the United States’ early warning defense network against potential Soviet bomber attacks. • Conversion and Commissioning: The ship was converted at Charleston Naval Shipyard and commissioned into the US Navy as USS Vigil (YAGR-12) on December 5, 1956. • Homeport and Operations: The USS Vigil was based out of Davisville, Rhode Island, and primarily operated in the North Atlantic Ocean to provide continuous radar coverage. • Communications Hub: Besides its radar duties, Vigil served as a relay point for communications between aircraft, ships, and continental defense command posts. • Life at Sea: Crew members often spent 30-45 days at sea at a time, facing harsh weather conditions and the monotony of long, isolated patrols. • Decommissioning: Technological advances in radar and the advent of satellites rendered radar picket ships obsolete; Vigil was decommissioned on July 3, 1965. • Ship’s Motto: The crew adopted the motto “Ever Vigilant,” reflecting their constant watch for incoming threats during the height of the Cold War. • Unique Crew Experiences: Sailors aboard the Vigil often reported seeing mysterious radar echoes and even unidentified flying objects (UFOs) during their watch. • Final Fate: After decommissioning, USS Vigil was placed in the reserve fleet and eventually scrapped, but her service contributed to the foundation of modern airborne and space-based surveillance systems.