Robert D. Conrad Class Oceanographic Research Ships - RV Melville, Usns James M. Gilliss, Usns Thomas G. Thompson, Usns Robert D. Conrad (Paperback)

Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: Rv Melville, Usns James M. Gilliss, Usns Thomas G. Thompson, Usns Robert D. Conrad, Rv Knorr, Hmnzs Tui, Usns Lynch, Usns Thomas Washington, Usns Sands, Usns Bartlett, Usns de Steiguer. Excerpt: HMNZS Tui, formerly USNS Charles H. Davis (T-AGOR-5), was one of nine Conrad class oceanographic ships built for the United States Navy (USN), that later saw service in the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN). Serving with the USN from 1963 to 1970, these ships were designed to perform acoustic experiments on sound transmission underwater, and for gravity, magnetism and deep-ocean floor studies. The ship was recommissioned into the RNZN in late 1970, and as HMNZS Tui served as an oceanographic survey and research ship until her decommissioning in 1997. In 1999, the ship was scuttled as a dive wreck Construction The ship was laid down by Christy Corp, Wisconsin on 15 June 1961. She was launced on 30 June 1962, and was commissioned into the USN on 25 January 1963. The ship was named after Rear Admiral Charles Henry Davis . Operational history USN RNZN In 1970, she was transferred to the RNZN, and was commissioned on 11 September 1970 as HMNZS Tui . Tui was named after the Tui bird, and was the second of two ships with this name to serve in the RNZN. After a partial refit and the installation and testing of scientific equipment, Tui began a program of work for the Defence Scientific Establishment in Auckland. For years Tui went unobtrusively about the kind of work she was designed for, primarily underwater acoustics. Tui worked in Australian, Indian Ocean and South Pacific waters. She worked on Auckland University research, with DSIR scientists, and with other oceanographic ships. Tui also took part in several American research programs. Her acoustic research was mainly to do with the detectio...