USS Outpost

{{Short description|US naval vessel}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=SS Francis J O'Gara launching 8 June 1945.jpg |image_caption= SS ''Francis J O'Gara'' on the building ways at J. A. Jones Construction Co. Inc., Panama City, Florida, prior to launching, 8 June 1945. }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United States |flag={{USN flag|1946}} |name= ''Francis J O'Gara'' |namesake= Francis J O'Gara | owner = War Shipping Administration (WSA) | operator = Calmer Steamship Corp. | ordered = as type (EC2-S-C5) hull, MC hull 3140 | builder = J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida{{sfn|J.A. Panama City|2010}} |original_cost= |yard_number= |way_number= |laid_down= 14 April 1945 |launched= 8 June 1945 |completed= 30 June 1945 |sponsor= |identification = |motto= |nickname= |fate= *Placed in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York, 4 June 1946 *Acquired by US Navy, 22 May 1956 |notes= |badge= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/image |image=USS Outpost AGR-10 19 June 1963.jpg |image_caption= USS ''Outpost'' (AGR-10) underway, 19 June 1963, location unknown. }}

|section4={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= title |country=United States |flag= {{USN flag|1965}} |name= ''Outpost'' |namesake= A security detachment to protect against enemy enterprises |commissioned= 6 February 1957 |recommissioned= |decommissioned= 1 July 1965 |maiden_voyage= |in_service= |out_of_service= |renamed= |reclassified= {{sclass|Guardian|radar picket ship}} |refit= Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |struck= 1 July 1965 |reinstated= |homeport= |identification=*Hull symbol: YAGR-10 (1957–1958) *Hull symbol: AGR-10 (1958–1970) |motto= |nickname= |fate= *Placed in National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York, 1 July 1965 *Sold for scrapping, 17 February 1971 |notes= |badge= }}

|section5={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = {{sfn|Davies|2004|p=23}} | class ={{Liberty ship class C5}} | type = | tonnage = {{Liberty ship tonnage C5}} | displacement = {{Liberty ship displacement}} | length = {{Liberty ship length}} | beam = {{Liberty ship beam}} | draft = {{Liberty ship draft}} | capacity = {{Liberty ship cargo capacity C5}} | hold_depth = | power = {{Liberty ship power}} | propulsion = {{Liberty ship propulsion|7}} | complement = {{Liberty ship complement}} | armament = {{Liberty ship armament}} | speed = {{Liberty ship speed}} | notes = }}

|section6={{Infobox ship/characteristics | hide_header = | header_caption = (US Navy refit){{sfn|Navsource|2015}} | class ={{sclass|Guardian|radar picket ship}} | capacity = {{Guardian class cargo capacity}} | complement = {{Guardian class complement}} | armament = {{Guardian class armament}} }} }}

'''USS ''Outpost'' (AGR/YAGR-10)''' was a {{sclass|Guardian|radar picket ship}}, converted from a Liberty Ship, acquired by the US Navy in 1956. She was reconfigured as a radar picket ship and assigned to radar picket duty in the North Atlantic Ocean as part of the Distant Early Warning Line.

==Construction== ''Outpost'' (YAGR–10) was laid down on 14 April 1945, under a Maritime Commission (MARCOM) contract, MC hull 3140, as the Liberty Ship ''Francis J. O'Gara'', by J.A. Jones Construction, Panama City, Florida. She was launched 8 June 1945, and delivered 30 June 1945, to the Calmer Steamship Corp.{{sfn|Navsource|2015}}{{sfn|DANFS}}

==Service history== ===Merchant service=== The Calmer Steamship Corp. operated ''Francis J. O'Gara'' for MARCOM from 30 June 1945 until 4 June 1946. ''Francis J. O'Gara''{{'}}s cruises during this period included one to the US West Coast of the United States and one to various European ports.{{sfn|DANFS}}

On 4 June 1946 ''Francis J. O'Gara'' was laid up in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York, of MARCOM. From 28 January 1947 until 14 January 1948, ''Francis J. O'Gara'' was operated by the Waterman Steamship Company and then the South Atlantic Steamship Company. During this period she made cruises to Europe, the Near East, and the Orient. On 20 January 1948, ''Francis J. O'Gara'' was laid up in MARCOM's Mobile, Alabama, reserve fleet.{{sfn|DANFS}}

===US Navy service=== On 22 May 1956, the US Navy acquired ''Francis J. O'Gara'' to be converted into an Ocean Station Radar Ship.{{sfn|DANFS}}

''Francis J. O'Gara'' was towed from Mobile, to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where conversion was begun to equip her with the electronic detection equipment and communication gear necessary for her role with the Continental Air Defense Command. She was assigned the Navy hull number ''YAGR–10'' and commissioned ''Outpost'', 6 February 1957.{{sfn|Navsource|2015}}{{sfn|DANFS}}

After shakedown training out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ''Outpost'' reported to her homeport, Davisville, Rhode Island, 3 June 1957. On 28 June, the ship steamed seaward on her first patrol and on 30 June, relieved {{USS|Brister|DE-327|2}} on picket station. The ship returned to Davisville, 19 July, but by 24 July, was underway for another patrol setting the pattern of patrols interrupted by short periods in port.{{sfn|DANFS}}

''Outpost'' made a total of six patrols in 1957. These patrols continued into 1958. ''Outpost''{{'}}s designation was changed to ''AGR–10'' 28 September 1958.{{sfn|DANFS}}

During the first half of 1961, ''Outpost'' steamed on station. But in August she steamed south to Florida and the Bahamas. From October 1961 to January 1962, she underwent overhaul at Boston, Massachusetts.{{sfn|DANFS}}

''Outpost'' continued her Atlantic patrols in 1962, buttoning up for wartime steaming during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The onset of 1963 found ''Outpost'' steaming on station as before. In late July the ship visited Halifax, Nova Scotia.{{sfn|DANFS}}

From August through the end of 1963, ''Outpost'' maintained a record of no misses in reporting air contacts. She visited Halifax, again in November before putting into her homeport for the holidays. Early in 1964, she resumed her patrols and continued this pattern of operation until decommissioning 1 July 1965.{{sfn|DANFS}}

==Decommissioning== She was returned to the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) 4 February 1966, and entered the Hudson River Reserve Fleet, Jones Point, New York. She was sold 17 February 1971, for scrapping in Spain.{{sfn|Navsource|2015}}{{sfn|DANFS}}

== Military awards and honors ==

''Outpost''{{'}}s personnel qualified for the following medals: * Navy Expeditionary Medal (5-Cuba) * National Defense Service Medal * Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (1-Cuba) {{sfn|Navsource|2015}}

== See also == * United States Navy * Radar picket

== References == {{reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography == {{refbegin}} * {{cite DANFS|url = https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/outpost.html |title= Outpost |date=18 August 2015 |access-date= 3 December 2019 |ref= {{sfnRef|DANFS}} }}{{PD-notice}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/shipyards/emergencylarge/jonespanamacity.htm|title=Jones Construction, Panama City FL|date=13 October 2010|publisher=www.ShipbuildingHistory.com|access-date=3 December 2019|ref={{sfnRef|J.A. Panama City|2010}}}} * {{cite web|url=http://www.ww2ships.com/acrobat/us-os-001-f-r00.pdf|title=Specifications (As-Built)|last=Davies|first=James|date=May 2004|page=23|access-date=3 December 2019}} * {{cite web | url=http://www.navsource.net/archives/09/62/6210.htm | title= USS Oupost (AGR-10) |website=NavSource | date=9 October 2015 | access-date=3 December 2019 | ref={{sfnRef|Navsource|2015}} }} {{refend}}

== External links == * {{navsource|09/62/6210|USS Outpost}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Outpost (Agr-10)}} Category:Liberty ships Category:Ships built in Panama City, Florida Category:1945 ships Category:World War II merchant ships of the United States Category:Guardian-class radar picket ships Category:Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States Category:Hudson River Reserve Fleet Category:Mobile Reserve Fleet