94 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE COMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY 



The cost was approximately the same, and if I recall correctly, there 

 were only four ships available in the reserve fleet to do this. These 

 ships would have a life expectancy of about 10 years, as opposed to 30 

 years for a new construction ship, and running a cost estimate through- 

 out, it was about four or five times more expensive to build the con- 

 version than to build a new ship. 



Mr. Dingell. Would you submit a copy of that to this committee, 

 please? 



Commander Alexander. I will try to get one, sir, yes. 



Mr. Dingell. If you would, please. 



(The requested information follows :) 



Department of Commerce, 

 Coast and Geodetic Survey, 



Washington, June 20, 1958. 

 To: Director. 



Subject: Study of conversion of existing naval vessels to hydrographic surveying 

 ships for Coast and Geodetic Survey. 



1. Pursuant to your instructions, a study of the feasibility of conversion of 

 existing naval vessels to ships suitable for the hydrographic survey operations of 

 the Bureau was initiated on December 2, 1957. The dimensions and character- 

 istics of naval vessels in the size range suitable for hydrographic surveying were 

 reviewed and all classes of ships within this range listed for study. 



2. On December 5, 1957, Rear Adm. Charles Pierce and Capt. S. B. Grenell 

 visited the Office of Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Logistics, and conferred 

 with staff members. Plans, characteristics, and photographs of the selected types 

 were studied and capabilities of the ships discussed. As a result of this study the 

 following classes were selected for detailed examination. 



Class 



Length 



Beam 



Draft 



Light dis- 

 placement 



Speed 



MSF type B 

 MSF type D 



ATA 



ATF 



Feet 



221 

 185 

 143 



206 



Feet 



Tons 



720 



610 



1,240 



Knots 



3. All ships in these classes were constructed during the period 1942-45. 

 None of the ships in these classes have been reported as excess to the needs of the 

 Navy. No inquiries have been made concerning the availability for transfer of 

 ships of the type listed since it was not desired that the study be restricted to 

 only those available. 



4. During the detailed examination, ships of the selected classes were visited 

 and all compartments inspected. Machinery, hull structure, and arrangement 

 were studied and excerpts made from the ship's characteristics cards for further 

 study and analysis. Operational features and behavior at sea were discussed 

 with the ship's officers. General plans and structural data were obtained from 

 Bureau of Ships in order that changes in arrangement and other details of 

 conversion might be studied. 



b. results 

 1. MSF type B 



(a) TJ.S.S. Requisite was examined at Seattle, Wash., on December 13, 1957, 

 by Capt. F. G. Johnson, Comdr. F. J. Bryant, and Chief Engineer J. E. Baker. 

 On December 17, Captain Johnson, Chief Engineer Baker, and Chief Engineer 

 James Piner made a further examination. Requisite, although now designated 

 AGS IS was formerly AM 109 of the fleet minesweeper class now redesignated 

 MSF (B). This ship has been converted to a surveying ship by the Navy and 

 is now in active service for hydrographic operations. The conversion has not 

 been successful. The hull structure and shell plating is extremely light, con- 

 sisting principally of light bulb angles and 10.2-pound plate. Although strength- 

 ened by intermediate frames and doubler plates during conversion, the hull 



