--5 





USS Litllchatcs (AGSC 15) 



The second ship to bear the name l.iltlchalcs was originally the l.iiilchalcs and redesignated the AGSC 15. From 1962 until her 



132-foot freight lighter YF 854 built in 1945 by Krie Concrete disposal in 1968 the IJttlchalcs was assigned to the Atlantic 



and Steel Company of Erie, Pennsylvania. Launched at the end Linderwater Test and Evaluation Center conducting operations in 



of World VVar II the YF 854 remained inactive until 1952 when the Tongue of the Ocean off the Bahamas, 

 she was utilized as a survey vessel. In 1959 she was named the 



USS Hunting (EAG 398) 



Originally the medium landing ship LSM 398 built in 1945 by 

 Charleston Naval Shipyard. In 1954 she was converted to an 

 experimental ship (redesignated the EAG 398) for testing 

 advance sonar equipment for the Naval Research Laboratory. 

 The name Huiitim; was assigned in 1957. During her conversion 

 the //""/("g had an internal well (30' x 12') installed for handling 

 scientific equipment through the center of the ship, a unique 

 feature for U.S. research ships at that time. Hiiiiliiix had the 

 distinction of being the first ship to tow the heaviest "fish" (28' 



long X 8' wide x 1 1' high, and 30,000 pounds) at a depth of 600 

 feet. She also made the first deep tow of a "fish" (5' long x 2' 

 wide X 3' high and 6,000 pounds) at a depth of 16,000 feet. Her 

 career unfortunately was plagued by mechanical problems and 

 she was finally decommissioned in 1962 and sold the following 

 year. 



Length: 203' 6" Displacement: 1,095 tons 



151 



