History of USS SEARCHER (YAGR-4)

Taken from the Commissioning Ceremony pamphlet provided by Curt Willbanks

       The USS SEARCHER (YAGR-4) is the first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Searcher.  This "Ocean Radar Station Ship" is the former S.S. JAMES W. WHEELER, built by the J. A. Jones Construction Co., Panama City, Florida.  She was launched on 23 January 1945 and was completed on 5 February 1945 and delivered to the Maritime Commission.
        She was turned over to the CalMar Steamship Corp., New York City, for operations and remained with that company until 29 October 1945 when she was returned to the Maritime Commission and placed in the Reserve Fleet in the Hudson River.
        On 4 February 1947 the S. S. JAMES W. WHEELER was chartered to the Grace Lines, New York City, and she was removed from the Reserve Fleet for transatlantic cargo voyages.  In October of the same year the ship was returned to the Maritime Commission and placed in the Maritime Reserve Fleet at Wilmington, North Carolina.
        The U. S. Navy acquired custody and title to the Z-EC2 type of ship on 14 September 1954.  She was converted from her merchant status to a Navy ship at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, Charleston, S. C.
        The name Searcher was assigned to her on 19 January 1955.  Upon joining the U. S. Atlantic Fleet, the SEARCHER will operate out of Newport, R. I.

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STATISTICS

Overall Length.......................................................................416 Feet
Extreme Beam..........................................................................57 Feet
Draft..........................................................................................27 Feet
Light Displacement...............................................................4243 tons
Armament..............................................Two 3"/50-caliber S. F. Guns
Compliment..........................................12 Officers, 130 Enlisted Men

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