Oxford-class research ship

This article does not cite any sources. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (November 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

USS Oxford (AG-159)
Class overview
Name	Oxford class
Builders	New England Shipbuilding Corporation
Operators	United States Navy
Succeeded by
Built	1945
In commission	1945–1969
Completed	3
Retired	3
General characteristics
Type	Type Z-EC2-S-C5 technical research ship
Displacement	8,345 long tons (8,479 t) light 11,365 long tons (11,547 t) full load
Length	441 ft 6 in (134.6 m)
Beam	56 ft 11 in (17.3 m)
Draft	22 ft 9 in (6.9 m)
Propulsion	2 × 220 psi (1,500 kPa) boilers 1 × 3-cylinder triple-expansion reciprocating engine, 2,500 shp (1,864 kW) 1 × 4-bladed 18 ft 6 in (5.6 m) propeller 1 shaft
Speed	11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement	213
Armament	4 × .50 caliber machine guns

The Oxford class of technical research ships were a class of three World War II Liberty ships converted in the early 1960s to provide a seaborne platform for global eavesdropping on behalf of the National Security Agency. The ships of this class were similar to the ships of the same era with the difference being that they were adapted from Victory ships.

Ships in class[]

• Oxford class (Liberty ship type)
  • USS Oxford (AGTR-1) • 1961–1969
  • USS Georgetown (AGTR-2) • 1963–1969
  • USS Jamestown (AGTR-3) • 1963–1969

See also[]

• Spy ship