USNS Mizar

T-AK-272 USNS Mizar II was a vessel of the United States Navy. Named after the star Mizar.

1,850t (3,886t loaded), l. 266'; b. 52'; dr. 18'; s.13 k.; cpl. 42; Propulsion diesel electric, two shafts, 3,200hp; 13 kts.

Built as a small ice-strengthened cargo ship of the Eltanin class on a Maritime Administration type (C1-ME2-13a) hull, by Avondale Marine Ways, Inc. from January 1957. Entered service on March 7, 1958 and served as part of the Military Sea Transportation Service, working around Canada and Greenland, with a single voyage to Antarctica in 1961.

In 1963 she was chosen for an major conversion. On April 15, 1964 she was reclassifed T-AGOR-11, designed for deep oceanographic search and research and fitted with a deepsea probe, equipped with strobe lights, cameras, sonar, and magnetometer. She was then operated by the MSTS under the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington. Her major tasks were ocean floor study and service as a floating base for underwater acoustic, chemical, and biological research.

She was assigned to Military Sealift Command Pacific in 1975 and underwent another major modification in 1980. She was withdrawn from active service in the 1990s and reclassified as AK-272. Currently she is part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet in the James River, Fort Eustis, Virginia and is listed for disposal.

Mizar took part in the search operations for USS Thresher (SSN-593), the nuclear weapons lost off Palomares, Spain, and the extended search for USS Scorpion (SSN-589) - which was found in October, 1968. She has also taken part in searches for foreign wrecks, including Eurydice and Soviet submarines including K-129.

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

External links

• http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-m/ak272.htm
• AGOR Numeric List

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AF-12 Mizar. 6,982t. She was built as the mail steamer Quirigua in 1932. She was acquired by the Navy on June 2, 1941 and served as a navy store ship in the Pacific until decommissioned on April 1, 1946.