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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USNS Eltanin (T-AGOR-8)
ex
 USNS Eltanin (T-AK-270) (1957 - 1962)

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
National Defense Service Medal - Antartica Service Medal

USNS Eltanin was transferred to Argentina and renamed ARA Islas Orcadas
Eltanin Class (Ice-breaking) Cargo Ship:
  • Laid down, date unknown, as a Maritime Administration type (C1-ME2-13a-Modified design for Ice Operation) hull, under a Maritime Administration contract, at Avondale Marine Ways, Inc., Avondale, LA.
  • Launched, 16 January 1957
  • Acquired by the Navy and placed in service by MSTS as USNS Eltanin (T-AK-270). October 1957
  • Reclassified as an Oceanographic Research Vessel (T-AGOR-8), 23 August 1962
  • Operated by MSTS for the National Science Foundation, becoming the world's first Antarctic research ship
  • Placed out of service, date unknown
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Transferred to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet
  • Transferred to Argentine in 1974, renamed ARA Islas Orcadas
  • Final Disposition, disposed of by the Argentine Navy in 1979
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,850 t.(lt) 3,886 t.(fl)
    Length 266'
    Beam 52'
    Draft 18'
    Speed 13 kts.
    Complement 18 civilians, 15 scientific party, 6 Navy
    Propulsion diesel electric, two shafts, 3,200hp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Eltanin 37k USNS Eltanin (T-AGOR-8) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo from DANFS.    		 Joe Radigan MACM USN Ret.
    Eltanin 52k USNS Eltanin (T-AGOR-8) at Antarctica, date and location unknown. Ramon Jackson
    Eltanin 751k USNS Eltanin (T-AGOR-8) at anchor in the Port of Wellington, New Zealand, 18 December 1968 Photo from the Chris Howell collection with copyright
    Eltanin 82k USNS Eltanin (T-AGOR-8) under way, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo    		 Robert Hurst
    USNS Eltanin (T-AK-270 / T-AGOR-8)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index Back To The Oceanographic Research Vessel (AGOR) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 20 March 2015