Skywatcher YAGR-3

Skywatcher
(YAGR-3: dp. 7,360; 1. 441'; b. 57'; dr. 27'; s. 11 k.;
cpl. 144; a. 2 3"; cl. Guardian)

Skywatcher (YAGR-3) was laid down on 30 November 1944 by the J. A. Jones Co. Panama City, Fla., as the Rafael R. Rivera (MC hull 2337), Maritime Administration type ZEC2C5, launched on 16 January 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Evelyn Anderson, acquired by the Navy on 20 September 1954, and commissioned on 29 March 1955, Lt. Comdr. John Anto in command.

Skywatcher was operated by the States Marine Corporation as Rafael R. Rivera. She was acquired by the Navy and converted at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Norfolk, Va., into an ocean station radar ship. In July 1955, she assumed her first duties in the Contiguous Radar Coverage System of the United States while operating out of Newport, R.I.

In September 1958, the ship's designation was changed from YAGR-3 to radar picket ship AGR-3. Her home port was changed to Davisville, R.I., and she operated from there until early 1965 with Radar Picket Squadron 2, spending over 50 percent of her time on her assigned picket station.

In March 1965, Skywatcher was placed in reserve, out of commission, and struck from the Navy list on 1 April. She was sold on 23 December 1970 to Dawood Corp., Ltd., of Karachi, Pakistan, and scrapped.