USNS Silas Bent

Silas Bent (AGS-26), on builder's trials, July 1965
History
United States
NameSilas Bent
NamesakeSilas Bent
BuilderAmerican Shipbuilding Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
Laid down2 March 1964
Launched16 May 1964
Sponsored byMiss Nancy M. McKinley and Mrs. Jeffrey R. Grandy
Acquiredby the United States Navy, 23 July 1965
In serviceas USNS Silas Bent (T-AGS-26)
Out of service28 October 1999
Stricken28 October 1999
IdentificationIMO number7738527
Honours and
awards
National Defense Service Medal
Fatetransferred to the Navy of Turkey, 29 September 1999 as TCG Çeșme (A-599)
Turkish Navy EnsignTurkey
NameTCG Çeşme
Namesaketown of Çeşme
Commissioned8 June 2000
IdentificationIMO number7738527
Statusin active service
General characteristics [1]
TypeSilas Bent class survey ship
Tonnage1,935 tons
Displacement2,550 tons full load
Length
  • 285 ft 3.5 in (87.0 m) LOA
  • 261 ft 4 in (79.7 m) LBP
Beam48 ft (14.6 m)
Draft15 ft (4.6 m)
Depth26 ft 6 in (8.1 m)
PropulsionALCO diesels, Allis-Chalmers electric drive, single shaft. SHP approx. 3000 + 350 SHP trainable and retractable, gas turbine powered, bow propulsion unit to assist station-keeping and ultra-quiet ship operations.[2]
Speed15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Range12,000 nmi (14,000 mi; 22,000 km) at 12 kn (14 mph; 22 km/h)
Complement
  • 12 officers, 32 crew
  • 34 scientific party
ArmamentNone

USNS Silas Bent (T-AGS-26) was a Silas Bent class survey ship acquired by the United States Navy in 1964 and delivered to the Military Sealift Command in 1965. Silas Bent spent her career in the Pacific Ocean performing oceanographic surveys. The ship was equipped with the Oceanographic Data Acquisition System (ODAS) as were the later oceanographic survey ships USNS Kane (T-AGS-27) and USNS Wilkes (T-AGS-33).[3]

  1. ^ "New Dream Ship for Scientists Makes a Big Splash at Launching". Sealift Magazine. Vol. 14, no. 8. Washington, D.C.: Military Sea Transportation Service. August 1964. pp. 7–8. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  2. ^ Naval Oceanographic Office (11 February 1966). USNS Silas Bent (T-AGS-26) Introduction Brochure (hosted at NavSource) (Report). Washington, D.C.: Naval Oceanographic Office. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  3. ^ Office of Science and Technology (April 1972). The Federal Ocean Program (Report). Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office. pp. 67–68. Retrieved 30 December 2020.