A memorial web site for USNS Dutton and its sister survey ships can be found at https://tags-ship.com.

A truly fascinating insight into the Top Secret operations of this veteran ship and her sisters. Thanks, Reg.

USNS Dutton was one of three WW-II era Victory cargo ships that were converted into hydrographic survey ships during the late 1950s. They were very peculiar ships to sail on because, while they were operated by civilian merchant seamen, they also carried a group of civilian scientists from the Naval Oceanographic Office as well as an "Oceanographic Unit" of regular U.S. Navy personnel, nearly all of whom were electronic technicians of one sort or another. As a result there these ships featured a unique triple hierarchy of a Chief Scientist, a Navy "Commanding Officer" and the Ship's Master, each of whom believed that HE was in overall charge.

These ships were rarely seen at regular U.S. Navy bases, operating mainly on their own, and spending most of their time operating far out at sea. One, USNS Michelson, was scrapped in the mid 1970s, but the other two continued operating until the late 1980s. One of these ships, the USNS Bowditch, is said to be listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having steamed more miles than any other ship in history.

The movements and position of these ships were considered "Top Secret". When I was Third Mate on the USNS Bowditch I had to have "Top Secret" clearance because I was a navigation officer and knew the ship's position. The chart room door had a combination lock on it, and was supposed to be kept locked except while we we actually went inside to plot the ship's position. And yet, somehow, the lowly Saloon Messman always seemed to know what the ship's next port of call was going to be before we did.