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S. P. Lee II (AGS-31)

1968-1992


Image related to S P Lee II
Caption: S.P. Lee (AGS-31), one of the new generation of oceanographic research ships designed and built for that purpose in the 1960s to replace early warship conversions. She is painted white, with the identifying Military Sealift Command funnel bands of black, gold, and blue. Her designation as a civilian-manned “U.S. Naval Ship,” rather than the “United States Ship” borne by commissioned Navy ships, is spelled out on her bow. S.P. Lee's fantail is open to make room for heavy research equipment and the machinery needed to handle it.

The second U.S. Navy ship named for Rear Adm. Samuel Phillips Lee (1812-1897); see S. P. Lee I (DD-310) for biography.

II

(AGS-31: displacement1,297; length 208'4"; beam 39'0"; draft 14'2"; speed 12.0 knots; complement 41; class Kellar)

The second S. P. Lee (AGS-31) was laid down on 27 June 1966 at Bay City, Mich., by the Defoe Shipbuilding Co.; launched on 19 October 1967; sponsored by Mrs. David Scull, great granddaughter of Rear Adm. Lee; and was delivered to the Navy on 2 December 1968.

Although she had originally been intended to operate under the Oceanographer of the Navy, on 10 September 1968, S. P. Lee was placed under sponsorship of the Naval Underwater Research and Development Center, San Diego, Calif.

Commanded by Capt. Paul L. Sinski, Master, the ship sailed to the Mediterranean and operated out of Naples, Italy, conducting environmental acoustics tests for the Sixth Fleet. For the next four years, but for a period in ready reserve status (7 April to 14 August 1972), she continued to conduct hydrographic operations for the Navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific.

On 25 September 1970, the ship was reclassified AG-192. S. P.  Lee was placed back in ready reserve status on 29 January 1973, and transferred to the United States Geological Survey on 27 February 1974.

Ultimately, S. P. Lee was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 October 1992, and disposed-of. through the Security Assistance Program (SAP) , transferred by cash sale, foreign military sale, to the government of Mexico.  Turned over to the Mexican Navy on 7 December 1992, S. P. Lee was renamed Antares (BI.104); she was active into the 21st Century.

Updated, Robert J. Cressman

20 May 1992

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Published: Tue May 21 00:11:46 EDT 2024