What were the AGS and AGOR ships doing?

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There is probably no better single reference for an historical overview of survey operations undertaken by the Navy's hydrographic and oceanographic ships. The book is particularly strong in describing the people and organization of the Navy's survey effort.

Review Excerpts

Geoffrey Haskins on behalf of The Hydrographic Journal (No. 119, APRIL, 2006):

Each chapter is filled with minutiae, personal stories, tales of political intrigue, and outspoken comments . . . There are many unique aspects to this book in the fields of science, technology, administration, people, war, peace, disaster (the impact of Hurricane Katrina, for instance), and one extraordinarily unusual touch: the author's own pen and ink amendments to the final published text.

Despite all the political and financial shenanigans inevitable in any democracy, what shines through it all is the superb record of the US Hydrographic and Oceanographic authorities, (civil and military, industrial and academic) in providing high quality navigation and oceanographic support to mariners and scientific support to US defence services. The author has produced an important historical record and challenging critique for posterity, studded with pithy comments and praise for friends and colleagues, and is to be applauded for his efforts.

Commander Don Walsh, U. S. Navy (Retired) on behalf of the USNI Proceedings. (Vol. 132/6, June, 2006):

Far from being a dry company history, [the author] gives wonderful insights into the people and programs that made U.S. Navy ocean research second-to-none worldwide . . . The book's organization differs somewhat from a classic organizational history. The eclectic structure is part history, personal memoir, and reference book . . . As a result, the text of the chapters makes up only 238 pages in the 352-page book . . . In short, this book is a wealth of useful information between two covers.

While the 175-year Navy history and all the included reference materials are reason enough to have this book, there is another, important context here that weaves through the narrative . . . the relationship between the 'blue suit' Navy and its civilian scientific and technical people. In military research and development, operators and scientists have always worked together in an atmosphere of constructive tension. Managed properly it is healthy and has resulted in significant progress for the organization. But when it does not work, then there can be unproductive, even damaging, 'null periods'. From his personal experience, Bates serves up several 'case studies' of the good and the bad.

Hydro to Navoceano is a book to have on your shelf if you are interested in, or curious about, the U. S. Navy's long-term contribution to the advancement of oceanography.

From the order form:

This candid narrative describes the complex interplay leading to todays state of the art in military hydrography, oceanography, and geophysics at what is now the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). Included is a foreword by Prof. Walter Munk (National Medal of Science 1985) as well as sea stories by junior officers, "white-hats" and civilians who worked during wars both "Hot" and "Cold" from the Equator to the Poles.

Topics described in depth include HYDRO (office and field) in World War II, Projects Crossroads, Cabot, AMOS, Caesar, Seascan, Magnet and SPOC, Persian Gulf surveying, Arctic ice operations, the Ocean Survey Program. and the relocation to Mississippi in 1978, even describing the affects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Included in the epilogue are 69 short vignettes of key players at HYDRO/NAVOCEANO over the past half century.

Mail orders to:

Dr. Charlie C. Bates
501 S. La. Posada Circle- #388
GREEN VALLEY, AZ 85614

Phone: 520-648-8339

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