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 number: 7738527
Honours &
awards
National Defense Service Medal
Fatetransferred to the Navy of Turkey, 29 September 1999 as TCG Çeșme (A-599)
Turkey
NameTCG Çeşme
Namesaketown of Çeşme
Commissioned8 June 2000
IdentificationIMO number: 7738527
Statusin active service
General characteristics
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.
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).