VANGUARD (TAG-194) class

 0 MERCURY class MISCELLANEOUS AUXILIARY (AG) (NAVIGATION RESEARCH SHIP)

 Name        Hull No.   AO Commissioned   TAGM in service     Status
 VANGUARD    TAG-194    Oct. 21, 1947     Feb. 1966           Stricken
  (ex-TAGM-19, ex-MUSCLE SHOALS, ex-MISSION SAN FERNANDO (TAO-122))

These ships are former MISSION BUENAVENTURA class oilers (AO) that were extensively converted for the missile range instrumentation role (AGM). The VANGUARD was built as the MISSION SAN FERNANDO; it...