support for NASA's Gemini manned space shots serving as on station communications ship between Okinawa and the Philippines for Gemini 5 from 21 to 29 August. She supported three more Gemini flights between 4 December and 16 March 1966 before returning to the West Coast in April. She remained at San Francisco from 18 April to 27 October in a ready reserve status. During November she steamed to the East Coast, and in early 1967 was at New York undergoing repairs and alterations. Survey ship After completion of her communications support role the USNS Kingsport became a bathymetric and acoustic survey ship supporting Project Caesar, the installation and maintenance of the Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS), and undersea surveillance development. The ship was part of the "Caeasr fleet" under the technical control of the project's Program Manager, then Naval Electronics Systems Command (NAVELEX PME-124). Among the now published reports, declassified in 2006, of the ship's work is a description of the Indian Ocean exercise code named BEARING STAKE that took place from January to April 1977. Disposal Kingsport was placed out of service on 31 Jan 1984, transferred to the Maritime Administration for layup on 29 August 1984 then transferred back to the Military Sealift Command for scientific research on 1 March 1990. The ship was withdrawn from the reserve fleet on 21 January 1992 for scrapping in India. Honors Crew of Naval Armed Guard on the SS Kingsport Victory earned "Battle Stars" in World War II for war action during the assault occupation of Assault occupation of Iwo Jima from 13 March 1945 to 16 March 1945. References Bibliography * External links Personal account of USNS Kingsport The Kingsport (Photo & patch) USNS Kingsport (Falmouth, England) after removal of dome and in gray MSTS livery. Bouncing Voice Off Satellite Part of Ship's Daily Grind Victory ships Ships built in Los Angeles 1944 ships World War II merchant ships of the United States Cold War auxiliary ships of the United States Ships of the United States Army Greenville Victory-class cargo ships History of telecommunications Survey ships of the United States Navy