▁supporting ▁scientific ▁operations ▁in ▁the ▁Marian as , ▁in ▁particular ▁serving ▁as ▁communication ▁relay ▁and ▁support ▁ship ▁for ▁the ▁bath ys cap he ▁Tri este ▁in ▁Project ▁N ek ton ; ▁she ▁to wed ▁the ▁bath ys cap he ▁some ▁ 2 6 0 ▁na ut ical ▁miles ▁( 4 8 2 ▁kilom eters ) ▁from ▁Gu am ▁to ▁the ▁vic inity ▁of ▁the ▁Ch allen ger ▁Deep , ▁where , ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁January ▁ 1 9 6 0 , ▁Tri este ▁desc ended ▁to ▁a ▁record ▁ 3 7 , 0 0 0 ▁feet ▁( 1 1 , 2 7 8 ▁meters ). ▁ ▁Const ruction ▁and ▁commission ing ▁Origin ally ▁project ed ▁as ▁steel - h ul led ▁rescue ▁t ug ▁USS ▁A TR — 1 3 1 , ▁W and ank ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁as ▁USS ▁A TA - 2 0 4 ▁on ▁ 2 5 ▁September ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁at ▁Port ▁Arthur , ▁Texas , ▁by ▁the ▁G ulf port ▁Bo iler ▁and ▁W eld ing ▁Works . ▁She ▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 9 ▁November ▁ 1 9 4 4 ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 5 ▁with ▁Lieutenant , ▁junior ▁grade , ▁Vern on ▁L . ▁Ryan , ▁US NR , ▁in ▁command . ▁She ▁was ▁ 1 4 3 ▁ft ▁in ▁length ▁and ▁disp la ced ▁ 8 3 5 ▁tons . ▁ ▁First ▁period ▁in ▁commission , ▁ 1 9 4 5 - 1 9 4