Annapolis and Arlington were essentially floating Comm Stations with massive antenna arrays and extensive equipment installations to relay messages from local ships or shore stations to distant COMMSTAs. Arlington could simultaneously connect with 3 COMMSTAs with 6 channels for each.
USS Saipan (CVL-48, built 1946) was originally being converted to a command ship CC-3 in 1963. This was changed to a major relay ship AGMR-2 while still in the conversion yard in September 1964. In April 1965 her name was changed to USS Arlington (AGMR-2) and she was commissioned August 1966.
Conversion articles - Part 1 - Part 2
- 10 10 kw HF transmitters (AN/FRT-39)
- 14 "500 watt HF transmitters" (AN/WRT-2)
- 1 10 kw LF transmitter (TMC GPT-10KLF)
- 65 "multi-channel receivers" (AN/FRR-60 & R-1051/URR)
- 1200 pieces of teletype gear
- 19 transmitting and 22 receiving antennas
- two 109' tall antenna masts
- 74 miles of cable and 237,000 electrical connections
- USS Arlington web site
- USS Arlington web site
