USS Chiron

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USS Chiron (AGP-18)

USS Chiron was a Portunus-class motor torpedo boat tender in the U.S. Navy during and just after World War II. She began life as LST-1133, was renamed Chiron on 14 August 1944, and reclassified as AGP-18.

Timeline
- Built by the Chicago Bridge & Iron Company in Seneca, Illinois. Laid down 16 December 1944; launched 10 March 1945; placed in reduced commission 23 March 1945 to allow for conversion.
- Converted to a motor torpedo boat tender at the Maryland Drydock Company in Baltimore. Recommissioned 18 September 1945 as USS Chiron (AGP-18).
- Served from Norfolk to Miami in November 1945 to support PT boats of Motor Torpedo Squadron 42 until 8 December 1945.
- Decommissioned 20 February 1946 and stricken 28 March 1946.
- Sold to Argentina on 19 May 1947 and renamed MV Altamar. Served as a merchant ship by 1948.
- Sank 30 March 1960 while carrying grain from Cabedelo to Belém, Brazil. The wreck was found off the northeast coast of Brazil.

General characteristics (as a motor torpedo boat tender)
- Displacement: 4,100 tons
- Length: 328 ft
- Beam: 50 ft
- Draft: 11 ft 2 in
- Propulsion: 2 × General Motors 12-568A diesel engines
- Speed: 11.6 knots
- Crew: 41 officers, 265 enlisted
- Armament (as MT tender): 2 × quad 40 mm anti-aircraft guns; 8 × 20 mm anti-aircraft guns

Fate
- After Navy service, she became the Argentine merchant ship MV Altamar and ultimately sank in 1960.