USNS Contender (T-AGOS-2)

USNS Contender (T-AGOS-2) was a Stalwart class Modified Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance Ship of the United States Navy.

History
Stalwart class ships were originally designed to collect underwater acoustical data in support of Cold war anti-submarine warfare operations in the 1980s. ex-Contender is now T/V Kings Pointer the flagship and training vessel of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. 

In the spring of 2004 she underwent a major overhaul to upgrade her crew's quarters and training equipment. The aft 'tow' deck was also modified and any vestage of her previous employment as a SURTASS ship was removed and reworked.

She was the flagship and training ship of the United States Merchant Marine Academy from 1999 until January 2012. She was transferred to Texas A&M University at Galveston and renamed the "General Rudder", where she will be the primary training vessels for cadets of the Texas Maritime Academy.