USS Tanner ( AGS - 15 ) USS " Tanner " ( AGS - 15 ) was originally built as the USS " Pamina " ( AKA - 34 ) , an named after the minor planet 539 Pamina , which in turn was named after a character in Mozart ' s opera " The Magic Flute " . However early in the ship ' s service it was reclassified AGS - 15 and renamed " Tanner " . She served as a commissioned ship for 24 years and 4 months . Service history . " Pamina " was laid down in 1944 by the Walsh - Kaiser Company , Providence , Rhode Island ; launched 5 January 1945 ; sponsored by Mrs . Ralph M . Johnston ; commissioned 10 February 1945 , Lt . Comdr . E . P . Teague in command . USS Pamina , 1945 – 1946 . Following shakedown " Pamina " transited the Panama Canal and reported to Amphibious Force , Pacific Fleet , Pearl Harbor . After intensive training with other vessels of her type , she departed Pearl Harbor 22 April and arrived Okinawa 15 May to deliver important cargo and to render valuable assistance to combat operations ashore . She operated in the South , Southwest and Western Pacific areas for the remainder of World War II . Immediately thereafter she transported occupation forces to Japan and returning servicemen to the United States . " Pamina " was reclassified AGS - 15 and renamed " Tanner " 15 May 1946 . USS Tanner , 1946 – 1969 . " Pamina " was renamed " Tanner " in honor of U . S . Navy captain and oceanographer Zera Luther Tanner . After sea trials during November and December , " Tanner " conducted hydrographic survey operations off the east coast of Mexico . She continued similar activities in the same area , off Labrador , off Trinidad and off Venezuela for the next four years . In January 1951 , she began survey work in the Bahamas in connection with a guided missile testing range , work which she continued with only occasional missions elsewhere until the summer of 1952 . At that time she returned northward and after a period in New York Naval Shipyard proceeded to northwest Greenland for extensive priority survey work . She concluded the season with a survey of a small island in the Canadian Arctic where a harbor was named " Tanner Bay " in her honor . From 1954 to 1958 , " Tanner " operated primarily off the southern coast of Turkey with 27 , 255 miles steamed during 139 days in the survey area in the spring and summer of 1956 . Again in the Bahamas in 1959 , she became part of the Persian Gulf Survey Unit later that year . After extensive work in the Near East , she conducted research in the Barents Sea in 1963 , in the deep dive area off Norfolk in 1964 , and in the northern Aegean Sea 15 November 1965 to 15 March 1966 . " Tanner " deployed 19 October from Pearl Harbor for survey operations in the South China Sea off the Mekong Delta coast of South Vietnam . She returned to the coast of South Vietnam and to the Gulf of Thailand in 1967 and 1968 . Following survey operations in the Western Pacific early in 1969 and with long and distinguished service to her credit , " Tanner " began her decommissioning process 14 July . She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1 August and transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal . " Pamina " received one battle star for World War II service .