This list includes research ships engaged in general oceanographic research and survey work. Ships under 500 tons and non-self propelled ships are not included. Other military research/trials vessels, supporting specific USN R&D activities, are listed separately.
Ships not yet commissioned, or in long-term overhaul/conversion, are listed in italics. Navigation and surface-search radars are not listed. All classifications are purely unofficial and are based on an attempt to use standard classifications throughout all navies; they may or may not correspond to "official" designations. Where two dates are given (i.e. 1965/82), the first is the date of initial completion, and the second is the date of acquisition, conversion, or transfer. Designations given in (parentheses) are assigned but not displayed on the ship's hull.
MSC-manned ships carry prefix USNS, all others carry prefix R/V.
Note: AGORs are assigned to academic institutions for operation; they are not under USN control, although USN may fund specific research activities to be carried out aboard these ships.
Note: The ocean survey ship Waters has been converted to serve in navigation research and missile tracking roles, and is listed with Special Mission Auxiliaries.
Pathfinder
class oceanographic research/survey ships (6 ships)
Concept/Program: Large multirole research/survey ships, intended for MSC operation and capable of very long-range operations.
Builders: Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS.
| Number | Name | Year | FLT | Homeport | Group | Notes |
| (T-AGS 60) | Pathfinder | 1994 | ATL | (none) | MSC Atlantic | |
| (T-AGS 61) | Sumner | 1995 | PAC | (none) | MSC Far East | |
| (T-AGS 62) | Bowditch | 1996 | PAC | (none) | MSC Far East | |
| (T-AGS 63) | Henson | 1999 | ATL | (none) | MSC | |
| (T-AGS 64) | Bruce C. Heezen | 2000 | ATL | (none) | MSC | |
| (T-AGS 65) | Mary Sears | 2001 | (none) | MSC |
Thomas G. Thompson
class oceanographic research/survey ships (3 ships)
Concept/Program: Multirole research/survey ships built for academic/research organizations. This is a class of four ships; the first two (AGOR 23, 24) are configured for general research/survey duties. Atlantis (AGOR 25) was built as a submersible support ship. The fourth ship (often incorrectly identified as AGOR 26) was built for and transferred to NOAA.
Builders: Trinity/Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS.
| Number | Name | Year | FLT | Homeport | Group | Notes |
| (AGOR 23) | Thomas G. Thompson | 1991 | PAC | Seattle | UofWashington | |
| (AGOR 24) | Roger Revelle | 1996 | PAC | LaJolla, CA | Scripps | |
| (AGOR 25) | Atlantis | 1997 | ATL | Woods Hole, MA | Woods Hole Oceanographic / NDSF |
Melville
class oceanographic research/survey ships (2 ships)
Concept/Program: Large, highly capable multimission ships built for operation by academic institutions. Both underwent major modernizations 1988-1991, including all new propulsion, lengthened hull, complete refit of oceanographic gear.
Builders: Defoe SB, Bay City, MI.
| Number | Name | Year | FLT | Homeport | Group | Notes |
| (AGOR 14) | Melville | 1969 | PAC | LaJolla, CA | Scripps | |
| (AGOR 15) | Knorr | 1970 | ATL | Woods Hole, MA | Woods Hole Oceanographic (WHOI) |
Kilo Moana
oceanographic research/survey ship
Concept/Program: A SWATH research ship for the University of Hawaii, funded by Congress with no Navy request. Replaced ex-Navy Moana Wave.
Builders: Lockheed Martin; construction subcontracted to Atlantic Marine, Jacksonville, FL.
| Number | Name | Year | FLT | Homeport | Group | Notes |
| (AGOR 26) | Kilo Moana | 2002 | PAC | Honolulu | UofHawaii |
John McDonnell
class coastal survey ships (2 ships)
Concept/Program: A pair of ships intended coastal work.
Builders: Halter Marine, Moss Point, MS.
| Number | Name | Year | FLT | Homeport | Group | Notes |
| (T-AGS 51) | John McDonnell | 1992 | (none) | (none) | MSC Central | |
| (T-AGS 52) | Littlehales | 1992 | (none) | (none) | MSC Central |
