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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

LST-14 / AGP-5 Varuna


Flag Hoist/International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Yankee - Juliet
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4) - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal
Portunus Class Motor Torpedo Boat Tender:
  • Laid down, 23 August 1942, at Dravo Shipbuilding Yard, Neville Island, PA.
  • Launched, 9 December 1942
  • Redesignated a Motor Torpedo Boat Tender, 13 January 1943
  • Placed in reduced commission, 26 March 1943, for towing to Tampa, FL.
  • Decommissioned at Tampa and converted to a Portunus Class Motor Torpedo Boat Tender
  • Commissioned USS Varuna (AGP-5), 31 August 1943, LCDR. L. W. Borst, USNR, in command
  • During WWII Varuna was assigned to Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:
    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Bismarck Archipelago operation
    Designated duty in connection with motor torpedo boat operations, February to May 1944     		Manila Bay - Bicol operations
    Zambales - Subic Bay, 29 to 31 January 1945
    Western Caroline Islands operation
    Capture and occupation of southern Palau Islands, 1 to 20 July 1945     		Borneo operation
    Balikpapan operation 1 to 20 July 1945

  • Decommissioned, 4 January 1946
  • Stuck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1946
  • Final Disposition, sold to Stavenger Tankrederi for scrapping
  • Varuna received four battle stars for her World War II services
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,960 t.
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 11.6 kts.
    Complement 283
    Boats 2 LCVP
    Armament
    one single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    eight single 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Propulsion 2 General Motors 12-567 diesel engines, two shafts, twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Varuna 28k Varuna (AGP-5) with five PT boats alongside, date and location unknown. Rudolph Zielke
    View the Varuna (AGP-5)
    DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    LST Homeport
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To the Amphibious Ship Type Index Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Tank Landing Ship (LST) Photo Index Back To The Motor Torpedo Boat Tender (AGP) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 14 December 2007