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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive

USS Varuna (AGP-5)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Juliet - Yankee - Juliet
 NJYJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (4)
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Presidential Unit Citation - Philippines Liberation Medal (1)
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
  • Recommissioned USS Varuna (AGP-5), 31 August 1943, LCDR. L. W. Borst, USNR, in command
  • During WWII USS 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
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 1 May 1946
  • USS Varuna earned four battle stars for her World War II services
  • Sold to Stavenger Tankrederi, 31 July 1947, renamed MV Guaralina, reflagged Norway
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown
    Specifications:
    Displacement 3,960 t.(lt) 4,100 t.(fl)
    Length 328'
    Beam 50'
    Draft 11' 2"
    Speed 11.6 kts.
    Complement
    Officers 19
    Enlisted 240
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Boats two LCVP
    Armament
    one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount
    two quad 40mm AA gun mounts
    eight single 20mm AA gun mounts
    Fuel Capacities
    Diesel 4,480 Bbls
    Gasoline 62,000 Gals
    Propulsion
    two General Motors 12-567A Diesel engines
    single Falk Main Reduction Gears
    Ship's Service Generators
    three Diesel-drive 100Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    two Diesel-drive 100Kw 450V A.C.
    two propellers, 1,800 shp, twin rudders
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Contributed
    By
    Varuna 174k USS Varuna (AGP-5) moored pierside, date and location unknown.
    US Navy photo.    		 Russ Padden and Tim Rizzuto
    Varuna 112k USS Varuna (AGP-5) probably photographed in late 1943, either after completion of conversion in September or in the Canal Zone in December. The original caption describes her camouflage pattern as the "green color system."
    US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. photo # not assigned    		 Robert Hurst
    Varuna 28k USS Varuna (AGP-5) with five PT boats alongside, date and location unknown. Rudolph Zielke
    USS Varuna (AGP-5)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    LST Homeport
    State LST Chapters
    United States LST Association
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 11 April 2019