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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

AOG-53 Namakogon


USS Namakogon (AOG-53) was loaned to New Zealand, renamed HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)
returned to US custody and transferred to Taiwan, renamed Lung Chuan (AOG-507)
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
Bottom Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Medal (with Asia Clasp) - National Defense Service Medal
HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)
qualified for the US Navy Antarctic Service Medal although never authorized by the government of New Zealand
Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker:
  • Laid down, 1 August 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (T1-MT-M1) tanker hull, under a Maritime Commission contract at Cargill Inc., Savage, MN.
  • Launched, 4 November 1944
  • Commissioned USS Namakogon (AOG-53), 15 June 1945
  • Decommissioned, 20 September 1957, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA.
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Custody transferred to Commandant, 12th Naval District, 27 June 1962, for activation and transferred, under the Military Aid Program, to New Zealand, 5 October 1962
  • Commissioned HMNZS Endeavour (A-184), an Antarctic supply ship
  • Decommissioned and returned to US custody in 1971
  • Laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1976
  • Transferred under the Security Assistance Program to Taiwan, 1 May 1976, renamed Lung Chuan (AOG-507)
  • Lung Chuan (AOG-507) was decommissioned, 1 April 2005, at Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • Final Disposition, fate unknown.
    Specifications:
    Displacement 1,841 t.(lt) 4,335 t.(fl)
    Length 310' 9"
    Beam 48' 6"
    Draft 15' 8"
    Speed 14 kts.
    Complement 124
    Armament four 3"/50 dual purpose guns, twelve 20mm guns, reduced to three 3:/50s and no 20mm
    Cargo Capacity 2,210 DWT
    Propulsion four 980 hp GE diesel engines, electric drive, twin shafts, 3,300shp
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    USS Namakogon (AOG-53)
    Namakogon 113k Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Namakogon 111k Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Namakogon 113k Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Namakogon 80k Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and place unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)
    Namakogon 62k ex Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in New Zealand service as HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) moored at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1966/67 season. Jim Dell Warrant Officer (Communications) Royal New Zealand Navy Retired
    Namakogon 25k ex Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in New Zealand service as HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) entering pack ice, Ross Sea, en route McMurdo Sound, 1967/68 season. Note the different placement of the Pennant Number. Jim Dell Warrant Officer (Communications) Royal New Zealand Navy Retired
    Namakogon 33k ex Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in New Zealand service as HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) with water breaking over her tank deck. Endeavour is either on her way to the Antarctic, or returning from the Antarctic, date unknown. Jim Dell Warrant Officer (Communications) Royal New Zealand Navy Retired
    Namakogon 31k ex Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in New Zealand service as HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) at sunset. Endeavour is either on her way to the Antarctic, or returning from the Antarctic, date unknown. Jim Dell Warrant Officer (Communications) Royal New Zealand Navy Retired
    Namakogon 59k ex Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in New Zealand service as HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) departing Auckland, New Zealand. This appears to be Endeavour's final departure for the United State in May 1971. Note all hands on deck, this was not the normal practice when entering or leaving port. Jim Dell Warrant Officer (Communications) Royal New Zealand Navy Retired
    Lung Chuan (A-507)
    Namakogon 24k ex Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in Taiwanese service as Lung Chuan (AOG-507) Republic of China Navy Web Site
    View the Namakogon (AOG-53) DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center web site

    View the HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) HISTORY entry located at NavSource.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    Avgas Mogas & Jet Fuel - The Story of the Patapsco Class Gasoline Tanker
    Back to the Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Gasoline Tanker (AOG) Photo Index
    Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster.
    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 8 April 2005