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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Namakogon (AOG-53)

International Radio Call Sign:
November - Charlie - Zulu - Foxtrot
 NCZF
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

USS Namakogon (AOG-53) was loaned to New Zealand, renamed HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)
returned to US custody and transferred to Taiwan, renamed ROCS Lung Chuan (AOG-507)
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, LTjg. Milton R. High in command
  • During World War II USS Namakogon was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and following the war performed occupation duty
  • 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)
  • ROCS 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
    Officers - 8
    Enlisted - 115
    Largest Boom Capacity 10 t.
    Cargo Capacities
    NSFO - 7,975 Bbls
    Gasoline - 410,500 Gals
    Armament
    four single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mounts
    twelve 20mm guns, reduced to three 3:/50s and no 20mm
    Cargo Capacity 2,210 DWT
    Fuel Capacity Diesel - 2,240 Bbls
    Propulsion
    four General Motors 16-278A Diesel engines
    single Faribanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
    Ship's Service Generators
    two 225Kw 120V/240V D.C.
    one 10Kw 240V D.C.
    twin shafts, 3,300shp
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    USS Namakogon (AOG-53)
    Namakogon 408k USS Namakogon (AOG-53) being towed through Mississippii River Lock No. 15 by the towboat James W. Good of Inland Waterways, 25 May 1945.
    War Department , U.S. Engineer Office, Rock Island, Il. photo # 598-121.41 and 599-121.44    		 John Fitzgerald, Archivist, USACE, Rock Island District
    Namakogon 421k
    Namakogon 113k USS Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Namakogon 111k USS Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Namakogon 113k USS Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    Namakogon 80k USS Namakogon (AOG-53) underway, date and location unknown. Paul Gryniewicz
    Courtesy Larry Sullivan
    HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)
    Namakogon 62k ex USS 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 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 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 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 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
    ROCS Lung Chuan (A-507)
    Namakogon 24k ex USS Namakogon (AOG-53) seen here in Taiwanese service as ROCS Lung Chuan (AOG-507) Republic of China Navy Web Site
    View the USS Namakogon (AOG-53) DANFS history entry located at the US Naval Historical Center

    View the HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) HISTORY entry located at NavSource.
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    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
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2009 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 22 May 2009