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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Contributed by Al Grazevich

USS Namakagon (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 - China Service Medal (extended) - 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 Namakagon (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 Namakagon (AOG-53), 18 June 1945, LTjg. Milton R. High in command

During World War II USS Namakagon was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Following World War II USS Namakagon was assigned to Occupation and China service in the Far East for the following periods:

Navy Occupation Service Medal	China Service Medal (extended)
21 September to 5 December 1945	28 September to 1 October 1954
23 July to 9 August 1946	16 to 19 December 1954

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 Fairbanks Morse Main Reduction Gear
Ship's Service Generators
two Diesel-drive 225Kw 120V/240V D.C.
one Diesel-drive 10Kw 240V D.C.

two propellers, 3,300shp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
USS Namakagon (AOG-53)
	408k	*USS Namakagon* (AOG-53)** being towed through Mississippi i 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
	421k		John Fitzgerald, Archivist, USACE, Rock Island District
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-126270	113k	*USS Namakagon* (AOG-53)** after completing an overhaul at San Pedro, CA., 5 June 1947. US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo #'s 19-N-126270 and 19-N-126272 courtesy Shipscribe.com.	Robert Hurst
US National Archives, RG-19-LCM. Photo # 19-N-126272	113k		Robert Hurst
	111k	*USS Namakagon* (AOG-53)** after completing an overhaul at San Pedro, CA., 5 June 1947. US Navy photos.	Paul Gryniewicz Courtesy Larry Sullivan
	80k		Paul Gryniewicz Courtesy Larry Sullivan
	43k	*USS Namakagon* (AOG-53)** after completion of an overhaul at San Pedro, CA., 5 June 1947. US Navy photo courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.	Robert Hurst
HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)
	62k	Ex-*USS Namakagon* (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
	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
	133k	*HMNZS Endeavour* (A-184)** under way in 1968, location unknown. Photo from the 1968/69 edition of "Jane's Fighting Ships."	Robert Hurst
	122k	*HMNZS Endeavour* (A-184)** under way, date and location unknown. Official New Zealand Navy photo.	Robert Hurst
100209214	167k	*HMNZS Endeavour* (A-184) and USNS Wyandot (T-AK-283)** at McMurdo Station Antarctica, 5 February 1970. United States National Archives, Photo No. USN 1143547	Mike Green
	1387k	Ships anchored in Winter Quarters Bay, Antarctica, 13 February 1971. From (L-R); inboard *USNS Maumee* (T-AO-149), outboard USCGC Staten Island (WAGB-278), inboard USNS Wyandot (T-AKA-92), outboard USCGC Burton Island(WAGB-283), and across the bay, the New Zealand supply ship HMNZS Endeavour (A-184)*. US Navy photo [negative] No. XAM-120263-2-71* by PH2 Sterling.	Robert Hurst
	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
	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)
	24k	Ex-*USS Namakagon* (AOG-53) seen here in Taiwanese service as ROCS Lung Chuan (AOG-507)**	Republic of China Navy Web Site
	31k	*ROCS Lung Chuan* (AOG-507)** getting under way date and location unknown. Photo courtesy Auke Visser's Famous T - Tankers Pages.	Robert Hurst

USS Namakagon (AOG-53)
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)

Commanding Officers
01	LTjg. High, Milton R., USNR	18 June 1945 - 10 October 1945
02	LT. Edwards, Thomas C., USNR	10 October 1945 - 11 July 1946
03	LCDR. Bartsch, Lauren Howard, USN	11 July 1946 - ?
04	LCDR. Pearson, Robert Lee, USN	1949
05	LT. Phalen, Robert Alvin, USN	1951
06	LT. Leidholdt, Edwin Martin, USN	1956 - 20 September 1957


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Fleet Tankers Association
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
New Zealand Antarctic Veterans Association
HMNZS Endeavour (A-184) history entry located at NavSource

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 12 March 2021