USS Namakagon (AOG-53)

USS "Namakagon" (AOG-53) was a "Patapsco"-class gasoline tanker acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations. "Namakagon" had the distinction of serving both the U.S. and New Zealand navies prior to being struck and scrapped by the U.S. Navy.

"Namakagon" was laid down 1 August 1944 by Cargill, Inc., Savage, Minnesota; launched 4 November 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Alfred J. Scobba; and commissioned 18 June 1945, Lt. (jg) Milton R. High in command.

World War II service

The gasoline tanker "Namakagon" completed her U.S. Gulf Coast shakedown and, having filled her tanks at Baytown, Texas, departed for the Pacific Ocean, 19 July 1945. She arrived at Pearl Harbor as hostilities in the Pacific ceased and on 20 August continued on to Midway Island. Based at Pearl Harbor, she carried fuel to various islands of the Pacific, including Johnston Island, Canton Island, Marcus Island, Truk, Guam, Saipan, Okinawa, Peleliu, and Kyūshū, for over 18 months, then returned to the U.S. West Coast.

Post-war operations

In early June, 1947, she completed overhaul at San Pedro, California, and on the 9th steamed north to her new homeport, Kodiak, Alaska. From there and from ports in Washington, she carried passengers and mixed cargo as she operated a gasoline provisioning shuttle to naval bases and stations on the coast and in the Aleutians. Detached from Kodiak in 1953, she returned to Pearl Harbor, whence she operated until June 1957. She then sailed to Mare Island, California, where she decommissioned, 20 September 1957, and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet.

Assigned to the New Zealand Navy

On 27 June 1962, custody of "Namakagon" was transferred to the Commandant, 12th Naval District for activation, following which she was transferred, under the Military Aid Program, to the Royal New Zealand Navy, on 5 October 1962. Commissioned as HMNZS "Endeavour" (A–184), an Antarctic supply ship, she delivered fuel to research bases on the seventh continent, bringing over 1 million gallons each year to McMurdo Sound alone, since 1963.

Final decommissioning

"Namakagon" was decommissioned and returned to US custody in 1971. She was laid up in the Pacific Reserve Fleet and struck from the Naval Register, 15 April 1976. She was transferred under the Security Assistance Program to Taiwan, 1 May 1976, and renamed "Lung Chuan" (AOG-507). "Lung Chuan" (AOG-507) was decommissioned on 1 April 2005 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Final disposition: fate unknown.

Military awards and honors

Namakagon’s crew was eligible for the following medals:
* American Campaign Medal
* Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
* World War II Victory Medal
* Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia Clasp)
* National Defense Service Medal"HMNZS Endeavour" (A-184) reportedly qualified for the US Navy Antarctic Service Medal but was never authorized to receive it by the government of New Zealand.

Note

At times "Namakagon" is found spelled as "Namakogon" as in the second DANFS link below.

References

ee also

* Logistic ships of the Royal New Zealand Navy
* List of United States Navy ships
* World War II

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/n1/namakagon.htm Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships - USS Namakagon ]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/20/2053.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AOG-53 Namakogon]