Endeavour Antarctic Tanker

HMNZS Endeavour II was one of 23 Patapsco-class gasoline tankers built between 1942-1945 for the United States Navy. She was commissioned into RNZN service in 1962. 

Ship Details:

Pennant Number: A184 (In USN service AOG53) as it is a naval vessel there is no Maritime New Zealand number

Commissioned: 5 October 1962

Paid off: 30 June 1971

Tonnages: Standard: 1850

fully loaded: 4335

In RNZN service: 2000 fuel plus dry cargo

Fully loaded: 4335

In RNZN service: 2000 fuel plus dry cargo

Dimensions: 94.7 x 14.8 x 4.8m

Machinery: 2-shaft GM diesel-electric, bhp 3300 (2440 kW) = 14 knots

Armament: Was not armed whilst in RNZN service

Complement: 68 officers and ratings plus up to 14 scientists

Builder: Cargill Inc Savage Minnesota USA

Laid down: 1 August 1944

Launched 14:  November 1944

Completed as USS Namakagon June 1945

Class: One of 23 Patapsco-class gasoline tankers built between 1942-1945 for the United States Navy. Namakagon was commissioned on 18 June 1945. Placed in reserve 20 September 1957.

New Zealand Service

Endeavour departed San Francisco in October, 1962 and arrived in Auckland via Pearl Harbor the following month. Work to complete her Antarctic conversion then began at Devonport dockyard.

Having completed her refit she sailed for McMurdo Sound on 10th December, 1962, via southern ports, on the first of two voyages to the ice in her first Antarctic season.  Endeavour completed two similar voyages south each season, between December and March, over the next six years. She then completed one each in her last two seasons. Her last voyage to the ice was January-February 1971, returning to Auckland via Lyttelton on 18 March, 1971.

Endeavour undertook many DSIR oceanographic voyages into southern waters including one in April-May 1963, where she spent 42 days continuously at sea, travelling 6,950 miles. She also completed scientific cruises into the Pacific, and trips to supply the Raoul and Campbell Island weather stations when required. Endeavour also participated in training exercises and search and rescue operations.

In 1971, Defence economy measures brought about her early withdrawal from service. She was decommissioned  for return to the US Navy. In a formal double ceremony at Devonport in June 1971, she was handed back to the US Navy returning briefly (for only five minutes) to her former name Namakagon. She was then handed over on lease to the Navy of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and immediately renamed Lung Chuan (AOG515) sailing from Auckland in July, 1971 for Taiwan.

 

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