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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Kopara (AG-50)
ex
 USS Kopara (AK-62)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Uniform - Victor. - Juliet
 NUVJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from left to right
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal
  • Built in 1938 by Henry Robb Ltd, Leith Scotland as MV Kopara for Richardson Co., Ltd, Napier, New Zealand
  • Acquired by the US Navy and commissioned USS Kopara (AK-62), 21 September 1942. LTjg H. R. Greeley in command
  • Redesignated Miscellaneous Auxiliary (AG-50), 23 September 1942
  • During World War II USS Kopara was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Capture and defense of Guadalcanal, 22 October 1942
  • Decommissioned at Auckland, New Zealand and struck from the Naval Register, 12 January 1945
  • USS Kopara earned one battle star for World War II service
  • Returned to the New Zealand government, 12 January 1945 for return to her original owner, Richardson & Co. Ltd., Napier, New Zealand
  • MV Kopara operated under several names after World War II including MV Sarang in 1966, MV Cherry Chepat in 1970, and MV See Hai Hong in January of 1987
  • Final Disposition, broken up in 1987
    Specifications:
    Displacement 679 t.
    Length 193'
    Beam 35' 8"
    Draft 18' 8"
    Speed 12 kts.
    Armament four 40mm guns
    Propulsion
    two sets of four-cylinder Diesel engines
    twin propellers
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Merchant Service
    Kopara 58k MV Kopara underway probably prior to World War II, location unknown.
    US Navy photo # NH 83230 Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1975 from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center    		 Scott at LBS Products
    Kopara 30k MV Kopara underway probably prior to World War II, location unknown Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
    Kopara 70k MV Kopara underway probably prior to World War II, location unknown. Hyperwar US Navy in WWII Web Site
    USS Kopara (AG-50)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LTjg. Greeley, Horace Robert, USNR21 September 1942 - 5 October 1942
    02LCDR. Parker, David Lewis, USNR5 October 1942 - 14 October 1942
    03LCDR. Greely, Horace Raymone, USNR14 October 1942 - 24 November 1942
    04LCDR. Kapuscinski, John Stanislaus, USNR24 November 1942 - 14 October 1943
    05LT. Root, Merton Francism USNR14 October 1943 - 28 May 1944
    06LTjg. Childress, Clifford Henry, USN28 May 1944 - 12 January 1945
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
    Back To The Main Photo Index Back To the Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index Back To The Miscellaneous (AG) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
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    Last Updated 28 September 2015