USS Small YAG's acquired in New Zealand in 1942

Quick Links Menu.

USS Awahou (YAG-24) sketched by a crew member circa 1943-1944
Click on this photograph for links to larger images of this class.

Class:        Small YAG's acquired in New Zealand in 1942
Design:        Small acquired
Displacement (tons):        268 to 508 tons
Dimensions (feet):        92.5' x 27.6' to 145' x 30'
Armament:        Small or none

Construction:

YAG	Name	Acq.	Builder	Keel	Launch	Commiss.
24	AWAHOU	4 Nov 42	J. Fullerton, Paisley	--	Mar 1912	4 Nov 42
25	PORT WHANGAREI	31 Oct 42	G. Seebeck	--	1906	31 Oct 42
26	TAUPATA	10 Nov 42	G. T. Niccol, New Zealand	--	1930	10 Nov 42
27	KOHI	17 Nov 42	Unknown	--	Unk.	17 Nov 42

Disposition:

YAG	Name	Decomm.	Strike	Disposal	Fate	MA Sale
24	AWAHOU	28 Mar 44	8 Apr 44	28 Mar 44	RTO	--
25	PORT WHANGAREI	28 Mar 44	8 Apr 44	28 Mar 44	RTO	--
26	TAUPATA	24 Apr 44	16 May 44	24 Apr 44	RTO	--
27	KOHI	14 Mar 44	25 Mar 44	14 Mar 44	RTO	--

Class Notes:
FY 1942. Acquisition of these vessels along with RONAKI (IX-94) and ECHO (IX-95) was directed on 26 Nov 42 and all were purchased under reverse Lend Lease from the New Zealand Government and placed in full commission, not in service. Navy officials in New Zealand recommended that KOHI (described elsewhere as "scow type") be designated YAG and the others IX, but OpNav explained that the two ships that it had designated IX were auxiliary schooners while those designated YAG were "miscellaneous motor driven vessels." YAG-26 served at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard while the other three operated in the Southwest Pacific. YAG 24-27 were returned in March and April 1944 to the New Zealand Government, their owner of record.

Ship Notes:

YAG	Name	Notes
24	AWAHOU	Ex New Zealand merc. AWAHOU. Steel motor vessel with 2 screws and well deck, 410 tons gross, 146.0' x 25.1' x 9.1'.
25	PORT WHANGAREI	Ex New Zealand merc. PORT WHANGAREI. Built in Germany. 508 tons, 145' x 30' x 12.5'.
26	TAUPATA	Ex New Zealand merc. TAUPATA. Twin screw motor ship. 268 tons gross, 117.7' x 26.2' x 6.8'.
27	KOHI	Ex New Zealand merc. KOHI. Wood motor vessel, scow type. 400 tons light (est.), 20 tons registered, 92.5' x 27.6' x 4.2'.