USS Kopara (AG-50)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States
|
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| Laid down: | date unknown |
| Launched: | in 1938 as SS Kopara |
| Acquired: | 21 September 1942 |
| Commissioned: | 23 September 1942 |
| Decommissioned: | 12 January 1945 |
| Struck: | date unknown |
| Fate: | broken up in 1987 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 679 tons |
| Length: | 193 ft (59 m) |
| Beam: | 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m) |
| Draught: | 18 ft 8 in (5.69 m) |
| Propulsion: | two sets of four-cylinder diesel engines, twin screws |
| Speed: | 12 knots |
| Armament: | four 40mm guns |
USS Kopara (AK-62/AG-50) was a cargo ship purchased by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She was responsible for delivering goods and equipment to locations in the war zone.
Kopara (AK-62) was built in 1938 by Henry Robb Limited of Leith, Scotland. She was purchased in early August 1942 from her owner, Richardson & Co., Napier, New Zealand, through the New Zealand Government; and commissioned 21 September 1942 at Auckland, Lt. (j.g.) H. R. Greeley in command.
Reclassified as AG-50 on 23 September, Kopara departed Auckland 5 October for supply runs from Noumea, New Caledonia, and Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, to Guadalcanal and Tulagi, Solomons. Arriving Noumea 9 October, she steamed on the 14th for Espiritu Santo to take on board supplies for the embattled American force on Guadalcanal. Loaded with torpedoes and general cargo and escorted by Nicholas (DD-449), she departed 19 October. Kopara arrived Lunga Roads during midwatch 22 October and began unloading operations which were completed that evening despite harassing gunfire from enemy shore batteries and a noon attack by Japanese dive bombers. Protected by Nicholas, Kopara departed Guadalcanal undamaged and returned to Noumea 27 October.
During the next few months, Kopara continued supply runs to the Solomons; and, while she unloaded at Guadalcanal and Tulagi 13 through 15 November, American battleships, cruisers, and destroyers fought the enemy in two fierce night naval battles off Savo Island. From 20 February to 26 June 1943, she carried cargo along the sea lanes between Auckland, Noumea, Efate, and Espiritu Santo. And from 11 July to 17 September she shuttled supplies between New Zealand and Norfolk Island.
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