naval ships

I am doing a bit of research about my late uncle and his service during World War II. He served on a troop transport ship, in the Pacific, with a name something like 'KOTA BORA'. I am having no luck in finding anything about a ship that name using the internet search engines. As our family can not locate any of his military paper work, there is a 'VERY GOOD' chance that I have spelled it incorrectly. Would appreciate very much if someone could point me in the direction of a website or library that could give me information about these types of ships that served in the in the Pacific. thanks in advance. Ron P

'Kota Bharu' maybe. Its an important port in Malaysia. Had an RAF base at some point. Was your uncle in the British Merchant Marine because it sounds like the ship may have been one of theirs.

IBM

There are several good websites. Search for the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships or HazeGray and Underway and NavSource Photo Archive. Each of these sites have lists of most Navy ships. I would post links but my computer is acting up again.

Do you have any other information like branch of service, or the hull number of the ship or unit number? The Army actually had more ships than the Navy at some point during the war and many of them were troopships. The Coast Guard operated as a branch of the Navy during the war and many Navy ships were crewed by Coasties.

As a surviving relative you could ask for copies of his records. Any good geneology site should have directions on how to do this through the government sites.

I have done much the same for my father in law though thankfully he is still alive. It has been a lot of fun and he gets as much out of it as I do plus I have found a few forgotten photo albums and I hope to put my little monograph together with some of the photos for his grandsons.

John Dupre'

Hi Ron,

This must have been the Dutch vessel KOTA BAROE. owned by the Rotterdamsche Lloyd. She was chartered by the US War shipping Administration, together with 15 other Dutch vessels, to assist in the Pacific agianst Japan. There is nothing much to tell. None of the ships was lost. They just did what they had to do. I can mail you a picture of the ship if you want.

Regards,

Theo Horsten