Name SS Simmons Victory Launched April 6, 1945 Construction started 23 February 1945 | Laid down February 23, 1945 Length 139 m | |
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Namesake Simmons College in Boston Owner War Shipping Administration Operator Coastwise, Pacific Far East Line Builder Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation | ||
USS Liberty (AGTR-5) was a Belmont-class technical research ship (electronic spy ship) that was attacked by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the 1967 Six-Day War. She was built and served in World War II as the SS Simmons Victory, as a Victory cargo ship.
Contents
History
A Victory Ship, her keel was laid down on 23 February 1945, as Simmons Victory, a Maritime Commission-type (VC2-S-AP3) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation of Portland, Oregon. She was delivered to the Maritime Commission on 4 May 1945, and chartered to the Pacific Far East Line of San Francisco.
The SS Simmons Victory had the dangerous job of delivering ammunition for troops. On SS Simmons Victory loaded with 6,000 pounds ammunition as an ammunition ship at Port Chicago Naval Magazine in Port Chicago, California and traveled to Leyte in the Philippines for the Battle of Leyte from 17 October - 26 December 1944. Simmons Victory loaded up on ammunition to prepare for the Operation Downfall the Invasion of Japan. With the war ending, we waiting 3 months in Leyte, before returning her ammo to Port Chicago. From Port Chicago she took supplies to Baltimore though the Panama Canal. SS Simmons Victory served as merchant marine naval supplying goods for the Korean War. About 75 percent of the personnel taken to Korean for the Korean War came by the merchant marine. SS Simmons Victory transported ammunition, mail, food and other supplies. About 90 percent of the cargo was moved by merchant marine naval to the war zone. SS Simmons Victory made nine different trip between 18 November 1950 and 23 December 1952 helping American forces engaged against Communist aggression in South Korea.
She operated in commercial trade until 1958, when Simmons Victory was returned to the Maritime Administration for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington.
In February 1963, the U.S. Navy acquired Simmons Victory and converted her to a "Miscellaneous Auxiliary" ship at Willamette Iron and Steel of Portland. On 8 June she was renamed USS Liberty and given hull classification symbol AG-168. On 1 April 1964, she was reclassified a Technical Research Ship (AGTR-5). She was commissioned at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, in December 1964.
National Security Agency missions
In February 1965, Liberty steamed from the west coast to Norfolk, Virginia, where she was further outfitted (cost: US$20 million) to suit her for a mission of supporting the National Security Agency by collecting and processing foreign communications and other electronic emissions of possible national defense interests.
In June Liberty began her first deployment, to waters off the west coast of Africa. She carried out several more operations during the next two years, and went to the Mediterranean Sea in 1967. During the Six-Day War between Israel and several Arab nations, she was sent to collect electronic intelligence in the eastern Mediterranean.
On 8 June 2007, the National Security Agency (NSA) finalized the review of all material relative to the 8 June 1967 attack on the USS Liberty. This additional release adds to the collection of documents and audio recordings and transcripts previously posted to the site on 2 July 2003.
Declassified National Security Agency (NSA) documents concerning USS Liberty
On the afternoon of 8 June 1967, while in international waters off the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula, Liberty was attacked and damaged by the Israel Defense Forces; 34 crewmen were killed and 174 wounded. Although severely damaged with a 39-foot-wide (12 m) by 24-foot-high (7.3 m) hole amidships and a twisted keel, Liberty’s crew kept her afloat, and she was able to leave the area under her own power.
The incident has become a subject of controversy and debate, with many books written on the topic.
After the attack
She was escorted to Valletta, Malta, by units of the Sixth Fleet and was given temporary repairs. After the repairs were completed, Liberty returned to the United States on 27 July 1967. She was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 June 1968. She was laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet of Norfolk until December 1970, when she was transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal. In 1973, she was sold for scrapping to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore, Maryland.
The USS Liberty is listed in the online Naval Vessel Register, where more details about the ship can be found.
Crew awards
USS Liberty was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, and Commander (later Captain) William McGonagle, Liberty’s commanding officer, received the Medal of Honor.