- USS Liberty (AGTR-5)
:"This article deals with only the undisputed facts regarding USS Liberty. It does not attempt to describe the events of
June 8 ,1967 , where it was attacked by theIsrael Defense Forces . See theUSS Liberty incident ."USS "Liberty" (AGTR-5) was a "Belmont"-class
technical research ship . Her keel was laid down onFebruary 23 ,1945 , as "Simmons Victory", a Maritime Commission-type (VC2-S-AP3) hull, under a Maritime Commission contract atOregon Shipbuilding Corporation of Portland,Oregon . She was delivered to the Maritime Commission onMay 4 ,1945 , and chartered to thePacific Far East Line of San Francisco,California . She operated in commercial trade until 1958, "Simmons Victory" was returned to the Maritime Administration forlayup in theNational Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia,Washington .In February 1963, the Navy acquired "Simmons Victory" and converted her to a "Miscellaneous Auxiliary" ship at
Willamette Iron and Steel of Portland. OnJune 8 , she was renamed the "Liberty" and givenhull classification symbol AG-168. OnApril 1 ,1964 , she was reclassified a Technical Research Ship (AGTR-5). She was commissioned atPuget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, in December.In February 1965, "Liberty" steamed from the west coast to Norfolk,
Virginia , where she was further outfitted (cost: $20,000,000 USD) to suit her for a mission of supporting theNational 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 theMediterranean Sea in 1967. During theSix-Day War betweenIsrael and severalArab nations, she was sent to collectelectronic intelligence in the eastern Mediterranean.On the afternoon of
June 8 ,1967 , while ininternational waters off theSinai Peninsula , "Liberty" was attacked and damaged byIsrael i forces; 34 crewmen were killed and 173 wounded. Considerable controversy surrounds this attack; see USS "Liberty" incident. Although severely damaged with a 39 foot wide by 24 foot high hole amidships and a twisted keel, "Liberty"’s crew kept her afloat, and she was able to leave the area under her own power. She was escorted toValletta ,Malta , by units of the Sixth Fleet and was given temporary repairs. After the repairs were completed, "Liberty" returned to theUnited States onJuly 27 ,1967 . She was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register onJune 28 ,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 theBoston Metals Company ofBaltimore ,Maryland .USS "Liberty" was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and Commander (later Captain)
William McGonagle , "Liberty"’s commanding officer, received theMedal of Honor .References
*DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l6/liberty-iii.htm
External links
* [http://www.ussliberty.org/ USS Liberty Memorial]
* [http://www.libertyagtr5div.org/ US Naval Sea Cadet Corps: "Liberty" (AGTR-5) Division, Amityville, NY]
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/60/6005.htm navsource.org: USS "Liberty" Photo Archive]
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