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 the Israel Defense Forces. See the USS Liberty incident."

USS "Liberty" (AGTR-5) was a "Belmont"-class technical research ship. Her keel was laid down on February 23, 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 May 4, 1945, and chartered to the Pacific Far East Line of San Francisco, California. She operated in commercial trade until 1958, "Simmons Victory" was returned to the Maritime Administration for layup in the National 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. On June 8, she was renamed the "Liberty" and given hull classification symbol AG-168. On April 1, 1964, she was reclassified a Technical Research Ship (AGTR-5). She was commissioned at Puget 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 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 the afternoon of June 8, 1967, while in international waters off the Sinai Peninsula, "Liberty" was attacked and damaged by Israeli 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 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 July 27, 1967. She was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on June 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 the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore, Maryland.

USS "Liberty" was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and Commander (later Captain) William McGonagle, "Liberty"’s commanding officer, received the Medal 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]