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| USN EC2-S-C1 Liberty Ship 7,176 Tons 441' 7" x 57' x 26' 9" 1 x 5" 38 cal gun 1 x 3" 50 cal gun 8 x 20mm cannons  USN October 1943  Maritime Commission Postwar |
Ship History Built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland, Oregon. Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Commission (MC). Laid down June 26, 1943 as a Maritime Commission Emergency Cargo Ship (EC2-S-C1) Liberty Ship with MC hull number 2048. Launched July 16, 1943 as SS George H. Himes named for American pioneer and historian George H. Himes. Completed July 24, 1943 and the same day delivered to Shepard Steam Ship Company in Portland under a General Agency Agreement (GAA) for the U.S. Navy (USN) as a cargo vessel. Her crew was comprised of merchant marines with U.S. Navy armed guards manning her guns. Wartime History On October 10, 1943 at anchor off Koli Point on Guadalcanal loaded with general cargo including lumber, shells and bombs. Her crew included 41 merchant marines, 27 U.S. Navy armed guards and 20 CB stevedores. On October 11, 1943 in the early morning six Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber Kanko / B5N2 Kates from 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) each armed with an aerial torpedo attack U.S. shipping off Koli Point on Guadalcanal at roughly Lat 9° 20 S Long 160° 08' E. Another torpedo hits SS John H. Couch causing explosions and fires. Afterwards, tug USS Menominee (AT-73) beaches the damaged ship at Koli Point on Guadalcanal to save the cargo. Afterwards, the damage was photographed and hull repaired and returned to service. Postwar On October 12, 1945 delivered to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and became part of the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay. On March 8, 1947 to Marine Transport Lines, Inc. Steam Ship Company under a General Agency Agreement (GAA). On March 27, 1947 purchased by Thomas N. Epiphaniades of Oakland, CA for $544,506.00 and registered in Greece and was used as a cargo vessel. Fate On March 15, 1961 damaged during a fire and explosion in Odessa. During 1964 broken up for scrap. References Some sources list the date of the torpedo attack as October 10, 1943 [sic October 11, 1943]. U.S. Department of Transportation MARAD - George H. Himes (photos, status card) Vessel Status Card - SS George H. Himes Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II South Pacific Air War: The Role of Airpower in the New Guinea and Solomon Island Campaigns, January 1943 to February 1944 (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 407 (October 10-11, 1943) Thanks to Richard Dunn for additional information Contribute
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