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| USN EC2-S-C1 Liberty Ship 7,176 Tons 441' 7" x 57' x 27' 8" 1 x 5" 38 cal gun 1 x 3" 50 cal gun 8 x 20mm cannons |
Ship History Built by Permanent Metals Corporation in Richmond, California. Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Commission (MC). Laid down May 31, 1943 as a Maritime Commission Emergency Cargo Ship (EC2-S-C1) Liberty Ship with MC hull number 1564. Launched June 30, 1943 as SS Leonidas Merritt named for Leonidas Merritt an American politician and businessman. Operated by United States Lines 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. On July 16, 1943 begins loading at Port Chicago, California embarking ammunition, coils of Manila rope, ammunition and explosives over the next week. On October 21, 1943 at 10:00am arrives San Francisco. On December 5, 1943 joins formation with USS Pyro (AE–1). Wartime History On October 24, 1944 arrives off eastern Leyte with a cargo of approximately 3,000 tons of bridge parts and anchors in San Pedro Bay to await unloading. On October 26, 1944 at anchor targeted by seven Japanese planes that made strafing runs against anchored ships. One plane strafed at mast height and the ship was hit by at least 20 times but sustained no damage other than bullet holes. During the attack, the ship gunners fired at the plane and claimed 2 or 3 hits on the right wing but if flew off after the single strafing run. On November 12, 1944 anchor off Dulag. At 11:15am Japanese plane was spotted approaching at 100' and made a straight-in run and started strafing roughly 400 yards away and dive bombed and crashed into the deck between the no. 2 and no. 3 hatches. On impact, a bomb under the plane's right wing exploded causing fires in the bridge, lifeboat no. 3 and inside cargo holds no. 1, no. 2 and no. 3 and caused holes in many places, broken hatches, fuel tanks holed and tanks punctured, frames damaged and cargo booms broken and foremast damaged. Afterwards, the wounded were removed and remains at anchor. At 5:15pm, eight planes approached from the starboard bow at about 4,000' with one plane strafing then made a kamikaze attack and crashed into the ship hitting the deck at the no. 2 hatch causing more damage. The two attacks resulted in 36 casualties with 2 dead including one Armed Guard missing and one merchant seaman dead and one embarked stevedore. Afterwards, steamed at only 4-5 knots under her own power without escort across the Pacific on a 36 day voyage back to the United States. On December 3, 1944 arrives at Hollandia (USN Base 3115). On January 5, 1945 arrives Portland then to Astoria for repairs. On June 5, 1945 ran aground at Ulithi Atoll atop a coral reef from the bow to the no. 4 hull. The next day was aided by USS Gear (ARS-3) and USS Serano (ATF-112) that removed fuel and water to lighten the ship. On June 7, 1945 came off the reef without damage. Postwar At the end of the Pacific War, steams across the Pacific back to the United States. On May 15, 1946 became part of the Reserve Fleet off Jones Point, NY in the Hudson River. On July 27, 1955 placed under a General Agency Agreement (GAA) with American-Hawaiian SS Company for the grain program. On August 17, 1955 returned with grain to the reserve fleet. On March 26, 1957 placed under a GAA with Grace Line Inc. for the grain program. On April 3, 1957 returned empty to the reserve fleet. On July 21, 1958 placed under a GAA with T. J. Stevenson & Co. for the grain program. On August 1, 1958 returned with grain to the reserve fleet in the Hudson River. On February 16, 1959 placed under a GAA with T. J. Stevenson & Co. under GAA for the grain program. On February 24, 1959 returned empty to the reserve fleet in the Hudson River. On December 3, 1960 placed under a GAA with Prudential Steamship Corporation under GAA for the grain program. On December 10, 1960 returned with grain to the reserve fleet in the Hudson River. On February 14, 1963 placed under a GAA with Prudential Steamship Corporation under GAA for the grain program. On February 19, 1963 returned empty to the reserve fleet in the Hudson River. By July 1969 offered for sale. Fate On July 13, 1969 purchased by Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation for $40,121.54 for scrap metal. On August 26, 1969 withdrawn from service. On August 26, 1969 delivered to Union Minerals & Alloys Corporation. During 1970 broken up for scrap. Display Several displays are aboard SS John W. Brown including a plaque related to SS Leonidas Merritt that reads: "In honor of her courageous merchant mariners..." Also, the painting "The Second Attack" depicting the November 12, 1944 second attack by a kamikaze Zero. Another display has a photograph of Japanese plane wreckage including the engine and two propeller blades and propeller hub pieces aboard the ship and a photograph of Japanese rising sun flags indicating 3 planes claimed as shot down and three damaged and a painted figure on the smoke stack. In the same display case is a fragment of one of the Japanese planes that crashed into the ship with red paint from the Hinomaru (Rising Sun) with a bullet hole donated by Ray Thompson May 25, 1996. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) Battle of the Philippines "Bombs landed close to the Leonidas Merritt on November 3 and 4, but November 12 was the tragic day for this ship. She was at Dulag, Leyte when a suicide plane crashed into her at 1125 and set her on fire. By 1200 the fire was under control and the wounded were being removed. Two Armed Guards were wounded. One solider was killed, and a number of Army personnel were injured. One member of the crew was wounded and another killed. In the afternoon another plane crashed into her midship deck house killing one Armed Guard and wounding nine Armed Guards and two merchant seamen. The ship shifted anchorage to San Pedro Bay on November 22 and accounted for one plane and assisted in downing two more on November 24 and 26. She left Leyte on November 27." U.S. Department of Transportation MARAD - Leonidas Merritt (photos, status card) U.S. Navy "Summary of Statements by survivors of the SS Leonidas Merritt, Freighter, 7176 G.T., owned by War Shipping Administration, operated by United States Lines." February 3, 1945 pages 1-2 Contribute
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