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| USN EC2-S-C1 Liberty Ship 7,176 Tons 417' 8' x 37' 4" x 27' 8" 1 x 5" 38 cal gun 1 x 3" 50 cal gun 8 x 20mm cannons  USCG Sept 30, 1942  USCG April 2, 1943  USN November 1944 |
Ship History Built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation in Portland. Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Commission (MC). Laid down May 11, 1942 as a Maritime Commission Emergency Cargo Ship (EC2-S-C1) Liberty Ship with MC hull number 545. Launched June 23, 1942 as SS Matthew P. Deady named for American Matthew Paul Deady a politician and jurist in Oregon. Completed July 6, 1942 and the same day assigned to American-Hawaiian Steamship Company 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 23, 1944 departs Hollandia with appropriately 5,500 tons of cargo plus 900 U.S. Army passengers as part of a convoy bound for Leyte to deliver cargo and reinforcements. On November 2, 1944 the convoy entered anchored in San Pedro Bay off Tacloban. At 9:25pm an air raid alert was signaled with three star shells fired from shore and observed by lookouts aboard as general quarters was called as several planes were heard in the vicinity. At 9:35pm a Japanese single engine plane was spotted approximately 1,000 yards and taken under fire by 20mm cannons that scored hits away approaching two ships and released a stick of bombs then strafed and swerved over the stern pass to port flying alongside then swerved back and crashed into the no. 2 gun tub abreast of the no. 1 hatch on the port side and immediately caused an explosion then a second explosion when 150 cylinders of acetylene gas on the fore deck detonated and set fire to drums of gasoline, oil and sulphuric acid on deck. Aboard, 28 were killed and 79 wounded. Immediately, all hands fought the fire that got under control an hour later. On November 12, 1944 while anchored in San Pedro Bay off Dulag again under air attack when three single engine planes appeared from the west and dove to attack ships north and west of this vessel with one attempting to strafe and was targeted by a 20mm cannon and observed to catch fire and caught the ship's superstructure and cut the radio aerial then fell into the sea off the port side. Afterwards, returns to Hollandia then across the Pacific to San Francisco for repairs. Postwar On June 22, 1946 withdrawn from service and entered the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia. On July 18, 1946 assigned to American-Hawaiian Steamship Company under a General Agency Agreement (GAA) for the U.S. Navy (USN) as a cargo vessel. On October 10, 1946 entered the reserve fleet in Mobile, AL. On February 26, 1947 assigned to Alcoa SS Company under a General Agency Agreement (GAA). On April 10, 1947 placed under another General Agency Agreement (GAA). On December 12, 1947 assigned to South Atlantic SS Line under a General Agency Agreement (GAA). On December 18, 1947 returned to the reserve fleet in Mobile, AL. On March 9, 1949 the ship had a fire aboard that was extinguished. On September 14, 1960 advertised under PD-X-587 for disposal with no bids received. On November 23, 1960 advertised under PD-X-594 for disposal. On December 15, 1960 sold to General Ore Corp. for $51,569.89. Fate On January 9, 1961 delivered to General Ore Corp in Mobile, AL. During June 1961, broken up for scrap. References Some sources list the date of the kamikaze attack as November 3, 1944 (Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II -- 1944) or November 4, 1944 incorrectly. Some sources list the scrapping location as Panama City, Florida but was more likely Mobile, Alabama. U.S. Department of Transportation MARAD - Matthew P. Deady (photos, status card) Vessel Status Card - SS Matthew P. Deady Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II Contribute
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