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| USN EC2-S-C1 Liberty Ship Crater Class Cargo Ship 4,023 Tons (standard) 14,550 Tons (full load) 441' 6" x 56' 11" x 28' 4" 1 x 5" 38 cal gun (1944) 1 x 3" 5o cal gun 2 x 40mm AA guns 6 x 20mm cannons |
Ship History Built by Permanente Metals Corporation in Richmond, California. Ordered by the U.S. Maritime Commission (MC). Laid down July 5, 1942 as a Maritime Commission Emergency Cargo Ship (EC2-S-C1) Liberty Ship with MC hull number 263 Yard No. 63, Way Number 5. Launched August 21, 1942 as SS William Williams named for American founding father, William Williams a delegate for Connecticut to the Continental Congress in 1776 sponsored by Mrs. Paul S. Marrin. Completed September 8, 1942 and the same day delivered to Isthmian Steamship Company under a General Agency Agreement (GAA) for the U.S. Navy (USN) as a cargo vessel. Placed under the command of Captain William Robinson Freeman Sr. with a crew was comprised of 40 merchant marines with 15 U.S. Navy armed guards manning her guns. Wartime History Departs Suva with a cargo of lumber bound for Tongatapu. On May 2, 1943 at 2:54pm torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-19 near Suva at roughly Lat 20°09'S, Long 178°04'W. The explosion causes a 40' x 30' hole in the port side and extensive damage. Aboard, there was only one crew member wounded. Captain William Robinson Freeman Sr. and a small portion of the crew remain aboard to fight fires in two compartments and transmitted a message distress signal that they were sinking rapidly while most of the crew abandons ship, in hopes the submarine would intercept the message or see them deploying life boats. Believing the ship was sinking, Japanese submarine I-19 departs. Afterwards, the crew reboarded, made steam and turned back towards Suva. Afterwards, Captain Freeman earned a commendation for saving his ship. On May 4, 1943 towed by net laying ship USS Catalpa (YN-5). On May 3, 1943 escorted by USS Dash (AM-88) for four days until their arrival at Suva. Later, the damaged ship was towed to Auckland. On November 6, 1943 acquired by the U.S. Navy (USN) and repaired. Commissioned November 10, 1943 in the U.S. Navy (USN) as a Crater-class cargo ship renamed USS Venus (AK-135) under the command of Lieutenant Commander George H. L. Peet. Afterwards, towed to Sydney and decommissioned on December 4, 1943 for further repairs and conversion. Venus was to be one of five Navy manned Liberty Ships assigned to the 7th Fleet in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) for the U.S. Army, but was delayed. Instead, another Liberty Ship was assigned as one of the five. On September 26, 1944 returned to service and underwent a shakedown cruise then embarked cargo and departed October 26, 1944 bound for the Admiralty Islands arriving four days later and unloaded some cargo and was equipped with a 5" 38 cal DP gun. PARTIAL HISTORY Awards For her World War II service, SS William Williams earned one battle star. Postwar On September 20, 1945 arrives Samar and unloads cargo then to Subic Bay and later Cebu. On December 15, 1945 departs Cebu across the Pacific to Pearl Harbor arriving March 15, 1946. On April 18, 1946 decommissioned. On December 5, 1947 towed by USS Hitchiti (ATF-103) to San Francisco arriving eight days later. Afterwards, declared surplus and stricken from the Navy on February 19, 1948 and stripped. On February 27, 1948 returned to the Maritime Commission and became part of the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay. Fate On April 18, 1961 sold to Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation, for $59,339.89. On August 21, 1961 broken up for scrap metal over the next two months. References U.S. Department of Transportation MARAD - William Williams (photos, status card) Vessel Status Card - SS William Williams U.S. Coast Guard Report on U.S. Merchant Vessel War Action Casualty - SS William Williams October 2, 1944 NARA CINCPAC War Diary May 1943 page 1 (49) (Page 1) "May 2, 1943 1. Contacts and Actions with the enemy in the Pacific Ocean Areas. (Comgen Samoa) 0300Z/2 - SS William Williams was reported torpedoed at 20-09S, 178-04 W, and was settling fast. A hunter-killer mission was immediately ordered against sub." NARA Admiralty War Diaries May 1943 page 689 (Page 689) "Australia & New Zealand. Kiwi No. 30. William Williams take in tow 5/5 [May 5, 1943] 18° 43' S on 77° 43' W. proceeding Vatoa Island 4 Hudsons providing A/S cover." Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II NavSource - USS Venus (AK-135) Contribute
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