Page 65: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (April 1995)

The End Of World War II: Looking Back 50 Years waters of the North Atlantic or the

North Pacific. This was borne out, particularly, by the series of frac- tures suffered by vessels under the

Russian flag and operating in the cold waters of the Aleutian area.

Out of a total of about 28 such ves- sels operating at the beginning of 1944, six, all Liberty ships, suffered cracks which caused them to be laid up for repairs. One of these was the

Valeri Chkalov, which broke com- pletely in two.

Spectacular failures attracted more attention than notable suc- cesses among individual ships. A comprehensive view of the Liberty ship program requires the mention of one followed by the other. TheSS

William Moultrie affords an example of a Liberty ship which underwent repeated bombing attacks and came through with hull intact and no iCYou built us a darned good job.

The engines worked like a clock. She steered like a yacht... this

Liberty is the best handling heavy cargo ship that ever I was on — A Liberty Ship

Captain leaks. On one occasion she was near an ammunition ship which blew up.

The concussion lifted the Moultrie literally out of the water and she struck so hard on coming down that she bounced. Then the bow went under but the vessel righted itself and appeared to have suffered no serious damage. On her return voy- age to the U.S. she experienced heavy weather, but again, she came through intact.

By 1943 the Liberty ship was beginning to win the respect of ship- ping circles. The disparaging name "Ugly Duckling" was heard less and less.

Admiral Land received a letter from the Captain of the Liberty ship

SS Richmond Munford Pearson and sent it on for publication at the

Delta Shipbuilding Company where the vessel was built. After stating that he had been under attack sev- eral times in heavy seas in the At- lantic and the Caribbean, the Mas- ter went on to say, "You built us a darned good job. The engines

April, 1995 worked like a clock. She steered like a yacht. She steers as well going astern as she does going ahead ... I have been Master for forty years both sail and steam and this Liberty is the best handling heavy cargo ship that ever I was on."

The Fate of the Liberties

Handsome of line, seaworthy and tough, the Liberty ships were the backbone of the American Merchant

Marine, delivering 6,000 tons of cargo every hour throughout the war.

In my opinion, the Liberty ship was a good and reliable vessel and one that satisfied the needs of the wartime emergency. I do not know, nor do I think anyone can know positively, that given the circum- stances, a better ship could have

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