USAT Monterey
From Our Contribution
 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | SS Monterey |
| Owner | Oceanic Steamship Company |
| Builder | Fore River SHipyard, Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp. |
| Launched | 10 Oct 1931 |
| Completed | April 1932 |
| In service | 3 Jun 1932 |
| Out of service | 21 Oct 2000 |
| Fate | sunk 21 Oct 2000 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger Liner |
| Tonnage | 18,017 |
| Length | 632 ft (193m) |
| Beam | 79 ft (24m) |
| Propulsion | 2 steam turbines |
| Speed | 22.8 knots |
| Capacity | 3,300 plus troops (701 passengers in civil use) Crew of 360. |
Remarks
Built for the Matson Lines, "White Fleet". Because of her speed, she could sail independent of Naval escort after she was chartered by the US Government in 1941. Usual employment was on the San Francisco to Melbourne via Honolulu, Pago Pago, Suva and Auckland. Post WW2 she was purchased from the US Government on 3 Feb 1956 and rechristened SS Matsonia. Her later names were Lurline from 30 Nov 1963, Britanis from 30 Jun 1970, and Belofin from 1998.