USAT Etolin
From Our Contribution
 USAT Etolin entering New York with troops 1919 while named USS Matsonia | |
 c1946 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name | USAT Etolin |
| Owner | Matson Navigation Company |
| Builder | Newport News Ship Building Company |
| Launched | 1913 |
| Fate | scrapped in 1957 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Passenger Liner |
| Tonnage | 16,800 tons |
| Length | Length 501' 4" (152.81m) |
| Beam | Beam 58' 1" (17.70m) |
| Depth | Draft 29' (8.84m) |
| Propulsion | single screw |
| Speed | 17 knots (31.49 km/h) |
| Capacity | 72 crew |
Remarks
Built as a Passenger Liner for the Matson Navigation Company, she was originally named the SS Matsonia, and served during WW1 (22 Jan 1918 - 12 Sep 1919) as a troopship with that name under the control of the US Navy. On 14 Mar 1918, when she sailed for France with troops and Army cargo, and the Matsonia went on to complete six round trips to Europe prior to the Armistice, fitted out to carry 3,000 troops. During her second trip east with troops the convoy was attacked by a German U-boat that was sunk about 800 meters from the Matsonia. During the six trips she transferred 13,329 passengers to Europe, and carried back only 10. After the Armistice she continued her transatlantic crossings to return over 23,000 troops in 8 voyages, disembarking them at New York, with her last voyage concluded on 20 Aug 1919. Decommissioned in September 1919, she was returned to her owners on 17 Sep 1919.
In March 1937 she was sold to Alaska Packers of San Francisco, and renamed SS Etolin. In August 1940 she was chartered by the US Army, becoming USAT Etolin. Some records make reference to an early voyage that saw her transport Latin Americans to the US for Internment. Her service during WW2 (August 1940 - April 1946) was as an Army Troop Transport and from July 1943 until the end of the war she operated in the Pacific theatre.
Turned over to the War Shipping Administration on 28 Apr 1946, the ship was laid up in the James River, before being scrapped at Baltimore in 1957. Armament: Four 6" (150mm) mounts, two 1-pounders, and two machine guns.