USAT Liberty

USAT Liberty is a World War II era United States Army cargo ship that was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine in 1942 and beached on the island of Bali, Indonesia. Today, it is a popular scuba diving site.

History

The USAT Liberty was launched in 1918 as the SS Scooba by the Federal Shipbuilding Company in New Jersey. It was acquired by the United States Army in 1941 and renamed the USAT Liberty.

On January 11, 1942, while en route from Australia to the Philippines, the Liberty was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-166. The damage was severe, but not fatal. The crew managed to beach the ship on the island of Bali.

Wreck

The wreck of the USAT Liberty is located near the village of Tulamben, on the northeast coast of Bali. The ship was pushed off the beach and into the water by the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963.

The wreck is about 120 meters long and lies in water that is between 5 and 30 meters deep. It is one of the most popular dive sites in Bali, attracting thousands of divers each year. The wreck is home to a wide variety of marine life, including coral, fish, and sea turtles.

See also

• List of shipwrecks
• Scuba diving in Indonesia