USS Matsonia (ID-1589)

USS "Matsonia" (ID-1589) was a transport for the United States Navy during World War I. Before and after her Navy service she was ocean liner SS "Matsonia" for the Matson Navigation Company. The liner was sold in 1937 to the Alaska Packers Association and renamed SS "Etolin". Shortly before World War II, the ship was chartered by the United States Army as USAT "Etolin". Transferred to the War Shipping Administration in 1946, "Etolin" was placed in the James River Reserve Fleet and ultimately scrapped in 1957.

History

"Matsonia", built by the Newport News Ship Building Company of Newport News, Virginia, in 1913, served the Matson Navigation Company until taken over by the U.S. Shipping Board and turned over to the Navy at New York, 22 January 1918, for use as a troop transport. She was commissioned 1 March 1918, Captain John M. Luby in command.cite DANFS | title = Matsonia | url = http://history.navy.mil/danfs/m6/matsonia.htm | short = on ]

Beginning 14 March, when she sailed for France with troops and Army cargo, "Matsonia" completed six round trips to Europe prior to the Armistice. During that time 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, ending such crossings at New York on 20 August 1919. She was decommissioned on 12 September 1919 and returned to her former owner on 17 September.

In March 1937, "Matsonia" was sold to Alaskan interests and renamed "Etolin". The U.S. Army chartered her for troopship service in August 1940 and kept her through World War II, retaining her second name. In 1940-41, she made voyages to Alaska, the Philippines and Hawaii and, in early 1942, steamed down to South America before returning to the Hawaiian transport route. Later in that year, "Etolin" went to Baltimore, Maryland, where she was extensively overhauled. After arriving back at San Francisco, California, in July 1943, she operated from the U.S. to Australia and Hawaii. After repairs that lasted from the last part of 1944 through first seven months of 1945, USAT "Etolin" twice crossed the Pacific to Japan and Okinawa. During early 1946, she served between New Orleans, Louisiana, and Panama, before being turned over to the War Shipping Administration in late April 1946 for layup in the James River (Virginia) Reserve Fleet. "Etolin" was scrapped at Baltimore, Maryland, in 1957. [cite web | url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-m/matsonia.htm | author = Naval Historical Center | title = "Matsonia" (Passenger Steamship, 1913 | work = Online Image Library: Civilian Ships | publisher = Navy Department, Naval Historical Center | date = 2006-08-14 | accessdate = 2008-06-24 ]

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