SS Monterey
SS Monterey was a Matson Lines luxury ocean liner that later served as a troopship, cruise ship, military barracks, and several successor vessels under different names.
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Overview
SS Monterey was a large American ocean liner launched by Matson Lines in 1931 and completed in 1932 for passenger service between the United States, Hawaii, and destinations in the South Pacific and Australasia. Designed by naval architect William Francis Gibbs, Monterey was the third member of Matson's four-ship White Fleet, alongside SS Malolo, SS Mariposa, and SS Lurline. She was essentially a sister ship to Mariposa and closely related to Lurline. The ship was intended to combine modern speed and luxury with a regular Pacific itinerary. Her passenger routes connected the United States West Coast with Honolulu, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. Monterey's first official voyage began in San Francisco on 3 June 1932, following an earlier positioning cruise from New York. Her early career also included a high-profile public-relations episode in which she carried supplies for the Bear of Oakland, associated with Richard E. Byrd's Antarctic expedition. World War II transformed Monterey from a luxury liner into a high-capacity military transport. The United States Maritime Commission chartered her in 1941, and Matson operated her as an agent for the War Shipping Administration. After returning stranded civilians and missionaries to San Francisco, the ship was rapidly refitted to carry thousands of troops. She transported American and Allied personnel across the Pacific and Atlantic, including voyages to Hawaii, Australia, New Guinea, North Africa, Britain, Italy, and other wartime destinations. Her speed and range sometimes allowed her to sail independently, although she also operated in convoys. During the November 1943 convoy action off Cape Bougaroun in Algeria, Monterey engaged attacking aircraft and rescued 1,675 survivors from the torpedoed troopship Santa Elena. After the war, Monterey carried Australian war brides to the United States in 1946. Matson began restoring her for passenger service, but the project stopped after roughly 30 percent of the work had been completed. The ship remained idle for several years before the United States Government acquired her and placed her in the Suisun Bay reserve fleet. Matson repurchased the vessel in 1956 and renamed her SS Matsonia. She returned to service in 1957 on the San Francisco–Los Angeles–Honolulu route. When Matson's passenger business weakened, the ship was renamed Lurline in 1963 after the original Lurline was sold. Matson ended its passenger-liner operations in 1970 and sold the vessel to Chandris Lines, which renamed her Britanis. Under Chandris's Fantasy Cruises division, Britanis was extensively modified and operated as a cruise ship on routes linking Southampton, Sydney, Europe, the Caribbean, New York, Bermuda, and Miami. She later underwent a major 1986 overhaul and continued cruising until 1994. The United States Government then chartered her as floating accommodation for military personnel at Guantanamo Bay. Sold in 1998 and renamed Belofin-1, the former Monterey was ultimately towed toward India for scrapping. She developed a dangerous list during the voyage and sank after being cut loose by the towing vessel south of Cape Town on 21 October 2000.
History
SS Monterey was constructed as part of Matson Lines' White Fleet, a group of luxury liners created to support passenger and tourist traffic to Hawaii and the wider Pacific. Designed by William Francis Gibbs, Monterey was launched on 10 October 1931 and completed in April 1932. Ship registers generally identify 1932 as the vessel's completion year. Her design was nearly identical to SS Mariposa and closely related to SS Lurline, giving Matson a standardized and recognizable fleet for its Pacific routes. Monterey's initial commercial role was passenger transportation. A positioning cruise carried 83 passengers from New York to the United States West Coast in May 1932, and the formal maiden voyage began from San Francisco on 3 June. The itinerary included Los Angeles, Honolulu, Auckland, Pago Pago, Suva, Sydney, and Melbourne. The ship's speed, size, and onboard amenities supported Matson's effort to market ocean travel to Hawaii as a premium experience. She also attracted publicity by delivering supplies to the Bear of Oakland during the second Byrd Antarctic expedition. The Second World War brought a fundamental change. The United States Maritime Commission chartered Monterey in 1941, before the United States formally entered the war, to return Chinese, Korean, and Japanese missionaries and stranded American citizens to San Francisco. Once back in California, the ship was quickly converted to transport approximately 3,500 troops. Matson's Oceanic Steamship Company delivered her to the War Shipping Administration on 3 December 1941. On her first wartime mission she carried 3,349 troops to Hawaii and returned with 800 casualties from the Pearl Harbor attack. From 1942 through 1945, Monterey made repeated military voyages. She carried Marines and Army troops to Pago Pago, Brisbane, Adelaide, Casablanca, Glasgow, Oran, Naples, Panama, New Guinea, and other wartime ports. Her wartime capacity reached more than 6,800 personnel on some voyages. She transported units and personnel including elements of the U.S. Army, the 6th Infantry Division, Women's Army Corps personnel, Canadian troops, and Royal Air Force personnel. In July 1944 she grounded while serving in the New Guinea area but was refloated with the tide after troops had been offloaded. Her most notable combat episode occurred on 6 November 1943 during the convoy's approach to Naples. Approximately 25 aircraft attacked near Cape Bougaroun, Algeria. Monterey shot down an enemy bomber that passed over the ship and damaged its radio mast before crashing into the sea. During the same action, the Grace Line troopship Santa Elena was torpedoed. Monterey used her boats and nets to rescue 1,675 survivors and transported them to Naples. The ship continued military service through the final stages of the war and carried Australian war brides from Sydney to San Francisco in February 1946. Matson attempted to restore Monterey to commercial passenger service after the war. She arrived at the Bethlehem-Alameda Shipyard in September 1946, but the refit stopped after about 30 percent of the work had been completed when funding ran out. The incomplete vessel remained idle in Alameda for roughly five years. The United States Government acquired her in August 1952 and moved her to the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay. Matson bought the ship back on 3 February 1956. Because another vessel was already associated with the Monterey name, the former Monterey was renamed Matsonia. She returned to service in May 1957, sailing from New York to San Francisco and then joining Lurline on the San Francisco–Los Angeles–Honolulu service. Passenger economics deteriorated within several years, and Matson eventually laid up Matsonia in San Francisco Bay. After the original Lurline suffered a costly turbine failure in 1963, Matson sold that ship to Chandris Lines rather than repair it. To retain the valuable Lurline identity, the former Monterey was renamed Lurline on 6 December 1963. Matson discontinued its passenger-liner operations in 1970. On 25 June, Lurline arrived in San Francisco for sale to Chandris Lines and soon departed for Piraeus under the name Britanis. Chandris extensively modified the ship, increasing accommodation to approximately 1,655 passengers by subdividing cabins and converting cargo spaces. Through the Fantasy Cruises division, Britanis operated a Southampton–Sydney round trip, European and Caribbean cruises, and later services from New York, Bermuda, and Miami. A substantial 1986 overhaul incorporated components from sister ships, linking the material history of several White Fleet liners in one surviving hull. Britanis continued cruising until 1994, when the United States Government chartered her as floating military accommodation at Guantanamo Bay. After a minor electrical fire and repairs paid for by the government, she was laid up at Tampa. Chandris subsequently sold the vessel in 1998 as part of its decision to withdraw from Fantasy Cruises and concentrate investment on the newer Celebrity Cruises brand. The ship became Belofin-1 and was intended for eventual dismantling. On 3 July 2000 she left Tampa under tow toward India, with the former Canadian ferry Bluenose temporarily attached. Belofin-1 developed a list and apparently began flooding during the voyage. The tug released her, and the vessel capsized and sank on 21 October 2000 south of Cape Town.
- 2000
Sinking
[1]Belofin-1 sank south of Cape Town while under tow toward prospective ship breakers.
- 1998
Renamed Belofin-1
[1]The ship was sold by Chandris and renamed Belofin-1.
- 1994
Military accommodation charter
[1]Britanis was chartered for use as floating barracks at Guantanamo Bay.
- 1970
Sale to Chandris Lines
[1]Matson ended its passenger-liner business and sold the ship to Chandris, which renamed her Britanis.
- 1963
Renamed Lurline
[1]The vessel received the Lurline name after Matson sold the original Lurline.
- 1957
Return to Hawaii service
[1]Matsonia returned to passenger operations and joined the San Francisco–Los Angeles–Honolulu route.
- 1956
Renamed Matsonia
[1]Matson repurchased the reserve-fleet vessel and gave it the name Matsonia.
- 1946
Postwar restoration attempt
[1]Matson began a passenger-service refit, but the project was abandoned after partial completion.
- 1943
Cape Bougaroun convoy action
[1]The ship took part in a convoy battle, engaged an attacking aircraft, and rescued survivors from Santa Elena.
- 1941
Conversion to troop transport
[1]Monterey was delivered to the War Shipping Administration and refitted to carry thousands of troops.
Products and positioning
Originally positioned as a fast, modern luxury liner for Matson Lines' Hawaii and Pacific network; later repositioned as a government-operated troop carrier and, under Chandris ownership, as a mass-market international cruise ship.
Luxury ocean liner · 1931
SS Monterey
The vessel's original configuration was a premium passenger liner for Matson Lines. It was designed for regular service from the United States West Coast to Hawaii, the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia, and formed part of the company's standardized White Fleet.
Military transport · 1941
Monterey wartime troop transport
During World War II, the ship was converted into a high-capacity troop carrier. It transported American and Allied personnel across the Pacific and Atlantic, sometimes carrying more than 6,000 troops on individual voyages.
Passenger liner · 1956
SS Matsonia
From 1956, the former Monterey operated as Matsonia. She returned to passenger service in 1957 and supported Matson's remaining Hawaii liner operation before being renamed Lurline.
Passenger liner · 1963
SS Lurline
The ship carried the Lurline name from December 1963 until its sale in 1970. This identity represented Matson's effort to preserve a well-known Hawaii service name after the original Lurline left the fleet.
Cruise ship · 1970
SS Britanis
Under Chandris Lines and its Fantasy Cruises division, Britanis was rebuilt with subdivided cabins and converted cargo spaces, enabling cruise operations between Europe, Australia, the Caribbean, New York, Bermuda, and Miami.
Laid-up vessel · 1998
Belofin-1
The ship's final commercial identity followed its 1998 sale to AG Belofin Investments. It was intended for disposal as scrap but sank under tow in 2000.
Brand decisions
1998
Withdrawal from Fantasy CruisesStrategyBackground
Chandris chose to reduce its older Fantasy Cruises operation and direct investment toward the newer Celebrity Cruises brand.
Action taken
Britanis was sold to AG Belofin Investments and renamed Belofin-1.
Aftermath
The former Monterey was laid up and later towed toward intended scrapping before sinking in 2000.
1970
Sale to Chandris LinesM&ABackground
Passenger receipts had fallen sufficiently for Matson to abandon its passenger-liner operation.
Action taken
Matson sold Lurline to Chandris Lines, which renamed her Britanis and redeployed her for cruise service.
Aftermath
The ship received extensive modifications and continued operating internationally for more than two decades.
1963
Transfer of the Lurline nameStrategyBackground
The original Lurline developed a costly turbine problem while Matson's passenger business was weakening.
Action taken
Matson sold the original ship and renamed the former Monterey Lurline.
Aftermath
The renamed vessel continued operating while Matson retained the established Lurline identity.
1956
Reactivation as MatsoniaGeneration changeBackground
Matson wanted to expand its postwar passenger operation, but the original Monterey name was no longer available for fleet positioning.
Action taken
Matson bought the mothballed ship back from the United States Government and renamed her Matsonia.
Aftermath
The vessel returned to Hawaii passenger service in 1957.
1941
Conversion from luxury liner to troop carrierStrategyBackground
The United States required fast, high-capacity transports as the Pacific and European wars expanded.
Action taken
Monterey was chartered through the Maritime Commission and delivered to the War Shipping Administration after rapid refitting.
Aftermath
The ship spent the war transporting troops, casualties, and other military personnel rather than civilian passengers.
Recent events
- 2000
Former Monterey sinks south of Cape Town[1]
Other
Renamed Belofin-1 and being towed toward prospective ship breakers in India, the vessel developed a list and sank after progressive flooding approximately 50 nautical miles south of Cape Town.
- 1994
Britanis is chartered as accommodation at Guantanamo Bay[1]
Other
The former Monterey was chartered by the United States Government for use as floating barracks for military personnel at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- 1970
Matson ends passenger-liner operations and sells Lurline[1]
M&A
Declining passenger receipts led Matson to leave the passenger-liner business. The ship was sold to Chandris Lines and renamed Britanis.
- 1963
Former Matsonia becomes the new Lurline[1]
Other
Matson renamed the former Monterey Lurline after selling the original Lurline, allowing the company to preserve the name on its remaining Hawaii liner.
- 1956
Former Monterey is renamed Matsonia[1]
Other
After years in the reserve fleet, Matson repurchased the ship and renamed it Matsonia before returning it to Hawaii passenger service.
- 1943
Monterey rescues survivors during the Cape Bougaroun convoy attack[1]
Other
During an attack on an Allied convoy off Algeria, Monterey engaged an enemy aircraft and rescued 1,675 people from the torpedoed troopship Santa Elena.
- 1941
Monterey converted for World War II troop transport[1]
Other
After returning stranded civilians and missionaries to the United States, the ship was refitted to carry thousands of military personnel under War Shipping Administration arrangements.
- 1932
Monterey enters Matson's Pacific passenger service[1]
Product launch
The newly completed liner began its formal Matson Lines service from San Francisco, linking the West Coast with Hawaii, the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia.
Sources3 sources
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