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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060
Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --
S.S. Malolo (American Passenger Liner, 1927).
Renamed Matsonia in 1937.
Later renamed Atlantic (Panamanian) and Vasilissa
Friederiki (Greek)
S.S. Malolo, a 17,226 gross ton passenger liner built
at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was completed in late 1927 after
a delay caused by a very serious collision while running trials.
For the next decade she was employed by the Matson Navigation
Company between the U.S. West Coast and Honolulu, Hawaii. Though
renamed Matsonia in 1937, when Matson sold the previous
ship of that name, there was no change in her activities until
early 1942 when she began service as a War Shipping Administration
troopship, under the Matson Company's management. During the rest
of World War II she played an important role in Pacific conflict's
logistics effort, making trips to Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere
in the southern Pacific, as well as to Hawaii, Guam and, after
the war ended, to Japan.
Matsonia completed her wartime work in April 1946 and
soon resumed her commercial voyages between San Francisco, California,
and Honolulu. In 1948 she was sold and renamed, becoming the Panamanian-registered
Atlantic. From 1949 until late 1954 she carried passengers
from U.S. and Canada ports to the Mediterranean, England and France.
Sold to Greek interests in 1955, she was renamed Vasilissa
Friederiki (Queen Frederica) but generally continued
trade between North America and Europe. From the later 1960s into
the mid-1970s the ship was mainly employed on cruise service in
the Mediterranean. Laid up after 1973, she was scrapped in 1977.
This page features the only views we have concerning the
passenger steamship Malolo, which was renamed Matsonia
in 1937.
Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 76127
S.S. Malolo (American Passenger Liner, 1927)
Underway off San Pedro, California, circa the later 1920s.
This ship was renamed Matsonia in 1937.
A motor launch from USS Medusa (AR-1) is passing by in
the foreground.
Donation of Lieutenant Gustave Freret, USN (Retired), 1972.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 89859
S.S. Matsonia (American Passenger Liner, 1927)
Off San Francisco, California, circa 1943, while employed as
a troopship.
Built under the name Malolo for the Matson Line's Hawaiian
Islands service, this ship was renamed Matsonia in 1937.
In 1948 she was renamed Atlantic under the Panamanian
flag, and later became the Greek liner Queen Frederica.
She was scrapped in 1977.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99795
S.S. Matsonia (American Passenger Liner, 1927)
Halftone reproduction of a photograph taken during World War
II, while the ship was employed as a troop transport.
Copied from the book "Troopships of World War II",
by Roland W. Charles.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 410 pixels |
 |
S.S. Matsonia is seen in the background of the following
photographs of another ship:
Photo #: NH 99667
USS Black Hawk (AD-9)
Plan view, taken from off the starboard bow while she was at
San Francisco Bay, California, 3 March 1943.
White outlines mark recent alterations, among them new gun installations
at the bow.
The transport S.S. Matsonia is in the background.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 565 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99668
USS Black Hawk (AD-9)
Plan view, taken from off the starboard side amidships, while
she was at San Francisco Bay, California, 3 March 1943.
White outlines mark recent alterations, among them 20mm anti-aircraft
machine guns installed atop the midships deckhouse.
The transport S.S. Matsonia is in the background.
Note life rafts on Black Hawk, and white life ring with
the ship's name painted on it and line coiled inside (in the
boat in the lower left).
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 113KB; 740 x 550 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99669
USS Black Hawk (AD-9)
Plan view, taken from off the starboard side amidships, looking
aft, while she was at San Francisco Bay, California, 3 March
1943.
White outlines mark recent alterations, among them 20mm anti-aircraft
machine guns installed atop the midships deckhouse.
The transport S.S. Matsonia is in the background.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
 |
Photo #: NH 99670
USS Black Hawk (AD-9)
Plan view, taken from off the starboard side aft, while she was
at San Francisco Bay, California, 3 March 1943.
White outlines mark recent alterations, among them new after
gun installations, and smoke generator tanks on the quarters
with a trash incinerator between them.
The transport S.S. Matsonia is in the background.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the
Naval Historical Center.
Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
 |
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Page made 12 December 2004