USS Santa Malta
During my research for naval ships associated with the name 'Malta', I was fortunate to locate one that was named after our island, but more surprising was the fact that in this case, Malta was being referred to as a saint! It's not a laughing matter,...
During my research for naval ships associated with the name 'Malta', I was fortunate to locate one that was named after our island, but more surprising was the fact that in this case, Malta was being referred to as a saint! It's not a laughing matter, as the United States Navy once had a ship named USS Santa Malta.
According to the US Navy's Dictionary of American Naval Fleet Ships, the Santa Malta was a single-screw, steel freighter built by William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Atlantic and Pacific Steamship Company of New York. She was ordered on July 12, 1918 to be delivered to the US Shipping Board upon completion but was transferred to the Navy and commissioned on May 17, 1919 at Philadelphia. Her statistics were: tonnage: 6,270, length: 420' 6", breadth: 53' 9", draught: 26' 2", speed: 10 knots and having a complement of 177.
Her commanding officer was Lt Cdr John J. Coholan, USNRF, who had operated under the War Department's account and assigned to the Cruiser and Transport Force, Atlantic Fleet, returning American troops home from Europe.
While serving in this capacity, the USS Santa Malta departed from Philadelphia to make three round-trip voyages, from New York and Philadelphia to Brest and Bordeaux, France, before August 29. Her next voyage was from New Orleans, Louisiana, via the Panama Canal, which she reached on October 1 and departing Colon on the 6th to steam northwards to New York for dry-docking and an overhaul.
USS Santa Malta was detached from the Cruiser and Transport Force on October 14, 1919 and transferred to the Commandant, 3rd Naval District but decommissioned just three weeks later, on November 6, at Todd Shipping Corporation in Brooklyn and returned to the Shipping Board for eventual return to her owner.
She was renamed Hawaiian in 1925, transferred to Panamanian registry under the name of Fortune in 1948, and eventually scrapped in 1958.
I wish to express my gratitude to my good friend Capt. William Garrett, USN, former Vice Academic Dean, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, who has been very helpful throughout the years. Unfortunately he wasn't able to locate the source or reason behind this name and I would be grateful for any assistance from readers.