SIGINT Collection Ships Part 6 of 8 – Now Escorted and Armed

On June 8, 1967, while conducting SIGINT operations off the Egyptian coast, USS Liberty (AGTR 5) (featured image), was attacked by Israeli aircraft and motor torpedo boats and received severe damage from a torpedo and gunfire.


The USS Liberty proceeded to Valletta, Malta for immediate repairs. The ship, however, was so extensively damaged that it was not completely repaired and never operated again in its assigned role.

After the USS Liberty incident, it became a practice of Commander Sixth Fleet to station a destroyer over the horizon in the vicinity of the SIGINT ship. The Vice Chief of Naval Operations also directed that the SIGINT ships be armed in the future. On December 14, 1967, the CNO directed that USS Banner, USS Pueblo, and USS Atakapa be armed with a minimum of two .50-caliber machine guns prior to their next mission.