7.
side forward, immediately below the waterline. The ship immediately took a
9 degree list to starboard. Oil and debris were noted coming from the starboard side following the explosion. There was no major reSultant fire from this ex- plosion. The explosion caused the ship to cOme dead in the water. Steering control was lost. All power was lost. Immediately, I determined that the ship was in no danger of sinking and did not order any preparations to be made to abandon ship. It was my intention to ground the ship on shoal areas to the left of the ship's track to prevent its sinking, if necessary.
Immediately after the ship was struck by the torpedo, the torpedo boat stepped dead in the water and milled around astern of the ship at a range of approximately 500 to 800 yards. One of the boats signalled by flashing light. in English, "Do you require assistance? " We had no means to communicate with the boat by light but hoisted CODE LIMA INDIA. 93"? The signal intended to convey the fact that the ship was maneuvering with difficulty and that they shOuld keep clear.
Reports received fr0m damage control central indicated the location of the torpedo hit and that flooding boundaries had been established and that the flooding was under control. During the strafing by the torpedo boats and im- mediately prior to being hit by the torpedo, quartermaster third Brown, who was acting as helmsman at the time, was felled at his station.
The mess decks were designated caSualty collection statiOn and casual- ties were taken to the collection station by, repair party personnel and other members of the crew able to assist. Following the torpedo hit, those personnel from that area who were able to do so, left their stations.
One of the torpedo boats was identified by a hull number of 204-17. Pictures were taken of the torpedo boats prior to and subsequent to the attack.
About 1515, two helic0pters approached the ship and circled around and around the ship at a distance of abOut 100 yards. The insignia the Star of David was clearly visible. Hull number on one of the helicOpters was 04 or D4. The other had a hull number of 08 or D8. It was not known whether these helicOpters intended to strafe the ship or not. However, they did not approach the ship in a hostile manner, but kept pointed parallel to the ship as they confirmed around and never made a direct approach as such. They were not taken under fire by LIBERTY, nor did they fire at us. The torpedo boats left the general area of the ship at about 1515. About 1537, after they had departed the ship and gone to a range of about five miles, they again headed toward the ship at high speed. Their intentions were unknown. At ab0ut this same time two unidentified jet aircraft were also noted approaching the ship from our starboard side, in
4 ** "I am not under command” (not able to control movements of ship).
