USS Liberty ( AGTR - 5 ) USS " Liberty " ( AGTR - 5 ) was a " Belmont " - class technical research ship that was attacked by Israel Defense Forces ( IDF ) during the 1967 Six - Day War . History . A Victory Ship , her keel was laid down on 23 February 1945 , as " Simmons Victory " , a Maritime Commission - type ( VC2 - S - AP3 ) hull , under a Maritime Commission contract at Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation of Portland , Oregon . She was delivered to the Maritime Commission on 4 May 1945 , and chartered to the Pacific Far East Line of San Francisco . She operated in commercial trade until 1958 , " Simmons Victory " was returned to the Maritime Administration for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia , Washington . In February 1963 , the Navy acquired " Simmons Victory " and converted her to a " Miscellaneous Auxiliary " ship at Willamette Iron and Steel of Portland . On 8 June she was renamed the " Liberty " and given hull classification symbol AG - 168 . On 1 April 1964 , she was reclassified a Technical Research Ship ( AGTR - 5 ) . She was commissioned at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton , Washington , in December . National Security Agency missions . In February 1965 , " Liberty " steamed from the west coast to Norfolk , Virginia , where she was further outfitted ( cost : US $ 20 million ) to suit her for a mission of supporting the National Security Agency by collecting and processing foreign communications and other electronic emissions of possible national defense interests . In June " Liberty " began her first deployment , to waters off the west coast of Africa . She carried out several more operations during the next two years , and went to the Mediterranean Sea in 1967 . During the Six - Day War between Israel and several Arab nations , she was sent to collect electronic intelligence in the eastern Mediterranean . Israeli attack . On the afternoon of 8 June 1967 , while in international waters off the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula , " Liberty " was attacked and damaged by the Israel Defense Forces ; 34 crewmen were killed and 173 wounded . Although severely damaged with a by hole amidships and a twisted keel , " Liberty " ’ s crew kept her afloat , and she was able to leave the area under her own power . The incident has become a subject of controversy and debate , with many books written on the topic . After the attack . She was escorted to Valletta , Malta , by units of the Sixth Fleet and was given temporary repairs . After the repairs were completed , " Liberty " returned to the United States on 27 July 1967 . She was decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 28 June 1968 . She was laid up in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet of Norfolk until December 1970 , when she was transferred to the Maritime Administration for disposal . In 1973 , she was sold for scrapping to the Boston Metals Company of Baltimore , Maryland . The USS Liberty is listed in the online Naval Vehicle Register , where more details about the ship can be found . Crew awards . USS " Liberty " was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and Commander ( later Captain ) William McGonagle , " Liberty " ’ s commanding officer , received the Medal of Honor .