Dwight Moody Liberty Ship
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CAP History LibraryDwight Moody Liberty Ship
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Using the NAD83 datum set, the center point of the Matagorda Island Liberty Ship Reef (1) is located at 28 06' 58.806" N and 96 05' 14.542" W (Matagorda Island Block 616). This point can be reached by sailing 21 nautical miles on a bearing of 139 from the Matagorda jetties.
Reef Component Liberty Ship Liberty Ship Liberty Ship
(2, 3) (4, 5) (6, 7)
T
Matagorda Island Liberty Ship Reef
Photo courtesy of the National Archives. (November 4, 1944)
North Latitude 28 06' 59.732" 28 07' 00.183" 28 06' 55.442"
West Longitude 96 05' 12.035" 96 05' 17.745" 96 05' 09.327"
he bravery of Americas Merchant Marines helped the Allies win World War II. Now, fourteen World War II ships that carried supplies and oil into the most dangerous fronts of the war serve as artificial reefs off the coast of Texas. Located in six readily accessible reef sites, they offer divers and recreational anglers an encounter not only with magnificent reefs, but also with Americas maritime heritage.
located at other reef sites along the Texas coast. Brochures for these reef sites are available from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The Dwight L. Moody made the perilous Atlantic crossing several times during World War II; one convoy was attacked, with two ships torpedoed. Both the Jim Bridger and the George Dewey served in the Normandy invasion, transporting Army and Navy personnel and cargo. The crew of the George Dewey received the Operation and Engagement Star for their participation in the initial phases of the invasion. The crew of the Jim Bridger later received the Philippine Liberation ribbon for services including a landing at Mindanao.
Detailed maps of this and other reef sites are available for purchase from Texas Parks and Wildlife Departments Artificial Reef Program. For additional information contact: Artificial Reef Program Seabrook Marine Laboratory Texas Parks and Wildlife Department P.O. Box 8 Seabrook, Texas 77586 (713) 474-1418 Credits Historical research conducted by Texas Historical Commission, Austin
The Matagorda Island Liberty Ship Reef is composed of three Liberty Ships, the Dwight L. Moody, the Jim Bridger and the George Dewey. Nine other Liberty Ships are
World War II Heritage for Divers, Anglers and the Public
PWD BR V3400424A (9/95) In accordance with Texas State Depository Law, this publication is available at the Texas State Publications Clearinghouse and/or Texas Depository Libraries.
At a French port ammunition receives priority handling from Liberty ship to railway box car for quick dispatch to the front. Off loading by pallets permitted the handling of 30 boxes at one time, with each box containing 60 projectiles for the 105 mm howitzer, the backbone of the U.S. field artillery.
Texas Artificial Reefs A Tribute to the Lone Star State
Houston
Port Arthur
the
28 07' 12.196" N 96 05' 28.911" W
Texas has been involved in artificial reef development for nearly 50 years. Numerous reef building materials have been used over the years. However, the first Freeport highly successful artificial reef development occurred during the mid-1970s when 12 obsolete Liberty Ships were sunk at Port Lavaca five different sites in the Gulf of Mexico. The Texas Parks and Matagorda Island Liberty Ship Reef Wildlife Departments Artificial 28 06' 58.806" N Reef Program has added 96 05' 14.542" W 21 nm from Matagorda Bay bearing 139. materials to most of these sites Corpus Three ships. and created others through Christi programs like Rigs to Reefs, in which petroleum companies donate obsolete petroleum platforms to the Program. At these sites, anglers may encounter numerous fish Port Mansfield species including amberjack, snapper, cobia, Atlantic spadefish, triggerfish, tarpon, Brownsville sharks (such as the blacktip, tiger, dusky, and hammerhead), and grouper. In addition, divers may see colorful damsel fish, butterflyfish, blennies, and countless invertebrates. To date, 24 artificial reef sites have been With the stern already resting on the bottom, the bow of this established to benefit the environment by Liberty Ship will soon be submerged to form a part of an creating habitat for marine organisms, and artificial reef. The Texas Coastal and Marine Council to provide areas for increased fishing and constructed four such reefs using twelve ships in waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Texas in the mid-1970s. sport diving opportunities.
BOUNDARY LIMITS OF ARTIFICIAL REEF
28 07' 11.545" N 96 04' 59.439" W
The water depth at the Matagorda Island Liberty Ship Reef is 105107 feet, and the depth to the wrecks ranges from 85-105 feet.
-105'
-106 '
-88'
LIBERTY SHIPS
4
-85'
3
-105' -115'
-118
'
-104' -90'
L I B E R T Y S H I P
-92'
' 1' -107 -11
4' -11 06' -1
2
-91'
11' -107' -1
LIBERTY SHIP
6 7
-91'
-88'
feet
Type EC-2 Liberty Ship 441 feet overall
200
400
600
800
1000
-107'
28 06' 46.067" N 96 05' 29.644" W
BOUNDARY LIMITS OF ARTIFICIAL REEF
28 06' 45.416" N 96 05' 00.174" W
Andrew Hall (1995)
R E E F S