USS Southern Seas (PY-32)

USS Southern Seas (PY-32) was commissioned in the United States Navy on 22 December 1942 in Auckland, New Zealand. She was built for Cyrus Curtiss of the Curtis Publishing Company by Cramp Ship and Iron Works, Philadelphia in 1920 at a cost of two million dollars. She was christened the Motor Yacht Lyndonia.

In Pan American Aviation Company service

In 1939, Pan American Aviation Company bought Lyndonia and changed her name to MV Southern Seas. She was used in the South Pacific by Pan American to supplement their passenger service.

In United States service

When the United States entered World War II in December 1941, the ship was sold by Pan American to the Army Corps of Engineers for $600,000. The US Army used her in the South Pacific to transport troops and also to chart islands and locate air fields. While she was doing this work for the Army, the ship hit an uncharted reef on July 22, 1942 in the vicinity of New Caledonia. As a result of this mishap the Southern Seas had both engine rooms flooded and various holes in the hull.

After the collision, the US Navy salvaged Southern Seas and towed her from New Caledonia to New Zealand where she was docked while the holes in the hull were patched and repairs were made on the main engines. The home port and navy yard of the Southern Seas was Pearl Harbor but she had never been there due to her extended operations in the forward areas. When the ship was first commissioned, Commander South Pacific Fleet, who at that time was Admiral Halsey, considered the possibility of using her as his flagship, however, he decided against it and from that time on Southern Seas was used as barracks ship for transient officers and enlisted men.

On 12 January 1943, Southern Seas got underway from Auckland, New Zealand for Noumea, New Caledonia. The ship remained there until June 1943 when she left for Tarawa, Gilbert Island by the way of Funafuti, Ellice Islands. At Tarawa she again served as s barracks ship and was attached to Commander Aircraft Pacific Fleet at this time.

In February 1944, the Southern Seas departed for Kwajalein Island by the way of Makin where she again assumed the duties of a barracks ship.

On 25 June 1944, Southern Seas departed from Kwajalein en route to Eniwetok, Marshall Islands in company with SS Pacific Sun and USS YMS-388 where she arrived on 27 June 1944. On 8 August 1944, Southern Seas was ordered to Saipan, Marianas Islands where she again served as a barracks ship in the forward area. The ship remained at Saipan until 1 January 1945 when she departed for Guam, Marianas Islands. At Guam, the ship was attached to Commander Submarines Pacific Fleet and was moored alongside USS Holland (AS-3).

On 7 September 1945, Southern Seas was ordered to Okinawa to work directly under Rear Admiral J. D. Price, U3 Navy, who was Commander Naval Operating Base, Okinawa.

Southern Seas arrived in Okinawa on 15 September 1945 just in time for Typhoon Louise. She was sunk on 9 October 1945 with a loss of thirteen lives out of a compliment of five officers and forty-seven men.

During the time that Southern Seas served as barracks ship, accommodating officials of the United States Government and newspaper correspondents, she compiled an impressive guest list including two vice admirals, thirty rear admirals, fifty-three captains, one lieutenant general, four major generals, six brigadier generals, forty-five newspaper correspondents, the Honorable Mr. Nash, New Zealand Minister to the United States, and Mr. Warren Atherton, National Commander of the American Legion.^[1]

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