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SS Mactan

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Adapted from the English Wikipedia article SS Mactan, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 29 November 20258 sources
SS Mactan
Company typePassenger and cargo ship; hospital ship
IndustryMaritime transport
PredecessorNorth Lyell
Founded28 December 1898
Headquarters
Manila
,
Philippines
ProductsPassenger transport, cargo transport, hospital ship services

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{{Infobox ship characteristics
Hide header= Header caption= Ship class= Ship type= Ship tonnage=Template:GRT[1] Ship displacement= Ship length=300 ft (91 m)[1] Lloyds|1942–1943|}

{{Infobox ship characteristics ... }} SS Mactan was originally launched on 28 December 1898 under the name North Lyell, constructed as a passenger and cargo vessel for the North Mount Lyell Copper Co. Ltd. The ship was intended to operate between Tasmania’s west coast and Melbourne. However, by the time of delivery in 1899, the company no longer required the vessel and subsequently sold it to New Zealand’s Union Steamship Company Ltd., who renamed it Moura. In 1915, ownership transferred to the Douglas Steamship Company Ltd. based in Hong Kong, with the vessel receiving the new name Hai Hong. Finally, after its acquisition by Philippine operators in 1928, it was renamed Mactan.[2][1][3][4][5]

During its service as Mactan, the ship gained historical significance in the early phase of the Pacific War from 1941 to 1942. Chartered by the American Red Cross through its Philippine Red Cross affiliate, it became the first hospital ship operating within the Southwest Pacific theatre of World War II. On a single mission functioning as an improvised hospital ship, Mactan evacuated 224 severely injured patients—described as "the worst cases"—alongside several Filipino medical personnel attached to the United States Army, including one U.S. Army doctor and two U.S. Army nurses. This evacuation took place from Manila shortly before Japanese forces occupied the city.[6][7][8]

Operating as SS Moura

Initially constructed for North Mount Lyall under the name SS North Lyall, the vessel was sold within the same year of her launch to the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand after the mining company relinquished their interest. Upon acquisition, she was rechristened as SS Moura. Around the turn of the 20th century, Union Steam Ship Company managed coastal routes around New Zealand, primarily servicing the Tasman Sea and Bass Strait. During this period, the company expanded its operations into Pacific island routes and even established a Royal Mail service connecting San Francisco and Vancouver. A 1907 timetable from a newspaper confirms her deployment on a route to Fiji.

Operating as SS Hai Hong

In 1915, ownership of SS Moura transferred to Hong Kong's Douglas Steamship Company, where she was renamed SS Hai Hong. In this capacity, she functioned as a passenger and cargo vessel engaged in trade within the Pearl River Delta. Subsequently, in 1928, Ferrandez Hermanos Inc., based in Manila, purchased the vessel and renamed her SS Mactan.

Operating as SS Mactan

Throughout her service in the Philippines, she operated as an inter-island transport ship. Later references indicate her involvement in the copra trade and eventual acquisition by the Red Cross for use as a hospital ship.

Hospital Ship

On 23 December, General Douglas MacArthur resolved to evacuate Manila, which had been declared an open city on 18 December. By Christmas Eve, MacArthur and his headquarters had left Manila. Medical staff and patients had begun relocating to Bataan; by 25 December most medical personnel had evacuated, and by 28 December Corregidor’s medical facilities became overcrowded with patients and staff evacuated from Manila by New Year's Eve. MacArthur ordered that critically ill patients be prioritized for evacuation to Australia. The Douglas Steamship Company continued its coastal trade in China during this time.

Although the U.S. Army had recently chartered Mactan, urgent circumstances required that she be released from this charter to be utilized by the Red Cross under arrangements mediated through Swiss intermediaries with Japan. The intended vessel, Apo, was unavailable, leading to Mactan under Captain Julian Tamayo being designated on 28 December with coordination involving Major General Basilio J. Valdes of the Philippine Army and President Manuel L. Quezon, working alongside MacArthur’s headquarters. Red Cross Field Director Irving Williams represented the organization during preparations. At Corregidor, while unloading supplies, the ship was recalled to Manila to be rapidly painted white with Red Cross insignia, provisioned, and loaded with patients on 31 December afternoon. A total of 224 patients remaining at Sternberg General Hospital were selected for evacuation; only three U.S. military personnel aside from patients were permitted onboard: Army surgeon Colonel Percy J. Carroll and nurses Lieutenant Floramund A. Fellmeth and Lieutenant Florence MacDonald. Prior to departure, details of the ship’s identity and planned route were communicated to Japan; contraband items were discarded overboard, and inspection by the Swiss Consul ensured compliance with the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907.

Although operating as a hospital ship with Colonel Carroll and Lt. Fellmeth organizing Filipino medical staff into shifts, Mactan lacked full hospital ship equipment. Medical supplies were hastily loaded; patients were crowded aboard, many exposed on open decks near railings. The ship's saloon served as an operating room. Crucially, no official confirmation from Japanese government or military authorities regarding recognition of hospital ship status or safe passage was ever granted. While clearance was eventually obtained from the International Red Cross in Geneva, official Japanese silence persisted after Prince Shimadzu of the Japanese Red Cross in Tokyo informally indicated respect for the ship's status.

Due to destruction of United States Coast and Geodetic Survey offices, necessary navigation charts were unavailable initially. A plan was devised for charts from Army transport Don Esteban to be transferred as Mactan departed Manila’s breakwater. Shortly past midnight on New Year’s Day, without formal Japanese clearance but under illumination from burning city areas including gasoline dumps at Pandacan, Mactan set sail and anchored awaiting delivery of charts from Don Esteban. Despite charts being less detailed than ideal, she departed escorted by a U.S. naval vessel guiding her through minefields protecting Manila Bay. Notably, Mactan was the last American civilian vessel to leave Manila.

Passing through the Sulu Sea presented hazards including a reef—referred to as "Pearl Reef"—likely corresponding to Tubbataha Reef. Due to nighttime navigation risks near this reef, the captain chose to reverse course until daylight allowed safer passage despite increasing exposure to Japanese forces present in northeastern Borneo and Mindanao’s Davao. On 3 January during daylight transit through reefs and islands marking entry into the Celebes Sea, news arrived that Japanese troops had occupied Manila alongside onset of a storm causing distress among patients on exposed decks; cots were soaked and some occupants endangered near railings. One patient succumbed during emergency amputation amid these conditions.

As Mactan approached Makassar Strait on 4 January, Captain Tamayo informed Red Cross representative Williams that fuel and water supplies were dangerously low necessitating an unscheduled stop at Makassar—a port not included in prior route notifications given to Japanese authorities—potentially exposing the ship to attack accusations. Concurrently, Japanese radio broadcasts from Tokyo falsely reported MacArthur wounded aboard a hospital ship en route to Australia.

Upon arrival at Makassar on 5 January, Mactan remained docked for five days while U.S. officials consulted Australian counterparts regarding subsequent actions. By 9 January—with two patient deaths recorded—the directive was issued for her to proceed to Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory. Upon arrival there, an Australian gunboat escorted her into harbor where local officials and Australian Red Cross personnel welcomed passengers with supplies including towels, chocolate, cookies, and comfort items. Due to ongoing threats against Darwin itself, instructions directed continuation toward Sydney with scheduled stops at Townsville and Brisbane along the way. A minor fire occurred on 15 January en route to Townsville but was promptly extinguished by crew members. The Australian Red Cross again provided assistance upon arrival in Brisbane on 24 January where crowds gathered along riverbanks and hillsides cheering; U.S. consular officials along with American base commanders greeted disembarking patients who included recently arrived U.S. troops.

Departing Brisbane on 25 January for Sydney, one patient reportedly committed suicide by deliberately falling overboard from a cot near the railing shortly after departure. Apart from encountering severe weather conditions en route, Mactan arrived safely in Sydney on 27 January where she received a warm reception from ships’ crews, local residents, U.S., Australian officials, Australian Army personnel carrying stretchers, and members of the Australian Red Cross Motor Corps providing ambulance services. Within two hours all patients had been transferred ashore to an Australian Army hospital.

Following disembarkation Director Williams assumed representation of the American Red Cross in Australia; he coordinated locating Filipino medical staff admitted in Australian hospitals while assisting crew members with employment opportunities and accommodations. Additionally, he initiated negotiations regarding disposition of the vessel and began organizing Red Cross support services for incoming U.S. troops stationed or arriving in Australia.

Additional service

While Masterson records that the charter was terminated in February 1942 and the vessel was deemed unfit for navigation before being repurposed by Australian forces as a floating storage facility, other accounts describe Mactan as having been transformed into a Red Cross service center and recreational ship for Army officers stationed in Sydney.

Mactan (S-188), part of the United States Army Services of Supply, Southwest Pacific Area's Small Ships Section.

In January 1943, the Army reclaimed the vessel for inclusion in the Southwest Pacific Area's Small Ships Section permanent local fleet. Modifications were made to convert a portion of its cargo hold into living quarters for troops. Assigned the Small Ships identification number S-188, Mactan functioned as a station ship in New Guinea and served as both accommodation and headquarters for the commanding general of the United States Army Services of Supply, Southwest Pacific Area (USASOS SWPA). According to Lunney, on 8 August 1943, Mactan departed from Walsh Bay bound for Waga Waga, Milne Bay, carrying with it two skilled barbers, a chef who had previously worked at Sydney's Hotel Carlton, and a rare ice cream machine. On 29 November 1944, the vessel left Hollandia (Jayapura) to return to home waters, transporting the advance headquarters of USASOS SWPA. Thereafter, it operated as a quarters ship at Tacloban, Leyte. Due to its need for significant repairs, Mactan was withdrawn from service and was scheduled to be returned to its Philippine owners on 1 September 1945 after fulfilling duties as an inter-island transport once again.

Some sources mistakenly identify the ship as part of the U.S. Navy or under Navy possession; however, these assertions appear incorrect. This confusion likely arises because numerous Army vessels were incorrectly assumed to be Navy ships. A thorough review of Naval Historical and Heritage Command records (including DANFS) reveals no mention of naval service for Mactan. Army documentation confirms its use by Army forces from shortly before a brief Red Cross charter in late December 1941 until its release back to Philippine ownership in September 1945. References to a hospital ship named "USS Mactan" are erroneous as no such Navy commission existed during or after World War II.

The vessel was ultimately dismantled in Hong Kong in 1956.

Notes

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lloyds 1942–1943.
  2. ↑ Neal 1899, p. 474.
  3. ↑ Tyne Built Ships.
  4. ↑ Lunney; Finch 1995, pp. 140–141.
  5. ↑ "TheShipsList".
  6. ↑ "Condon-Rall; Cowdrey" 1998, p. 26.
  7. ↑ "Masterson" 1949, p. 47.
  8. ↑ "Bykofsky; Larson" 1990, p. 456.

References cited

  • "Angel On Embattled Seas". American Legion Auxiliary. 1 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  • Bykofsky, Joseph; Larson, Harold (1990). The Technical Services—The Transportation Corps: Operations Overseas. United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. LCCN 56-6000.
  • Condon-Rall, Mary Ellen; Cowdrey, Albert E. (1998). The Technical Services—The Medical Department: Medical Service In The War Against Japan. United States Army In World War II. Washington, DC: Center Of Military History, United States Army. LCCN 97022644.
  • "Floating Service Club". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 9 February 1943. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  • Forster, Cliff (29 May 1990). "Interview with Cliff Forster". The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  • Grover, David (1987). U.S. Army Ships and Watercraft of World War II. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-766-6.)
  • Korson, George (1945). At His Side The Story Of The American Red Cross Overseas In World War II (1945). New York: Coward—McCann, Inc. p. 41. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  • Larsson, Björn (7 April 2009). "Compañía Marítima". Maritime Timetable Images. Björn Larsson. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  • Lloyds (1942–1943). Lloyd's Register (PDF). Lloyd's Register. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  • Lunney, Bill; Finch, Frank (1995). Forgotten Fleet. Medlowie NSW, Australia: Forfleet Publishing. ISBN 0-646-26048-0.)
  • Masterson, Dr. James R. (1949). U. S. Army Transportation In The Southwest Pacific Area 1941-1947. Washington, D. C.: Transportation Unit, Historical Division, Special Staff, U. S. Army.
  • Morton, Louis (1993). The War in the Pacific: The Fall Of The Philippines. United States Army In World War II. Washington, D.C.: Center Of Military History, United States Army. LCCN 53063678. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012 . Retrieved 27 February 2015. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |archive-date= (help); Invalid |url-status=dead  (help); no-break space character in |archive-date= at position 14 (help); no-break space character in |archive-url= at position 97 (help); no-break space character in |url-status= at position 5 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 60 (help)
  • Neal , William George  , ed. (1899 ). "Marine Engineer and Naval Architect (1899) ". Marine Engineer and Naval Architect (1899) . XX  (April 1898 – March 1899 ). Marine Engineering, Shipbuilding, Steam Navigation and Electrical Engineering. London : 46 . Retrieved 7 June 2013. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); no-break space character in |editor-first1= at position 15 (help); no-break space character in |editor-last1= at position 5 (help); no-break space character in |issue= at position 24 (help); no-break space character in |journal= at position 43 (help); no-break space character in |page= at position 3 (help); no-break space character in |publisher= at position 86 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 43 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 54 (help); no-break space character in |volume= at position 3 (help); no-break space character in |year= at position 5 (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  • Otago Witness  (1899 ). "The North Lyell ". Otago Witness  (2366, 29 June 1899 ). The National Library of New Zealand—Papers Past : 46 . Retrieved 7 June 2013. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |year= (help); no-break space character in |issue= at position 19 (help); no-break space character in |journal= at position 14 (help); no-break space character in |last1= at position 14 (help); no-break space character in |page= at position 3 (help); no-break space character in |publisher= at position 48 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 20 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 77 (help); no-break space character in |year= at position 5 (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  • "Stubborn Fighting In Philippines ". Burnie, Tasmania   : The Advocate . 5 January 1942 . Retrieved 7 June 2013 . {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 12 (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 15 (help); no-break space character in |location= at position 17 (help); no-break space character in |publisher= at position 13 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 33 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 43 (help)
  • "Doulgas Steamship Company, Ltd., Hong Kong, 1883–1976 ". TheShipsList   . 10 November 2007 . Archived from the original on 1 May 2013   . Retrieved 7 June 2013   . {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |access-date=, |date=, and |archive-date= (help); Invalid |url-status=dead  (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 12 (help); no-break space character in |archive-date= at position 11 (help); no-break space character in |archive-url= at position 97 (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 17 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 54 (help); no-break space character in |url-status= at position 5 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 54 (help); no-break space character in |website= at position 13 (help)
  • McLean   , Gavin    (5 May 2010   ). "Union Steam Ship Company—The Southern Octopus   ". New Zealand Marine History   . New Zealand Ship and Marine Society   . Retrieved 7 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 11 (help); no-break space character in |first= at position 6 (help); no-break space character in |last= at position 7 (help); no-break space character in |publisher= at position 36 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 46 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 53 (help); no-break space character in |work= at position 27 (help)
  • =NZH19070225.2.3.2   "Timetable (New Zealand Herald 25 February 1907)  ". New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue13421  . New Zealand Herald  . 25 February 1907  . Retrieved 7 June2013  . {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help); Check date values in: |access-date= and |date= (help); no-break space character in |access-date= at position 12 (help); no-break space character in |date= at position 18 (help); no-break space character in |publisher= at position 20 (help); no-break space character in |title= at position 53 (help); no-break space character in |url= at position 78 (help); no-break space character in |work= at position 45 (help)
  • {{cite web   │url=http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/N-Ships/northlyell1899.html   │title =North Lyell   │author =Tyne Built Ships   │work =Tyne Built Ships: A history of Tyne shipbuilders and the ships that they built   │access-date =7 June2013}}
  • {{cite web   │url=http://www.ozatwar.com/usarmy/usarmysmallships.htm   │title =US Army Small Ships Section United States Army Services Of Supply (USASOS) In Australian Waters During WWII   │website =Australia @ War   │access-date =7 June2013   │ref=Template:Sfnref│USASOS }}

External links

Further reading

  • Mactan, Ship of Destiny, William L. Noyer, 1979, Rainbow Press, Fresno, California LCCN 79067032

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