The Beginning and End of The USAT Merritt

Photo Credit: Museum of Russian Culture, San Francisco



The USAT MERRITT was built in China and launched in 1912.   Manila was it's home port.   It's purpose was to transport troops and supplies.  

In 1932,  it was sold to Vincencio  Fernandez, a private businessman, and renamed  SS BISAYAS. 

In the Pacific Theater in World War II, the Japanese military, targeting the United States Navy, on January 2, 1942, sank the ship in the Manila Harbor. 

The Japanese forces raised the ship and renamed it  HISHIGATA MARU, placing it in service with the rest of the its fleet assigned to protect  the Japanese mainland.  On February 1945 it was hit by United States aircraft  and sank in the Philippine  waters off San Fernand Lingayen.