Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef

The Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef is composed of three Liberty Ships, the Conrad Weiser, the Rachel Jackson and the Charles A. Dana. The Rachel Jackson broke in two pieces when placed at the reef site. Nine other Liberty Ships are located at other reef sites along the Texas coast.

Though Liberty Ships were not intended as combat vessels, all three found themselves in the midst of battle. After an escort ship from the Dana's Atlantic convoy fired on a U-boat, an unknown object, possibly a dud torpedo or part of the submarine, struck the Dana and slid along her side for almost fifteen feet. The Rachel Jackson was attacked by enemy aircraft on the way to Alexandria, and managed to hit one of the planes with anti-aircraft fire. For her crew's efforts in repelling a Luftwaffe attack while in convoy across the Mediterranean, the Conrad Weiser was awarded the Operation and Engagement Star.

The water depth at the Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef is 108 to 111 feet, and the depth to the wrecks is from 82 to 109 feet.

Using the NAD83 datum set, the center point of the Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef is located at 27 degrees 34 minutes 11.038 seconds North and 96 degrees 51 minutes 30.911 seconds West (Mustang Island Block 802). This point can be reached by sailing 18 nautical miles on a bearing of 141 degrees from the Port Aransas jetties.

A downloadable version of the brochure on the Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef is available:

• Mustang Island Liberty Ship Reef (PDF 740.4 KB)