THE USS LIBERTY 🇺🇸

Patched emblem of the U.S. Army Special Forces, featuring an eagle, a red banner with the words 'Libertas Per Scientiam,' a gold bell, surrounded by a circle of gold stars, and labeled 'AGTR-5' in the center.

What does the name “USS Liberty” mean?

The USS Liberty embodied duty, sacrifice, and the struggle for truth. As a Navy intelligence ship attacked on June 8, 1967, she became a symbol of the human cost of conflict—34 sailors killed, dozens wounded, and survivors left to carry the burden of unanswered questions. More than a vessel, the Liberty represents the moral obligation to remember those who served and to seek accountability for attacks on American service members. For veterans, families, and a nation committed to honoring sacrifice, the USS Liberty stands as a call to preserve history, demand justice, and educate future generations so that the lives lost will never be forgotten.

Black and white photograph of a naval ship sailing on the ocean with the markings "GTR 5" on the hull.

What does AGTR-5 stand for?

A large military ship docked at a harbor with multiple cranes around, and other ships in the background.

AGTR-5 is a Navy hull classification with a very specific meaning:

  • A – Auxiliary

  • G – General

  • T – Technical Research

  • R – Research

  • 5 – The fifth ship assigned to this classification

The USS Liberty was a technical research and intelligence-gathering ship, not a combat vessel.

The USS Liberty was a signals intelligence (SIGINT) ship operated by the U.S. Navy in coordination with the National Security Agency (NSA).

Its mission included:

  • Intercepting radio and electronic communications

  • Monitoring military transmissions

  • Providing intelligence to U.S. leadership during global conflicts

Important detail that gets glossed over far too often:
The Liberty was lightly armed, clearly marked, and designed for listening—not fighting.

What kind of ship was the USS Liberty?

Black and white diagram of the USS Liberty (AGTR-5) showing the ship's antenna and electronic systems with numbered labels and a legend describing each component.

More Frequently Asked Questions About the USS Liberty:

  • No. The Liberty carried only minimal defensive weapons—.50 caliber machine guns—intended strictly for self-defense. It had no offensive combat capability and no role in active warfare.

  • The ship was operating in international waters in the eastern Mediterranean during the Six-Day War. It was conducting routine intelligence monitoring, as U.S. Navy intelligence ships commonly did during global conflicts.

  • Yes. The ship was:

    • Clearly marked as a U.S. Navy vessel

    • Flying a large American flag

    • Broadcasting identification signals

    • Operating in daylight with good visibility

    These facts are not disputed by the surviving crew.

  • On June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty was attacked by Israeli air and naval forces in a multi-stage assault involving:

    • Jet aircraft

    • Napalm

    • Torpedo boats

    • Machine-gun fire against crew members and life rafts

    The attack lasted over an hour.

    The result:

    • 34 American servicemen killed

    • 171 wounded

    • Severe damage that nearly sank the ship

    Despite this, the Liberty stayed afloat—largely due to the actions of its crew.

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impact  today

Support the USS Liberty Veterans Association by donating. You will then receive our quarterly newsletter, be included in all mailings, be invited to participate in all USS Liberty events, and more. The USS Liberty Veterans Association is a registered nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and honoring the veterans who served aboard the USS Liberty

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