SS Mariposa was an ocean liner launched in 1931, one of four ships in the Matson Lines "White Fleet", which included SS Monterey, SS Malolo, and SS Lurline (1932). She was later renamed SS Homeric.

Building

The Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation built Mariposa at Quincy, Massachusetts, completing her in December 1931. Her registered length was 604.0 ft, her beam was 79.3 ft, and her depth was 30.5 ft. As built, her tonnages were and. She had twin screws, each driven by three steam turbines via single reduction gearing.

Career with Matson Lines

Mariposa was designed for service in the Pacific Ocean, including regular stops in ports along the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia. Her maiden voyage began 16 January 1932 in New York City, where she sailed to Havana, transited the Panama Canal, and berthed in the Port of Los Angeles before continuing on to tour 10 more countries in the south and west Pacific.

War service

In World War II, she operated under the War Shipping Administration with allocation and close association with the US Army, though not officially a US Army Transport, serving as a fast troop carrier, bringing supplies and support forces to distant shores and rescuing persons stranded in foreign countries by the outbreak of war. Mariposa, with a Navy -designated troop capacity of 4,165 and speed of 20.5 kn, was one of the very large, fast transports, the largest nicknamed "Monsters", usually sailing without escort.

War voyages

1946 Australia/New Zealand dependent voyages from Australia

Career with Home Lines

In 1947, the ship was mothballed for six years at Union Iron Works in Alameda, California. Her engines were overhauled by Todd San Francisco Division. Home Lines bought her and renamed her SS Homeric, sailing her to Trieste for reconstruction to allow 1243 passengers: 147 first class and 1,096 tourist class. Her gross register tonnage increased to 18,563, and total length increased to 641 ft (195.5 m). Home Lines operated her beginning 24 January 1955 for liner service between ports in the north Atlantic. On 18 August 1956, Homeric's bow struck the side of the Greek Line ship Columbia in fog in Quebec. At the time, tugs were towing Homeric and Columbia was moored at a pier. About 20 ft of Columbia's starboard side were damaged, and some of her lifeboats were crushed. In 1964, she replaced SS Italia to steam on the regular run between New York and Nassau, Bahamas, though she, in turn, was shortly replaced by SS Oceanic (1965). SS Homeric was reassigned to intra-Caribbean cruises. In 1973, a major fire destroyed much of her galley and restaurant, and she was scrapped in Taiwan next to Holland America Line SS Nieuw Amsterdam in 1974. During the ship breaking process, her sister ship, the Chandris Lines' Ellinis (ex-Lurline), suffered major engine damage on a cruise to Japan; Chandris was able to purchase one of the Mariposa engines from the ship breakers.