SS John Morgan was a World War II Liberty ship built by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at their Bethlehem-Fairfield yard at Baltimore, Maryland, and launched on 4 May 1943.
[2] However, on 1 June 1943, during its maiden voyage John Morgan collided with the tanker SS Montana off Cape Henry on the coast of Virginia.
John Morgan broke in two and sank immediately at position 36°59′56″N 75°23′59″W / 36.99889°N 75.39972°W / 36.99889; -75.39972, but started fires aboard Montana.
USS Shubrick, engaged in gunnery practice in Chesapeake Bay, was sent to investigate.
The ship was on the United States lend-lease program and was loaded with war supplies such as Valentine tanks, P-39s, and large amounts of ammunition.