The SS Fort Mercer was a Liberty ship built during World War II. Launched in 1943, it was part of a large fleet designed to transport troops and supplies across the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was named after Fort Mercer, a historic fortification in New Jersey. On January 30, 1945, the SS Fort Mercer was tragically sunk by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. The attack resulted in the loss of 38 crew members. The ship's sinking highlighted the dangers faced by merchant vessels during the war, as they were often targeted by enemy submarines like the German U-boat.