The SS President Coolidge was one of the most extravagant luxury ocean liners ever built—until 1941, that is, when she was converted to carry troops for the war effort.
On her approach to Espiritu Santo on 26 October 1942, Coolidge, fearing Japanese submarines and unaware of the mine fields, tried to enter the harbor through the largest and most obvious channel. A mine struck the ship in the engine room and moments later a second mine hit her near her stern. There were only two fatalities, with 5,340 men from the ship got safely ashore.
In 2007, it was listed as one of the top ten wreck diving sites in the world, for its visibility and easy beach access. Today, the Coolidge is the largest and most accessible wreck of its size and type from World War II.
Source: Wikipedia
