SS Colgate Victory

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Liberty ship at sea.jpg
Typical Liberty Ship at sea.
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Colgate Victory
Namesake Colgate University
OwnerWar Shipping Administration
Operator Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Company
Builder Oregon Shipbuilding Company Portland
Laid downJanuary 9, 1945
LaunchedFebruary 20, 1945
CompletedMarch 21, 1945
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Hong Kong Transport 1948
OperatorPacific Transport Lines
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Illinois 1957
OperatorPacific Transport Lines
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Illinois 1957
OperatorPacific Transport Lines
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Illinois 1958
OperatorStates Steamship Co, San Francisco.
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Oregon Victory 1962
OperatorWest Coast SS Company in Portland, Ore.
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Ridgefield Victory 1964
OperatorSaxis SS Co
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Ridgefield Victory 1966
OperatorStandard Steamship Corp, of Wilmington, Del.
FateSold
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Ridgefield Victory 1968
OperatorU.S. Maritime Administration in laid up
Fatescrapped in 1969 in Bilbao, Spain.
General characteristics
Class and typeVC2-S-AP3 Victory ship
Tonnage7612 GRT, 4,553 NRT
Displacement15,200 tons
Length455 ft (139 m)
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draught28 ft (8.5 m)
Installed power8,500  shp (6,300 kW)
PropulsionHP & LP turbines geared to a single 20.5-foot (6.2 m) propeller
Speed16.5 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried
4 Lifeboats
Complement62 Merchant Marine and 28 US Naval Armed Guards
Armament
Notes [1]

The SS Colgate Victory was the Second of 153 Victory ships built during World War II. She was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on December 15, 1944, completed on January 12, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 170 (1224) (MCV-170). The Maritime Commission turned her over to a civilian contractor, Pacific-Atlantic SS Company, for operation. [2]

Contents

World War II

The SS Colgate Victory was used as cargo ship in World War II operated by the Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Company under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration. Colgate Victory was 170 of the new 10,500-ton class ship known as Victory ships. Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for WW2. Victory ships were designed to last longer and serve the US Navy after the war. The Victory ship differed from a Liberty ship in that they were: faster, longer and wider, taller, a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure and had a long raised forecastle. [3]

SS Colgate Victory was loaded full with 6,000 pounds of blockbuster bomb 500 lb. bombs and sent to help with the Battle of Okinawa and the planned invasion of Japan. She delivered the bombs to Marshall Islands at Enewetak Atoll base and then some bombs to the Caroline Island base. The Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands was used as a staging base for the invasion of Okinawa. She was close enough to see the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, 1945. [4] [5] She survived the October 1945 Louise typhoon. [6] June 19, 1945 the SS Tate sent a Medical Officers to help a crew member of Colgate Victory, just as they pass the International Date Line in the Pacific. [7] In 1947 she helped in the rescue of a ship that hit a reef near Iwo Jima, all 39 persons aboard the wrecked cargo freighter were moved to small boat and transferred to the SS Colgate Victory. She returned them to Los Angeles [8] [9] Colgate Victory arrived to San Francisco from Manila on March 2, 1947. [10]

Post war use

She was sold on May 25, 1948 to Pacific Transport Lines of San Francisco and renamed SS Hong Kong Transport for $996,160.37. [11] In 1957 sold to the Pacific Transport Lines renamed her SS Illinois. In 1958 she was sold to the States Steamship Co, San Francisco. In 1961 she was sold to the US Department of Commerce and laid up in San Francisco. In 1962 she was sold to the West Coast SS Company in Portland, Ore. renamed SS Oregon Victory used as a Merchant Mariner ship again. In 1964 she was sold to Saxis SS Co and renamed the SS Ridgefield Victory used as a Merchant Mariner ship. In 1966 she was sold Standard Steamship Corp, Wilmington, Del. kept name Ridgefield Victory used as a Merchant Mariner ship. Ridgefield Victory was on Bangkok, Thailand, on January 12, 1967 when one of the Merchant Mariner seaman deserted she, court case came to be due to this action. [12] In 1968 she was transfer back to the U.S. Maritime Administration and laid up. She was scrapped in Dec. of 1969 in Bilbao, Spain.

See also

Related Research Articles

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USNS <i>Clemson</i>

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SS <i>Chanute Victory</i> United States Merchant Marine ship

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SS <i>New Zealand Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

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SS <i>Sapulpa Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

The SS Sapulpa Victory was the 14th Victory ship built for the United States during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The vessel was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on April 29, 1944, and completed on June 19, 1944. The ship's US Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 14 (V-14). The Sapulpa served in the Pacific Theater during World War II and was operated by the Alcoa SS Company.

SS <i>Bluefield Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

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SS <i>St. Lawrence Victory</i> Former US Navy cargo ship (1945–1973)

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SS <i>Rutland Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

The SS Rutland Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It was built and launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on May 9, 1944, and completed on May 29, 1944. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 104 (1020). The ship was Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation's 20th victory ship. The Maritime Commission turned it over for Merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the United States Lines.

SS <i>Baton Rouge Victory</i> World War II Victory ship of the United States

The SS Baton Rouge was a cargo Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The Baton Rouge (MCV-846) was a type VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship built by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards. The Maritime Administration cargo ship was the 846rd ship built. Her keel was laid on June 21, 1945. She was launched on August 22, 1945, and completed on September 24, 1945. The 10,600-ton ship was constructed for the Maritime Commission. The American Export Line and later the Isthmian Steamship Company operated her under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration.

SS <i>New Bern Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

SS New Bern Victory was a cargo Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The New Bern Victory (MCV-639) was a type VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship built by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards. The Maritime Administration cargo ship was the 639 ship built. Her keel was laid on January 15, 1945. She was launched on March 8, 1945 and completed on March 31, 1945. The 10,600-ton ship was constructed for the Maritime Commission. The American Export Line and later the Isthmian Steamship Company operated her under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. Named for the city of New Bern, North Carolina.

SS <i>Elmira Victory</i> Victory ship of World War II

SS Elmira Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It was built and launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on May 12, 1944 and completed on May 31, 1944. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 105 (1021). The ship was Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation's 21st victory ship. The Maritime Commission turned it over for Merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the Isthmian Steamship Company under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. She was named after the city of Elmira, New York.

SS <i>Baylor Victory</i> American WWII Victory ship

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SS <i>Saginaw Victory</i> Victory ship built during World War II

The SS Saginaw Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It was laid down and launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, and completed on February 9, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 152. The Maritime Commission turned it over for merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Company under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. She was named after Saginaw, Michigan. Victory ships were designed to supersede the earlier Liberty ships. Unlike Liberty ships, Victory ships were designed to serve the US Navy after the war and to last longer. Compared to Liberty ships, Victory ships were faster, longer, wider, taller, and had a thinner stack which was set further forward on the superstructure. They also had a long, raised forecastle.

SS <i>Berea Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

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SS <i>Lewiston Victory</i> United States Merchant Marine ship

The SS Lewiston Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II. It was built in the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard in 1944. It served during the Battle of Okinawa as a troop transport. Its hull number was 1202 and MV number 148 and MO/Off. no.: 247076. Lewiston Victory was converted to a troopship and used to bring troops home as part of Operation Magic Carpet. Lewiston Victory was operated by Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Company under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.

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Pacific Far East Line, also called PFEL in short, was a passenger and cargo shipping line founded in 1943 by Thomas E. Cuffe, in San Francisco, California. At the beginning he started by chartering foreign ships to run the lines in tramp trade. Later scheduled cargo services were added to the line. During World War II the South Atlantic steamship line was active with charter shipping with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.

References

  1. Babcock & Wilcox (April 1944). "Victory Ships". Marine Engineering and Shipping Review.
  2. shipbuildinghistory.com Merchantships Victory ships
  3. shipbuildinghistory.com, Victory Ships list
  4. Salute to Veterans - News Progress, November 10, 2015
  5. Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois on November 11, 2008
  6. November 11, 2008, Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois · Page 18
  7. Combat Loaded: Across the Pacific on the USS Tate, By Thomas E. Crew
  8. [The Times from San Mateo, California · Page 1, February 14, 1947]
  9. The Daily Notes from Canonsburg, Pennsylvania · Page 5, March 5, 1947
  10. The Shanghai evening post and mercury, AUGUST 2, 1946.
  11. SS Hong Kong Transport
  12. IN THE MATTER OF MERCHANT MARINER'S DOCUMENT NO. Z-1135501 AND ALL OTHER SEAMAN'S DOCUMENTS, Issued to: HARVEY L. GLOTZER,DECISION OF THE COMMANDANT UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Sources