SS Maritime Victory

Last updated
SS Maritime Victory
Maritime at Brownsville.jpg
Maritime Victory at Brownsville, Texas, June 2006
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
Name
  • Maritime Victory
  • Pvt. Frederick C. Murphy (10 February 1950 –)
Builder Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore
LaunchedMay 1945
Acquired18 June 1945
RenamedUSAT Pvt. Frederick C. Murphy , 1950
Identification IMO number:  8636049
FateScrapped 25 May 2006
General characteristics
Type Victory ship
Displacement7,607 long tons (7,729 t)
Length455 ft (139 m)
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draft28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Propulsion Allis-Chalmers cross-compound steam turbine with double reduction gears, 6,000 hp (4,474 kW) at 100 rpm
Speed17  kn (31 km/h; 20 mph)
Range23,500 mi (37,800 km)
Capacity500,000 cu ft (14,000 m3) (approx.)
Complement62 Merchant Marine and Navy Armed Guard
Armament
USAT Maritime Victory USAT Maritime Victory.jpg
USAT Maritime Victory

SS Maritime Victory, hull number 821, VC2-S-AP2/WSAT, renamed USAT Pvt. Frederick C. Murphy, was an American Army troop transport which saw duty just after World War II.

Contents

The Maritime Victory was unusual in that as an AP2 vessel, the cargo holds were converted for troop berthing (though with reduced cargo-carrying ability) and topside cargo handling gear was retained. A total of 97 such VC2-S-AP2 conversions were planned, 84 completed. [1]

On 5 July 1946 the ship was returned to the U.S. Army. On 30 August 1946 it was put into the reserve fleet and renamed USAT Pvt. Frederick C. Murphy on 10 February 1950 in honor of World War II Medal of Honor recipient Frederick C. Murphy. [2]

As one of the last surviving ships of her kind she received extensive documentation by the National Park Service in 2006, which produced the archival record Private Frederick C. Murphy HAER Report .

History

Construction and operation

She was launched at the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards on Tuesday, 22 May 1945, sponsored by J. Buell Snyder, wife of Congressman Snyder. [3] Delivered on 18 June 1945, she was transferred to the Army War Department as an Army Transport. She was operated under contract by the American South African Line. [2]

In Army service

The Maritime Victory was delivered to the USAT as a transport in June 1945. The ship made several crossings carrying troops from the European Theater of Operations, especially between Le Havre and New York. From Le Havre she often left from the area known as the Cigarette Camps as part of Operation Magic Carpet to take US troops home.

The ship, having been launched only days after V-E Day was primarily designed to transport troops both to and from Europe. While the main use of the ship was to transport troops, the ship was also used for humanitarian efforts in the immediate post-war time period. The ship made several crossings of the Atlantic. Many of the ships used to transport troops to Europe in the early days of the war were lost or functionally worn out. The Victory ship was newer and faster than the Liberty ships. When it was time to bring troops home the net transfer was mostly in moving troops from Europe to America instead of the other way around.

Some transportation of food and supplies were made in a role as a cargo ship to provide relief to the war torn countries of Europe, especially Germany.

Ready Reserve Fleet and scrapping

The ship was preserved in mothball status at the Beaumont Reserve Fleet in Beaumont, Texas. It was laid up in 1950. From 1983 to about 1990 the Fredrick C. Murphy was used as the fleet utility ship at Beaumont Reserve. [2] In this role some offices were maintained aboard the ship.

The National Park Service's Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) visited the Private Frederick C. Murphy in 2006 to document the ship. [1]

As of 2006, the ship has been removed from inventory of Beaumont Reserve. It is now located at Esco in Brownsville, Texas and awaits scrapping. Scrapping may be complete as soon as September 2006.[ needs update ]

Known sailings

DateFrom - ToPurpose
 ? October 1945 – 26 October 1945 Marseille, France–New York City Transport 1,969 troops. [4]
 ? November 1945 – 24 November 1945Marseille–New YorkTransport 1,648 troops [5]
3 December1945 – 18 December 1945Le Havre–Newport News, Virginia Transport 1,436 troops, including 2877th Military Police Battalion. [6]
 ? ? 1946 – 7 January 1946New York–Le Havre, FranceArrived to pick up troops. [7]
7–19 January 1946Le Havre–New YorkTransport approximately 1,500 members of the 84th Infantry Division (some elements). [7]
 ? ? 1946 – 15 February 1946Le Havre–New YorkTransport 1,014 troops, including 23rd Base Post Office, 45th Field Hospital, three nurses and five civilians. [8]
 ? ? 1946 – 22 March 1946 Southampton, England–New YorkTransport 989 troops, including 1196th Engineer Base Depot, 3231st Quartermaster Service Co., 813th Ordnance Base Depot Co., 713th Engineer Depot Co. [9]
 ? ? 1946 – 18 April 1946Le Havre–New YorkTransport 879 troops, including 123rd Armored Ordnance Maintenance Battalion, 345th Quartermaster Co. [10]
17–26 May 1946 Bremerhaven, Germany–New YorkTransport 102nd Infantry Division (Ozarks), 405th Infantry Regiment.
17 June 1946 – 25 June 1946Le Havre–New YorkTransport 1,363 troops. [11]
26 July 1946 – 4 August 1946Bremerhaven–New YorkTransport of 1,317 troops. [12]
15 August 1946 – ? ? 1946New York–?, ?German war prisoners. [13]
 ? September 1946 – 10 September 1946Bremerhaven–New YorkTransport 1,237 US soldiers back to United States. [14]
 ? October 1946 – 14 October 1946Bremerhaven–New YorkTransport 1,388 US soldiers back to United States. [15]
22 October 1946 – ? October/November 1946New York–Livorno, Italy Transport US Occupation troops to Europe. [16]
 ? November 1946 – 18 November 1946Livorno–New YorkTransport 1,244 troops. [17]
5 December 1946 – ? December 1946New York–BremerhavenTransport troops. [18]
23 December 1946 – 2 January 1947Bremerhaven–New YorkTransport US soldiers back to United States (some US Army Occupation troops).
20 January 1947 – ? January/February 1947New York–BremerhavenSailing to Europe. [19]
 ? ? 1947 – 21 February 1947Bremerhaven–New YorkTransport 832 troops. [20]
10–12 March 1947New York–Portland, Maine To arrive at Portland for loading Maine seed potatoes for shipment to Germany for planting in the American and British Occupied Zones. Sailing was to take place a few days later. [21]
27 March 1947 – ? March 1947Portland–GermanyTransport of 4,000 tons of Maine seed potatoes. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troopship</span> Ship used to carry soldiers

A troopship is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime. Troopships were often drafted from commercial shipping fleets, and were unable to land troops directly on shore, typically loading and unloading at a seaport or onto smaller vessels, either tenders or barges.

USNS <i>Kingsport</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USNS Kingsport (T-AG-164) was built as SS Kingsport Victory, a United States Maritime Commission VC2-S-AP3 (Victory) type cargo ship. During the closing days of World War II the ship was operated by the American Hawaiian Steamship Company under an agreement with the War Shipping Administration. After a period of layup the ship was operated as USAT Kingsport Victory by the Army under bareboat charter effective 8 July 1948. When Army transports were transferred to the Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service the ship continued as USNS Kingsport Victory (T-AK-239), a cargo transport. On 14 November 1961, after conversion into the first satellite communication ship, the ship was renamed Kingsport, reclassified as a general auxiliary, and operated as USNS Kingsport (T-AG-164).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick C. Murphy</span> United States Army Medal of Honor recipient

Frederick C. Murphy was a recipient of the Medal of Honor during World War II while serving as a medic in the US 65th Infantry Division.

SS <i>M.I.T. Victory</i> Victory ship

The SS M. I. T. Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II and used as a troop transport. She was later named USAT MIT Victory and finally USAT Lt. Alexander R. Nininger. Note: In 1944 there was a different transport ship named Alexander R. Nininger, Jr..

USS <i>General J. H. McRae</i>

USS General J. H. McRae (AP-149) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship built for the United States Maritime Commission during World War II. In 1946 she was transferred to the US Army and operated as USAT General J. H. McRae. On 1 March 1950 she was transferred to Military Sea Transportation Service and operated as USNS General J. H. McRae (T-AP-149). She was named for US Army Major General James H. McRae.

USS <i>General Stuart Heintzelman</i>

USS General Stuart Heintzelman (AP-159) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Stuart Heintzelman. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General Stuart Heintzelman in 1946. On 1 March 1950 she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General Stuart Heintzelman (T-AP-159). She was later sold for commercial operation before being scrapped in 1984.

USS <i>General C. C. Ballou</i>

USS General C. C. Ballou (AP-157) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Charles Clarendon Ballou. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General C. C. Ballou in 1946. On 1 March 1950, she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General C. C. Ballou (T-AP-157). She was later sold for commercial operation under several names before being scrapped some time after 1981.

USS <i>General S. D. Sturgis</i>

USS General S. D. Sturgis (AP-137) was a General G. O. Squier-class transport ship for the U.S. Navy in World War II. She was named in honor of U.S. Army general Samuel Davis Sturgis. She was transferred to the U.S. Army as USAT General S. D. Sturgis in 1946. On 1 March 1950 she was transferred to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as USNS General S. D. Sturgis (T-AP-137). She was later sold for commercial operation under the name SS Green Port, before being scrapped in 1980.

USNS <i>Aiken Victory</i>

USNS Aiken Victory (T-AP-188) was a Victory ship-based troop transport that served with the United States Army Transport Service during both World War II and the Korean War. She was one of a class of 84 dedicated troop transports.

USNS <i>Sgt. Sylvester Antolak</i> Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USNS Sgt. Sylvester Antolak (AP-192/T-AP-192) was a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship that served as a United States Army Transport, and in the United States Navy's Military Sea Transportation Service, in the post-World War II period.

USNS <i>Clemson</i>

The SS Lindenwood Victory was a Victory-class cargo ship built during World War II. The Lindenwood Victory was a type VC2-S-AP2 victory ship built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard 2, of Richmond, California. The Maritime Administration cargo ship was the 766th ship built. Her keel was laid on May 12, 1945. SS Lindenwood Victory was an armed cargo ship She was built in just 70 days, under the Emergency Shipbuilding program for World War II. SS Lindenwood Victory was an armed cargo ship, named for Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, one of 150 educational institutions that had Victory ships named after them. The 10,600-ton ship was constructed for the Maritime Commission.

USS <i>Admiral C. F. Hughes</i> American transport ship

USS Admiral C. F. Hughes (AP-124) was a Admiral W. S. Benson-class transport named in honor of Charles Frederick Hughes, an admiral in the United States Navy who served as Chief of Naval Operations from 1927 to 1930. It was later renamed the ship USAT General Edwin D. Patrick after Edwin D. Patrick, an Army general who died in World War II.

SS <i>Cedar Rapids Victory</i> United States Merchant Marine ship

SS Cedar Rapids Victory was the 77th Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on January 14, 1945, and completed on February 17, 1945. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and her hull number was 77. Her operator was the American West African Line.

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

The SS Clarksdale Victory was the 80th Victory ship built during World War II. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on January 27, 1945, and completed on February 26, 1945. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 80. She was built in just 86 days under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. SS Clarksdale Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during WW2. SS Clarksdale Victory was 80th 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.

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

The SS Gainesville Victory was the 22nd Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on June 9, 1944, and completed on July 22, 1944. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 22 (V-22). She was operated by the Seas Shipping Company. SS Gainesville Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. SS Gainesville Victory was number one of the new 10,500-ton class of ships, known as Victory ships. Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for WW2, while Victory ships were designed to last longer and serve the US Navy after the war. The Victory ships differed from the Liberty ships in that they were faster, longer, wider, taller, had a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure, and had a long raised forecastle.

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

SS Hagerstown Victory was a Victory ship-based troop transport built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps (USAT) late in World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It saw service in the European Theater of Operations during 1945 and in the immediate post-war period repatriating U.S. troops. Hagerstown Victory was one of 97 cargo Victory ships converted to a troopship.

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

SS Rushville Victory was a Victory ship-based troop transport built for the US Army Transportation Corps (USAT) late in World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It saw service in the European Theater of Operations in 1945, 1946 and in the immediate post-war period repatriating US troops.

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

The SS Bucknell Victory was a Victory-class cargo ship built during World War II. The Bucknell Victory was a type VC2-S-AP2 victory ship built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Yard 2, of Richmond, California. The Maritime Administration cargo ship was the 728th ship built. Her keel was laid on December 27, 1944. SS Bucknell Victory was an armed cargo ship, named for Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, one of 150 educational institutions that had Victory ships named after them. She was built in just 70 days, under the Emergency Shipbuilding program for World War II. The 10,600-ton ship was constructed for the Maritime Commission.

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

SS Cuba Victory was built and operated as Victory ship class cargo ship which operated as a cargo carrier in World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War.

USNS <i>Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell</i> Lt. James E. Robinson-class cargo ship

USNS Pvt. Joseph F. Merrell (T-AK-275),, was a Victory ship and the second ship of the Lt. James E. Robinson-class cargo ship built in 1944. The ship is named after Private Joseph F. Merrell, an American soldier who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II.

References

  1. 1 2 "HAER for Private Frederick C. Murphy" (PDF). United States Maritime Administration . Retrieved 6 August 2013. "In the summer of 1945, eighty-four VC2-S-AP2 Victory ships, including the Maritime Victory, were converted into troopships by MARITIME VICTORY the U.S. Maritime Commission in preparation for an assault on the Japanese home islands. The ship made several crossings of the Atlantic Ocean and was used to repatriate American troops from Europe after World War II. pp. 1-2
  2. 1 2 3 Maritime Victory ship history at US DOT Maritime Administration Amer. So. African Line, Inc.
  3. ↑ The Evening Standard, "The Local Events of Other Years", p. 4, 19 May 1955
  4. ↑ Chester Times, 26 October 1945
  5. ↑ Nebraska State Journal , 24 November 1945
  6. ↑ Moberly-Monitor-Index, 18 December 1945
  7. 1 2 Paris Stars and Stripes , 8 January 1946
  8. ↑ Moberly-Monitor-Index, 15 February 1946
  9. ↑ Joplin Globe , 22 March 1946
  10. ↑ Moberly-Monitor-Index, 15 February 1946 and Joplin Globe, 18 February 1946
  11. ↑ Moberly Monitor-Index, 25 June 1946
  12. ↑ Denton Record-Chronicle , 4 August 1946
  13. ↑ Fulton Patriot, 15 August 1946
  14. ↑ The Lima News , 10 September 1946
  15. ↑ The Paris News, 14 October 1946
  16. ↑ Wisconsin State Journal , 22 October 1946
  17. ↑ Alton Evening Telegraph , 18 November 1946
  18. ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, 5 December 1946
  19. ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, 20 January 1947
  20. ↑ Moberly Monitor-Index, 21 February 1947
  21. ↑ Portland Press Herald , 7 March 1947
  22. ↑ Portland Press Herald, 27 March 1947
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.