SS Pierre Victory

Last updated
RedOakVictory-2013-07-20.jpg
Typical Victory ship
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameSS Pierre Victory
Namesake Pierre, South Dakota
OwnerWar Shipping Administration
OperatorUnited States Lines
Builder Oregon Shipbuilding Company
Laid downOct. 30, 1944
LaunchedDecember 6, 1944
CompletedFebruary 5, 1945
FateScrapped Taiwan in 1971
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)
Draft28 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 Pierre 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 5, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 150. The Maritime Commission turned it over for merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the United States Lines under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. [2] She was named after Pierre, South Dakota, the capital of the US state of South Dakota. The sponsor and christening of the SS Pierre Victory on Dec. 6, 1944 was Mrs. Emma S. Jassmann of Pierre, she had five sons who served during World War II,. The city of Pierre and the Pierre Chamber of Commerce sent Mrs. Jassmann to Oregon. The Mayor of City of Pierre, John B. Griffin, was also at the christening with other Pierre residents. [3] [4] She was built in only 98 days. 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. [5] 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 Pierre Victory survived three separate kamikaze attacks by the Japanese in 1945. [6]

Contents

World War II

For World War II the Pierre Victory was operated by United States Lines and had United States Navy Armed Guard to man the deck guns. The Pierre Victory was used for the dangerous job of being an ammunition ship. She was loaded up with 6,000 pounds of ammunition at the Beaver ammunition dump near Clatskanie, Oregon on the Columbia River. She departed the states and arrived at Okinawa on April 12, 1945 in a fleet of merchant ships serving in the Pacific War. Due to her cargo she was not allowed to anchor with the main fleet, but at Kerama Retto, a tiny group of islands 15 miles west of Okinawa, Japan. The Pierre Victory was a supplier of ammunition for operations in the Battle of Okinawa lasting from the April 1 until June 22, 1945. On April 6, 1945 the ammunition ships SS Logan Victory and SS Hobbs Victory were set ablaze and sank after kamikaze attack planes hit them. Pierre Victory was credited with shooting down one of the kamikaze planes that hit the water about 60 yards off her starboard side. While the Logan Victory and Hobbs Victory were ablaze, the Pierre Victory raised anchor and moved away from the two burning ships. Her only other close call came on April 27 when artillery shells landed within 100 yards of her. On April 27, 1945 the ammunition ship SS Canada Victory, sank after a kamikaze attack. The loss of the three ammunition Victory ships severely hurt the combat forces. These ships were carrying a total of 24,000 tons (54 million pounds) of ammunition; including most of the 81 mm mortar shells needed for the invasion. Pierre Victory survived, and she was able to unload all her ammunition over 12 days with the help of a Naval Construction Battalion. DUKW amphibious truck, Landing Ship, Tank (LST), Landing craft tank (LCT) and Landing Craft Mechanizeds (LCMs) were used to unload the ammunition. [7] [8] [9] [10] More ammunition ships were not needed as the war came to an end without the invasion of Japan, called Operation Downfall. [8] Forty-seven ships were sunk by kamikaze attacks during World War II. [11] [10] [12] [13] [14]

End-of-War activity

Pierre Victory ported at Wake Island on 24 October 1945. A heavy storm hit on 28 and 29 October. Pierre Victory's mooring buoys were ripped loose and she hit a coral reef. The USS Rinehart, a destroyer escort, helped get the Pierre Victory off the reef and into safe water to ride out the storm. [15] [16]

War Relief and Seacowboys

In 1946 after World War II the Pierre Victory was converted to a livestock ship, also called a cowboy ship. From 1945 to 1947 the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Brethren Service Committee of the Church of the Brethren sent livestock to war-torn countries. These "seagoing cowboys" made about 360 trips on 73 different ships. The Heifers for Relief project was started by the Church of the Brethren in 1942; in 1953 this became Heifer International. [17] The SS Pierre Victory was one of these ships, known as cowboy ships, as she moved livestock across the Atlantic Ocean. Pierre Victory Victory made 6 trips she took 780 horses, several thousand baby chicks and hay bales to on each trip to Poland and Greece. Pierre Victory Victory moved horses, heifers, and mules as well as a some chicks, rabbits, and goats. [18] [19] [20] [21] [22]

In 1948 with her war and relief work done Pierre Victory was laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Wilmington, North Carolina and later transferred to Astoria, Oregon.

Korean War

SS Pierre Victory served as merchant marine ship supplying goods for the Korean War. About 75 percent of the personnel taken to Korea for the Korean War came by merchant marine ship. SS Pierre Victory transported goods, mail, food and other supplies. About 90 percent of the cargo was moved by merchant marine naval to the war zone. SS Pierre Victory made trips between 1950 and 1952, helping American forces engaged against Communist aggression in South Korea. In 1952 she was returned to the National Defense Reserve Fleet. [23] [24]

Vietnam War

In 1967, she was sold to the Columbia Steamship Company, Wilmington, Delaware and renamed SS Columbia Eagle. In 1970 she was hijacked with cargo of ammunition and the hijackers took her to Cambodia. The ship was under contract with the Military Sea Transportation Service to carry napalm bombs to be used by the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and was originally bound for Sattahip, Thailand. The two mutineers hijackers requested political asylum from the Cambodian government which was initially granted but they were later arrested and jailed. Columbia Eagle was returned to U.S. control in April 1970. [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] The Pierre Victory/Columbia Eagle. was scrapped in 1971 at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. [32]

See also

Related Research Articles

The SS Columbia Eagle incident refers to a mutiny that occurred aboard the U.S. flagged merchant vessel Columbia Eagle in March 1970 when two crewmembers seized the vessel with the threat of a bomb and handgun, and forced the master to sail to Cambodia. The ship was under contract with the Military Sea Transportation Service to carry napalm bombs to be used by the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War and was originally bound for Sattahip, Thailand. During the mutiny, 24 of the crew were forced into two lifeboats and set adrift in the Gulf of Thailand while the remainder of the crew were forced to take the ship to a bay near Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The two mutineers requested political asylum from the Cambodian government which was initially granted but they were later arrested and jailed. Columbia Eagle was returned to U.S. control in April 1970. This is the only mutiny of a United States Ship in recent history.

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.

SS Mercer Victory was a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship built for World War II. Mercer Victory, a Victory ship, was launched 14 March 1945 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California and operated by the States Marine Line. At the ceremonial ship launching, Mercer University President Spright Dowell said the SS Mercer Victory should strive: “to do her full-part for the national defense” and “to study a plan for after war conditions and needs.”

USS <i>Alcor</i> (AK-259) Cargo ship of the United States Navy

USS Alcor, AK-259, was a Greenville Victory-class cargo ship in service with the United States Navy from 1952 to 1968. She was originally built in 1944 as SS Rockland Victory, a World War II era Victory ship. She was sold for scrap in 1970.

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

The SS Carroll Victory was the twenty-seventh Victory ship built during the World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on June 13, 1944, and completed on August 31, 1944. The ship was named after Carroll, Iowa. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 with a hull number 27 (V-27). It was operated by the Lykes Brothers SS Company and it served in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. The Carroll was one of the new 10,500-ton class ship known as Victory ships that were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Unlike Liberty ships, Victory ships were designed to last longer and serve the US Navy after the war. The Victory ships differed from Liberty ships in that they were faster, longer and wider, taller, had a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure, and had a long raised forecastle.

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>Canada Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

The SS Canada Victory was one of 531 Victory ships built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on January 12, 1944, and was completed on February 28, 1944. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 93 (1009). The Maritime Commission turned her over to a civilian contractor, the Alaska SS Company, for operation.

SS <i>Logan Victory</i> Cargo ship

SS Logan Victory was a cargo Victory ship built for World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The Logan Victory was launched January 16, 1945, by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California and completed on February 6, 1945. She was operated by the American-Hawaiian Steamship Company under the United States Maritime Commission.

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

SS Hobbs Victory was a cargo Victory ship built for World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. Hobbs Victory, was launched on January 9, 1945 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California and completed on January 9, 1945. She was built in just 87 days. She was operated by the Sudden & Christenson for the United States Maritime Commission.

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>Frontenac Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

SS Frontenac Victory was a Victory ship built for the United States War Shipping Administration late in World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It saw service in the European Theater of Operations in the Atlantic Ocean during 1945, and in the immediate post-war period. SS Frontenac Victory was part of the series of Victory ships named after cities; this particular ship was named after the city of Frontenac, Missouri. It was a type VC2-S-AP2/WSAT cargo ship with the U.S. Maritime Commission (MARCOM), "Victory" (MCV) hull number 625, shipyard number 1597, and built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland.

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>Minot Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

The SS Minot 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 1, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 149 (1203). 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 Minot, Maine and Minot, North Dakota.

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>Bozeman Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

SS Bozeman 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 December 9, 1944 and completed on February 17, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3 and hull number 151 (1205). She was built in just 106 days. The Maritime Commission turned it over for Merchant navy operation to a civilian contractor, the Alaska SS Company under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration. She was named after the city of Bozeman, Montana.

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

SS Attleboro Victory was a Victory ship built for the War Shipping Administration late in World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. It saw service in the European Theater of Operations in the Atlantic Ocean during 1945, and in the immediate post-war period. Attleboro Victory was part of the series of Victory ships named after famous cities. This particular ship was named after the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts. It was a type VC2-S-AP2/WSAT cargo ship with the United States Maritime Commission (MCV) -"Victory"; hull number 642, shipyard number 1597 and built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland. Phyllis O'Neil of Attleboro, Massachusetts christened Attleboro Victory with a champagne bottle.

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

SS Morgantown Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. Morgantown Victory (MCV-632) was a type VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship built by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards. The Maritime Administration cargo ship was the 632nd ship built. The ship is named for the city of Morgantown, West Virginia. Her keel was laid on 12 December 1944. She was launched on 5 February 1945 and completed on 28 February 1945. The 10,600-ton ship was constructed for the Maritime Commission. The States Marine Line operated her under the United States Merchant Marine act for the War Shipping Administration.

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 SS 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

The SS Berea Victory (MCV-734) was a type VC2-S-AP2 Victory-class cargo ship built for the United States during World War II. The ship was built as part of the Emergency Shipbuilding program by Permanente Metals Corporation in Yard 2 of the Richmond Shipyards in Richmond, California. Launched in 3 March 1945, the Berea Victory delivered supplies for the Pacific War.

USNS <i>Norwalk</i> (T-AK-279) United States Navy auxiliary ship

USNS Norwalk (T-AK-279) was the first in her class, a Fleet Ballistic Missile Cargo Ship, which was launched as a World War II commercial Victory cargo ship SS Norwalk Victory under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The Norwalk Victory was acquired by the U.S. Navy in 1963.

References

  1. Babcock & Wilcox (April 1944). "Victory Ships". Marine Engineering and Shipping Review.
  2. shipbuildinghistory.com Merchant ships Victory ships
  3. USS Pierre has State Historical Society remembering other Pierre vessels
  4. drgnews.com, USS Pierre has State Historical Society remembering other Pierre vessels, February 11, 2019, by Jody Heemstra
  5. "Liberty Ships and Victory Ships --Setting the Stage". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  6. Pierre Victory and landlock state, 14 February 2019
  7. US Navy, Action at Okinawa
  8. 1 2 US Navy, Armed Guard Service
  9. "kamikaze Attacks".
  10. 1 2 "47 Ships Sunk by Kamikaze Aircraft".
  11. "kamikaze Attackes".
  12. US Navy, Armed Guard Service, Action at Okinawa
  13. armed-guard.com, The Pierre Victory In, Enemy Action - April 6, 1945, By Charles C. Bartley
  14. railsoft, Hobbs Victory
  15. US Navy Typhoons and Hurricanes: Pacific Typhoon at Okinawa, October 1945
  16. usmm, damaged ships 1945
  17. Heifer International
  18. Sea going cowboys
  19. Seacowboys report
  20. Who were the Seagoing Cowboys, by Jackie Turnquist
  21. Seagoing Cowboys, S. S. Pierre Victory, by Peggy Reiff Miller
  22. Swarthmore library, Seagoing Cowboys
  23. Korean War Educator, Merchant Marine, Accounts of the Korean War
  24. Small United States and United Nations Warships in the Korean War, By Paul M. Edwards
  25. Andrews, Evan, "6 Famous Naval Mutinies," November 6, 2012, History in the Headlines newsletter, retrieved March 1, 2018 from History.com .
  26. Cronkite, Walter, and Nelson Benton, "Columbia Eagle / Mutiny / Cambodia," segment #208707, in transcript: CBS Evening News for 1970-03-16, from the Vanderbilt Television News Archive, Vanderbilt University, retrieved March 1, 2018.
  27. Hoffman, Fred S., Associated Press, "U.S. Bomb Ship Seized in Mutiny: Anchored Off Cambodia", March 16, 1970, San Bernardino Sun, San Bernardino, California, Volume 76, Number 137, pp.1-2, photocopy at retrieved March 1, 2018 from OCR transcription in California Digital Newspaper Collection .
  28. "Mutiny Involved 5: Captain,", March 19, 1970, Nashville Tennessean, Page 13 retrieved March 1, 2018 from OCR transcription in Newspapers.com .
  29. "U.S. Asks Return of Ship," March 25, 1970, (appended to end of subsequent March 26, 1970 article "Two Who Say They Support S.D.S. Tell How They Hijacked Ship,") in New York Times archives, retrieved March 1, 2018.
  30. Emery, Fred, "Two Who Say They Support S.D.S. Tell How They Hijacked Ship," March 26, 1970, New York Times archives, retrieved March 1, 2018.
  31. Associated Press, "2 American Ship Hijackers Want to Quit Cambodia," written July 3, 1970, published July 4, 1970, New York Times, retrieved March 1, 2018 from the Harold Weisberg Archive, Hood College, Maryland.
  32. Mariners, Victory Ships - P

Sources