SS American Victory facts for kids
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Namesake | American University |
| Builder | California Shipbuilding Yard, Los Angeles, California |
| Yard number | 272 |
| Laid down | 30 March 1945 |
| Launched | 24 May 1945 |
| Acquired | 20 June 1945 |
| In service | 1945 |
| Out of service | 1969 (Final) |
| Identification | IMO number: 5014680 |
| Status | Museum Ship, Tampa, Florida |
| Notes | Ship radio callsign: KKUI |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | VC2-S-AP2 Victory Ship |
| Tonnage | 10,750 long tons deadweight (DWT) |
| Length | 455 ft (139 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) |
| Range | 23,500 mi (20,400 nmi; 37,800 km) |
| Capacity | 500,000 cu ft (14,000 m3) (approximate) |
| Complement | 40-62 United States Merchant Marine plus 25 United States Navy Armed Guard (during WWII only). |
| Sensors and processing systems |
Modern Surface Search Radar, fitted in 1980's |
| Armament |
|
| Location | 705 Channelside Dr, Berth 271, Tampa, Florida |
| Built | 1945, in just three months |
| Built by | California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, CA |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001533 |
| Added to NRHP | 4 February 2002 |
The SS American Victory is a special kind of cargo ship called a Victory ship. She played a part in important events like World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Built in June 1945, she carried supplies and troops across the oceans.
This ship survived two typhoons and one hurricane during her active years. After her military service, she spent many years in storage fleets. In 1999, she was saved and became a museum ship. Today, she is a main attraction at the American Victory Ship & Museum in Tampa, Florida.
Contents
History of the American Victory
Building and World War II Service
The American Victory was named after the American University in Washington, D.C. She was built very quickly at the California Shipbuilding Corporation yard in Los Angeles, California. It took only 55 days to build her main structure. She was ready for duty by June 20, 1945.
As a United States Merchant Marine ship, she carried supplies for the United States Army. She picked up cargo in Los Angeles and other West Coast ports. Then, she sailed to Manila in the Philippines. The war ended while she was in Manila.
After the war, she took her remaining cargo to Shanghai, China. For the next two months, she sailed around the South China Sea and the Bay of Bengal. In November 1945, she loaded military supplies in places like Calcutta and Port Said, Egypt. These supplies were returned to the United States. She arrived in New York in January 1946, finishing her first big journey.
Post-World War II Journeys
From 1946 to 1947, the American Victory was used by American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines. She carried food and machines from the U.S. to Europe and Russia. This was part of the Marshall Plan, which helped rebuild Europe after the war. She visited many ports, including Trieste, Italy, and Antwerp, Belgium.
In January 1947, she was leaving Odesa, Ukraine, when the Black Sea froze. Her captain, A. D. Cushman, decided to use the ship to break through the ice. This helped her and other ships leave the Black Sea. After this, she was stored in the Hudson River Reserve Fleet.
Korean and Vietnam War Service
The American Victory was brought back into service during the Korean War. From 1951 to 1954, she carried supplies for the war effort. After this, she was stored again in the Sabine River Reserve Fleet in Texas.
In 1966, she was again taken out of storage. She was used to carry military equipment to American forces in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. In October 1969, she was put back into storage in the James River Reserve Fleet in Virginia. She stayed there until 1985.
The ship was then updated as part of a program to see how much work it would take to get old Victory ships ready again. About $2.5 million was spent to make her fully working. She sailed for only 26 hours before returning to the Naval Reserve Fleet.
The American Victory Today
In the late 1990s, many World War II Victory ships were planned to be scrapped. But the American Victory was saved by people who wanted to preserve her. She arrived in Tampa, Florida, on September 16, 1999. This was the start of her new life as a museum ship.
After a lot of work, she was fully working again by 2003. Today, she is open for visitors and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. You can take guided or self-guided tours of the ship. Most parts of the ship are open to explore. This includes the officers' and crew's living areas, the kitchen, and the radio room. These areas have been restored to look like they did in the past.
The American Victory has been updated with modern radio and radar systems. She still has her original-style guns, including a 3-inch gun at the front and a 5-inch gun at the back.
This ship is fully operational and can sail. With some preparation, she can cruise in Tampa Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard checks the ship twice a year to make sure it is safe for visitors.
Out of 534 Victory ships built, only three are open to the public. These are the American Victory in Tampa, the SS Lane Victory in Los Angeles, and the SS Red Oak Victory in Richmond, California.
Museum Exhibits
The ship has many interesting exhibits in its No. 3 cargo hold. This area was turned into a museum space. One special exhibit is a propeller from a German submarine, the German submarine U-352. This submarine was sunk in 1942 and its propeller was found in 1979. The exhibit also has photos of the shipwreck.
You can also see models of different ships. These include a Clemson-class destroyer, a Fletcher-class destroyer, and a German Type VII U-boat. There are also old posters used to recruit people for the Merchant Marine. You can also see plaques from other Victory and Liberty ships that were sunk or scrapped. The museum also has a pretend ship's wheelhouse. There is also a real lifeboat and an exhibit about maritime signal flags.
Ship Awards
- Victory Medal
- Pacific War Zone Bar
- Philippine Liberation Ribbon
- Korean Service Ribbon
- Vietnam Service Ribbon
See also
- SS Maritime Victory, a similar VC2-S-AP2 Victory ship that was changed into a troopship
- SS Lane Victory
- SS Red Oak Victory
Images for kids
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Name plaque
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SS American Victory
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Engine room
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Bow
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Stern
