SS Lane Victory facts for kids
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|} The SS Lane Victory is a special type of cargo ship called a Victory ship. It was used by the United States in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. In 1989, the ship was saved to become a museum ship in San Pedro, California. Because it is one of the few remaining Victory ships, it was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
The SS Lane Victory was named after Lane College. This college started as a high school for Black youths in 1882. It was founded in Jackson, Tennessee, by Isaac Lane, a bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Contents
- Serving in World War II
- Helping in the Korean War
- Serving in the Vietnam War
- After the Wars: A New Purpose
- A Museum Ship for Visitors
- Lane Victory in Movies and TV
- Awards and Honors
- See also
- Images for kids
Serving in World War II
The Lane Victory was built in Los Angeles by the California Shipbuilding Corporation. It was launched on May 31, 1945. Its first trip was on June 27, 1945. The ship carried important war supplies across the Pacific Ocean.
The War Shipping Administration asked the American President Lines to operate the ship. Merchant Mariners were the crew who sailed the ship. The United States Navy Armed Guard operated the ship's guns and helped with communications.
The Lane Victory made two trips in the Pacific. The first started on July 10, 1945, going to Manus Island. The second began on August 30, 1945, heading to Guam, Saipan, and Hawaii. The trip to Guam was to deliver food to the island. During this journey, the Lane Victory sailed through a very strong typhoon. The ship was tossed around by the storm for 14 days.
On February 27, 1946, its second voyage ended. After World War II finished, the ship started carrying aid. In March 1946, it began delivering goods to Europe as part of the Marshall Plan. When this aid plan ended, the Lane Victory was stored on May 11, 1948, at Suisun Bay, California.
Helping in the Korean War
In 1950, the Lane Victory was taken out of storage. By October 1950, it was back in service. The ship was sent to help evacuate Korean civilians and United Nations staff. This happened in Wonsan, North Korea.
In December 1950, the ship helped during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. It evacuated over 3,800 U.S. troops and 1,100 vehicles from Hungnam while under attack. The Lane Victory unloaded troops, vehicles, and cargo. Meanwhile, the cruiser USS Saint Paul and destroyers fired their guns to protect the ship.
After unloading, the ship took 7,010 men, women, and children to safety in the south. When the ship arrived, 7,011 passengers got off. This was because a baby had been born during the voyage! On October 10, 1953, the ship was again stored in Suisun Bay, California. Every year, a special Korean War tribute day is held on the SS Lane Victory. This event honors those who were saved by the ship.
Serving in the Vietnam War
In 1966, the ship was called back to duty for the Vietnam War. It helped move ammunition and supplies to and from the war zone in Vietnam. On April 29, 1970, the Lane Victory was stored again at Suisun Bay. It became part of the National Defense Reserve Fleet.
During its time in three wars, the ship traveled across the Far East Pacific. It also made several trips across the Atlantic Ocean. It even sailed all the way around the world once.
After the Wars: A New Purpose
The Lane Victory was kept in excellent condition while in storage at Suisun Bay. Because of this, the Maritime Administration decided to save it. President Ronald Reagan signed a law on October 18, 1988. This law gave the ship to the United States Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II. Joe Vernick, John Smith, and other Merchant Marine veterans had worked for many years to get the ship released.
Volunteers from the United States Merchant Marine Veterans of World War II worked for three years. They restored the ship to working condition. It had been slowly falling apart in Suisun Bay for almost 20 years. Many improvements were made to meet Coast Guard safety rules. In 1992, the ship was put in drydock. Its hull, the main body of the ship, was found to be strong. On September 10, 1992, its sea trials began. These tests proved the ship was ready to sail again.
In May 1994, the Lane Victory sailed south along the Baja Peninsula. It planned to join the Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien for the 50th Anniversary of D-Day in France. However, before reaching the Panama Canal, the Lane Victory had engine problems. This stopped it from crossing the Atlantic Ocean in time for the D-Day Anniversary. The ship returned to a California port after repairs.
In June 1994, the Lane Victory took part in a pretend Normandy invasion. This happened in the Santa Barbara Channel. It was part of the celebration for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. In September 1994, it escorted the Liberty ship SS Jeremiah O'Brien from San Pedro to San Francisco. This celebrated the Jeremiah O'Brien's return from its trip to Normandy.
On October 9, 2007, the SS Lane Victory received a Special Heritage Award. This award came from the World Ship Trust in San Diego.
Today, the ship is used as a training place. The Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles City Fire Department, and local police use it. The FBI, U.S. Coast Guard, and other U.S. Armed Forces also train there.
- Out of 534 Victory-class cargo ships built, only three are still working. These are the SS Lane Victory in Los Angeles, SS American Victory in Tampa, Florida, and SS Red Oak Victory in Richmond, California.
A Museum Ship for Visitors
After being acquired in 1988, the Lane Victory was towed to the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. This happened on June 12, 1989. It was then turned into a museum and a working ship again. In 1990, the Lane Victory was named a National Historic Landmark.
A group of volunteers maintains and operates the ship. They also run its two museums on board. On September 13, 2000, Congress passed Resolution 327. This recognized the SS Lane Victory for the service and sacrifices of the U.S. Merchant Marine during wars. The resolution stated that ships like the S.S. LANE VICTORY provided important support to the Armed Forces. They carried equipment, supplies, and people needed for war efforts.
In February 2012, the ship moved from Berth 94 in Los Angeles Harbor. This was near the Vincent Thomas Bridge. It moved to Berth 46 in Los Angeles Harbor. It reopened to the public on February 17, 2012. It moved again in early 2013 to Berth 49. Berth 46 was being changed into a future dock for large cruise ships.
USGS Satellite picture taken March 29, 2004. SS Lane Victoryis now at the near end of the dock on the left side. Berth 49 is to the left of the boat with the zig-zag white wake trail.
Lane Victory in Movies and TV
The Lane Victory has been used in many movies, TV shows, and commercials. This is because it is in excellent working condition. The ship's wakes (the trails left behind a moving ship) were used in the 1997 movie Titanic. They were used for the wakes of the titular ocean liner. The ship was also the setting for the end of the comedy film The Pest in the same year.
Other films where the ship appeared include: Black Ops (Deadwater) (2008), Flags of Our Fathers (2006), GI Jane (1997), Pearl Harbor (2001), The Thin Red Line (1998), U-571 (2000), and Twin Sitters (1994).
The ship was also shown in Visiting... with Huell Howser Episode 406.
Some TV shows featuring the ship are: Alias, Baywatch, California Gold, Mail Call (episode #70), MacGyver, Murder She Wrote, the National Geographic Channel, NCIS, Port Chicago Mutiny (TV movie), Return of the Pirates (History Channel), Special Ops Mission, and Unsolved Mysteries. In the King of the Hill episode "Returning Japanese: Part 2" (2002), the character Cotton is sent back to the U.S. aboard Lane Victory. The History Channel series Mail Call episode 6/04, "Lane Victory", was a full hour about the ship and the World War II Merchant Marine.
In 1999, the ship was used in a Ford Super Duty commercial. It also appeared in Disney's "Golden Dreams" commercial.
The engine displayed in Lane Victory's front exhibit space was used in the movie The Sand Pebbles (1966). It was the engine for the fictional gunboat USS San Pablo.
Awards and Honors
The Lane Victory earned several awards for its service. It received one ribbon for its World War II service. It earned two for its Korean War service: the United Nations Korea Medal and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation. It also received one for its Vietnam War service.
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States |
|
| Name | SS Lane Victory |
| Namesake | Lane College |
| Builder | California Shipbuilding (Calship) |
| Launched | 1945 Los Angeles, California |
| Maiden voyage | June 27, 1945 |
| In service | 1945 |
| Homeport | San Pedro, California |
| Identification |
|
| Status | Museum Ship |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | VC2-S-AP2 Victory Ship |
| Tonnage | 10,750 long tons deadweight (DWT) |
| Length | 455 feet |
| Beam | 62 feet |
| Draft | 28 feet 6 inches |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 17 knots |
| Range | 23,500 miles |
| Capacity | 500,000 cubic feet (approximate) |
| Complement | 62 United States Merchant Marine and United States Navy Armed Guard |
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | none |
| Aviation facilities | none |
|
Lane Victory
|
|
 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Berth 52, Port of San Pedro, San Pedro, California |
| Built | 1945 |
| Architect | California Shipbuilding Corporation |
| NRHP reference No. | 90002222 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | 14 December 1990 |
| Designated NHL | 14 December 1990 |
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See also
- SS Meredith Victory
- SS American Victory
- SS Red Oak Victory
- World War II United States Merchant Navy
Images for kids
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SS Lane Victory at the dock
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SS Lane Victory pulls into San Diego
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SS Lane Victory at Port of Los Angeles and Vincent Thomas Bridge
_victory_ship_SS_Lane_Victory_pulls_into_San_Diego_for_Memorial_Day_weekend.jpg)
