SS Tufts Victory

Last updated
WSA Photo 4235.jpg
California Shipbuilding Company
History
US flag 48 stars.svgUnited States
NameTufts Victory
Namesake Tufts University
OwnerMaritime Commission
OperatorWar Shipping Administration through American Mail Line
Builder California Shipbuilding Company, Los Angeles
Laid down11 January 1945
Launched2 March 1945
Completed28 March 1945
IdentificationOfficial number: 247512
FateWrecked on 23 September 1969
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, by Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., Essington
Speed16.5 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried
4 Lifeboats
Complement62 Merchant Marine and 28 US Naval Armed Guards
Armament
Notes [1]

The SS Tufts Victory was a class of Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on 2 March 194. The ship was completed and delivered to the wartime operator of all United States oceangoing shipping, the War Shipping Administration (WSA), on 28 March 1945. Tufts Victory, official number 247512, was assigned to American Mail Line, under a standard WSA operating agreement at that time. That agreement continued until the ship's sale in 1947. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 771. Tufts Victory was converted from a cargo ship to a troopship to bring troops home after the war as part of Operation Magic Carpet.

Contents

Tufts Victory was one of the new 10,500-ton class ship to be known as Victory ships. Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II. 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, had a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure and had a long raised forecastle. [2] [3] The ship's namesake is for Tufts University on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. The SS Tufts Victory was a Victory ship laId down on 11 January 1945 and one of a series of ships named for American colleges and universities.

Typical Victory Ship RedOakVictory-2013-07-20.jpg
Typical Victory Ship

World War II

Tufts Victory served as a troopship taking troops to and from Europe. [4] [5] Tufts Victory and 96 other Victory ships were converted to troopships take troops to Europe. Later she was used to bring the US soldiers home as part of Operation Magic Carpet from port cities known as Cigarette Camps. She was able to transport up to 1,500 troops to and from Europe. Her cargo holds were converted to bunk beds and hammocks stack three high for hot bunking. In the cargo hold Mess halls and exercise places were also added. [6] [7]

Post war

After the war, she was laid up at the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in 1947. In 1947 she was sold the Rotterdam Lloyd company (became Nedlloyd later) of Rotterdam and renamed the SS Samarinda. In 1962 she was sold to the Far Eastern Navigation Corporation of Keelung, Taiwan and renamed SS Chun Lee. In 1964 she was rename SS Cherry Victory. On 23 September 1969 Cherry Victory ran aground at Sumatra in the Strait of Malacca at 5°10′12″N97°16′48″E / 5.1700°N 97.280°E / 5.1700; 97.280 . She as refloated, but not worth repairing, she was scrapped at Keelung in 1970. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

SS Samarinda (1912)

SS Samarinda built in 1912 SS Samarinda (1912) ship.jpg
SS Samarinda built in 1912

The first Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd (Rotterdam Lloyd) ship with the name SS Samarinda was a 6825 gross ton (12,300 tons displacement) cargo ship. She was built at Port Glasgow, Scotland, was built in 1912. In 1918 she was seized by United States Government 20 March 1918 at New York under the right of angary for World War I uses as a military transport, for troops, good and then 550 horses. On 14 May 1919 she was returned to Rotterdam Lloyd. In 1932 the SS Samarinda (1912) was scrapped at Ghent, Belgium. [13] [14] [15]

See also

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

SS Colby Victory was the 84th Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on January 27, 1945, and completed on March 12, 1945. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2- S- AP3, hull number V50, built in 83 days. SS Colby Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. The 10,500-ton Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty ships. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II. Victory ships were designed to last longer and serve 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.

The SS Cranston Victory was the 19th of 531 Victory ships built during World War II. Cranston was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on 12 January 1944, completing its journey on 28 February 1944. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 103 (1019). The Maritime Commission turned it over to a civilian contractor, the South Atlantic Steamship Company, for operation.

SS <i>U.S.S.R. Victory</i> Victory ship of the United States

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

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

The SS Mexico Victory was the 7th Victory ship built during World War II. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on March 27, 1944, and completed on May 19, 1944. She was built in 114 days under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 7 (V-7). SS Mexico Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. The 10,500-ton Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II. 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 Mexico Victory was the 7th of a long line of Victory ships to leave the Calship building. The launching of the SS Mexico Victory splashed into the water of Wilmington, Los Angeles.

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

SS Georgetown Victory was a Victory ship built for the War Shipping Administration late in World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was a type VC2-S-AP2/WSAT cargo ship with the United States Maritime Commission (MCV) -"Victory"; hull number 653, shipyard number 1597 and built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in Baltimore, Maryland, she was laid down on 8 March 1945. Georgetown Victory, named after Georgetown University, was launched from the Bethlehem-Fairfield shipyard at Baltimore on April 28, 1945 and completed on 22 May 1945.

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

SS India Victory was a Victory ship built and operated as a cargo carrier and troopship in World War II. After the war the ship was used a private cargo ship. She sank on 12 July 1972, ran aground on a Pratas Reef in the South China in Typhoon Susan.

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

SS Smith Victory was a Victory ship cargo ship built for the U.S. Maritime Commission during the final months of World War II. She was converted to be a troop ship.

SS <i>St. Albans Victory</i> United States Merchant Marine ship

SS St. Albans Victory was a Victory ship cargo ship built for the U.S. Maritime Commission during the final months of World War II. She was converted to be a troop ship.

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

The SS Wheaton Victory was a class of Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on 22 March 1945. The ship was completed and delivered to the wartime operator of all United States oceangoing shipping, the War Shipping Administration (WSA), on 14 April 1945. Wheaton Victory was assigned to Marine Transport Line, under a standard WSA operating agreement at that time. That agreement continued until the ship's sale in 1947. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 776. Wheaton Victory was converted from a cargo ship to a troopship to bring troops home after the war as part of Operation Magic Carpet.

References

  1. Babcock & Wilcox (April 1944). "Victory Ships". Marine Engineering and Shipping Review.
  2. "National parks, Reading 2: Victory Ships".
  3. "Victory Ships".
  4. "Troopships of World War II". www.armed-guard.com.
  5. "marad.dot.gov, Troop s ships" (PDF).
  6. "1945 Troop Ship Crossings - July to December". www.ww2troopships.com.
  7. "Troop Ship of World War II, April 1947, Page 356-357" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-10-30. Retrieved 2022-01-11.
  8. "TUFTS VICTORY". vesselhistory.marad.dot.gov.
  9. "TEI | Concise Encyclopedia of Tufts History | ID: f1881x54h | Tufts Digital Library". dl.tufts.edu.
  10. "vicshipsT". www.mariners-l.co.uk.
  11. "Samarinda= Samarinda". Ships Nostalgia. 20 March 2009.
  12. "SAMARINDA - IMO 5072436 - ShipSpotting.com - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker". www.shipspotting.com.
  13. "Civilian Ships--Samarinda (Dutch Freighter, 1912)". www.ibiblio.org.
  14. "Civilian Ships--Samarinda (Dutch Freighter, 1912)". www.shipscribe.com.
  15. US Navy, S Samarinda (1912

Sources