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SS Red Oak Victory (AK-235)

SS Red Oak Victory
RedOakVictory-2013-07-20.jpg
SS Red Oak Victory
History
 United States
Name: Red Oak Victory
Namesake: The city of Red Oak, Iowa
Builder: Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number: Yard No.1
Laid down: 9 September 1944
Launched: 7 November 1944
Acquired: 5 December 1944
Commissioned: 5 December 1944
Decommissioned: 21 May 1946
Out of service: 19 December 1969
Struck: 19 July 1946
Identification:
Fate: Released from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 19 September 1998 for restoration at the Richmond, California, Museum of History
Status: Museum at Richmond, California
General characteristics
Class and type: Boulder Victory-class cargo ship
Displacement:
  • 4,480 long tons (4,550 t) (standard)
  • 15,580 long tons (15,830 t) (full load)
Length: 455 ft (139 m)
Beam: 62 ft (19 m)
Draft: 29 ft 2 in (8.89 m)
Installed power: 6,000 shp (4,500 kW)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × Westinghouse turbine
  • 2 × Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers, 525psi 750°
  • double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
  • 1 × shaft
Speed: 15.5 kn (17.8 mph; 28.7 km/h)
Complement: 99 officers and enlisted
Armament:
SS Red Oak Victory
RedOakVictory2.JPG
SS Red Oak Victory as seen from the dock in 2006, before extensive restoration work was performed
SS Red Oak Victory is located in California
SS Red Oak Victory
SS Red Oak Victory is located in the US
SS Red Oak Victory
Location Richmond, California
Coordinates 37°54′17.3″N 122°21′52″W / 37.904806°N 122.36444°W / 37.904806; -122.36444Coordinates: 37°54′17.3″N 122°21′52″W / 37.904806°N 122.36444°W / 37.904806; -122.36444
Built 1944
NRHP reference # 00001674
Added to NRHP 30 January 2000

SS Red Oak Victory is a U.S. military Victory ship of the Boulder Victory-class cargo ship used in the Second World War. She was preserved to serve as a museum ship in Richmond, California, and is part of the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. She was one of 534 Victories built during World War II, but one of only a few of these ships to be transferred from the Merchant Marine to the United States Navy. She was named after Red Oak, Iowa, which suffered a disproportionate number of casualties in early World War II battles. (Montgomery County ranked third among Iowa counties in World War II casualties per capita). The ship was active during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Red Oak Victory was built by the Permanente Metals Corporation's Richmond Number 1 Yard in Richmond, California and launched on 9 November 1944. Victory ships were not intended to be long lasting, but the welds of the Red Oak Victory are still intact after 60 years. The ship is 455 feet (139 m) in length, and armed with one five-inch/38 caliber gun; one three-inch/50 caliber gun, and eight 20 mm guns.

The ship was acquired by the United States Navy on 5 December 1944 and commissioned the same day as USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235). Following a fitting-out period, Red Oak Victory was loaded with cargo and departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor on 10 January 1945. Red Oak Victory departed Hawaii on 10 February loaded with munitions needed in the Marshall and Caroline islands. Sent onward from Enewetak, she arrived in Ulithi on 28 February, and then began operating under Commander Service Squadron Ten. Operating out of the Philippines, she issued cargo and ammunition to various ships in the fleet through the end of the war in August 1945. During a hazardous tour of duty in the Pacific, Red Oak Victory handled many tons of ammunition, supplying the fleet without a single casualty.


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