USS Las Vegas Victory (AK-229)

USS Las Vegas Victory (AK-229) at anchor, probably in Puget Sound at the end of 1945 or at San Francisco after arriving there in February 1946.
History
United States
Name:	Las Vegas Victory
Namesake:	Las Vegas, Nevada
Ordered:	as type (VC2-S-AP2) hull, MCV hull 538
Builder:	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number:	Yard No.1
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. E. W. Cragin
Acquired:	25 October 1944
Commissioned:	25 October 1944
Decommissioned:	8 April 1946
Struck:	17 April 1946
Identification:	Hull symbol:AK-229
Honours and awards:	one battle star for World War II service
Fate:	transferred to the Reserve Fleet
Status:	scrapped, 22 December 1993
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 × Foster Wheeler 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:	1 × 5 in (130 mm)/38 caliber dual purpose gun 1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber dual purpose gun 8 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft gun mounts

USS Las Vegas Victory (AK-229) was a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations through the end of the war earning one battle star, and then returned to the United States for disposal.

Las Vegas Victory, a cargo ship, was launched 1944 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. E. W. Cragin; acquired by the Navy 25 October 1944 and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. William P. Lally in command.

After shakedown along the U.S. West Coast. Las Vegas Victory departed Astoria, Oregon, 26 November for the Pacific islands. Sailing via Eniwetok and Ulithi, the cargo ship arrived Kossol Passage, Palau Islands, 31 December, laden with 7,600 tons of vital ammunition.

From January to March 1945, Las Vegas Victory shuttled ammunition among the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands, and replenished the fighting ships as they moved closer to the Japanese homeland. Departing Ulithi 25 March, she sailed for the with units heading for Okinawa. Making her way through submarine infested waters, the cargo ship arrived off Okinawa on the 31st, and replenished two escort carriers with ammunition.

On 1 April the invasion of Okinawa started the removal of the last barrier “on the road to Japan.” Under constant attack by Japanese suicide pilots, Las Vegas Victory passed ammunition to battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and LCT’s until late May. Arriving San Pedro, Leyte, 10 June, she loaded more ammunition and sailed for Eniwetok 19 July.