SS Canada Victory

The SS Canada Victory was one of 531 Victory ships built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation on January 12, 1944, and was completed on February 28, 1944. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 93 (1009). The Maritime Commission turned her over to a civilian contractor, the Alaska SS Company, for operation.[2]

Typical Victory ship
History
United States
NameCanada Victory
OwnerWar Shipping Administration
OperatorAlaska SS Company
BuilderOregon Shipbuilding Company
Laid downJanuary 22, 1944
LaunchedMarch 20, 1944
CompletedApril 19, 1944
FateSank in action April 27, 1945, at Okinawa, with loss of 3 crew members
General characteristics
TypeVC2-S-AP3 Victory ship
Tonnage
Displacement15,200 tons
Length455 ft (139 m)
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draft28 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
Speed16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph)
Boats & landing
craft carried		4 Lifeboats
Complement62 Merchant Marine and 28 US Naval Armed Guards
Armament
Notes[1]

World War II

The Canada Victory was used as a cargo ship in World War II. She was sent to Okinawa to supply ammunition for the Battle of Okinawa on April 27, 1945; while unloading the ammunition at Naval Base Okinawa, she was hit by a kamikaze attack airplane in cargo hold five. A large explosion blew out the side of the ship, and she sank in seven minutes at 26.23N 127.41E, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west of Tokashiki Island. Two armed guards and one merchant mariner were killed, and twelve crew members were wounded in the attack.[3][4] The USS Pakana, a fleet ocean tug, picked up survivors of the Canada Victory.

The SS Logan Victory and SS Hobbs Victory were also hit by kamikaze planes at Okinawa. The Logan Victory and Hobbs Victory sank as fires on them grew. The SS Pierre Victory was able to shoot down one plane and move away from the burning ships.[5] Canada Victory was one of three Victory ships,[6] and one of forty-seven ships sunk by kamikaze attack during World War II.[7]

The loss of the three Victory ships, each sunk by kamikaze attacks during the invasion of Okinawa, severely hurt the combat forces. The ships were carrying a total of 24,000 tons (54 million pounds) of ammunition; including most of the 81 mm mortar shells needed for the invasion.

The ammunition ship SS Saginaw Victory arrived April 12, 1945, at Okinawa to replace the ammunition lost on the ships. More ammunition ships were not needed, as the war came to an end without the invasion of Japan, called Operation Downfall.[5] The other ammunition ship at Okinawa was the SS Berea Victory.[8][7][9]

Honors

The crew of Naval Armed Guards on the Canada Victory' earned Battle Stars in World War II for war action during the assault and occupation of Okinawa from April 26 to 27, 1945.[10]

References
  1. Babcock & Wilcox (April 1944). "Victory Ships". Marine Engineering and Shipping Review.
  2. shipbuildinghistory.com Merchant ships Victory ships
  3. Chronological List of U.S. Ships Sunk or Damaged during 1945, Ships sunk or damaged during 1945 -- 182 ships
  4. Mariners, The Website Of The Mariners Mailing List.,Victory Ships - C
  5. US Navy, Armed Guard Service
  6. "kamikaze Attacks". Archived from the original on 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  7. "47 Ships Sunk by Kamikaze Aircraft". Archived from the original on 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  8. "kamikaze Attacks". Archived from the original on 2010-07-02. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
  9. A Cargo Doomed to Boom, by John Laughton
  10. usmm.org, "Battle Stars" in World War II.

Sources
  • Sawyer, L.A. and W.H. Mitchell. Victory ships and tankers: The history of the ‘Victory’ type cargo ships and of the tankers built in the United States of America during World War II, Cornell Maritime Press, 1974, 0-87033-182-5.
  • United States Maritime Commission:
  • Victory Cargo Ships
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