More maritime history on the way to the scrapyard

Readers are probably familiar with the famous Liberty Ships of World War II.




2.710 of these 10,000-ton merchant vessels were built from 1941-1945. By 1943, three ships were being completed every day, a feat of mass production previously unimaginable. They helped to replace the thousands of merchant ships sunk by German U-boats, and made possible the Allied invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy and France, as well as serving in large numbers in the Pacific.

However, many people don't know of the successor to the Liberty ship, the Victory ships.




They carried only a few hundred tons more freight than their predecessors, but were faster (15 to 17 knots as opposed to the Liberty's 11 knots). Their internal frames were spaced so as to make them less rigid, producing a more seaworthy ship that was less prone to damage in heavy weather, and their bow was streamlined to be more efficient at their higher cruising speed. 534 of them were built in the USA from 1943-1946, with 300 more being built in Canada and some in British shipyards. Here's SS Winthrop Victory being launched in 1945.




After the war, many Victory ships were taken into commercial service. Several hundred went to the Reserve Fleet for possible future use, but few were called upon, and over time, many have been scrapped. Two were converted at considerable expense into electronic intelligence and surveillance vessels: one of them, formerly the SS Simmons Victory, was re-christened USS Liberty.




She became world-famous after the controversial attack on her by Israeli forces in 1967. She's shown below after the attack, severely damaged and listing to starboard.




Three Victory ships have been restored as museum vessels: SS American Victory in Tampa, Florida; SS Lane Victory in Los Angeles, California; and SS Red Oak Victory in Richmond, California. There are only four Victory ships left in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, all in very decrepit condition, and the time has come for them to be scrapped. The Pan American Victory left the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet base earlier this year, on her way to the scrapyards in Texas. She'll be followed by her sister ships, Earlham Victory, Rider Victory, and Winthrop Victory. As far as I'm aware, they're the last World War II-vintage general cargo ships left in the Reserve Fleet, and with their passing will go a piece of history.

Here's a photograph of Pan American Victory being towed stern-first through the Panama Canal on her last voyage.




Farewell to four faithful servants, in war and in peace.

Peter