| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Namesake | American University |
| Builder | California Shipbuilding Yard, Los Angeles, California |
| Yard number | 272 |
| Laid down | 30 March 1945 |
| Launched | 24 May 1945 |
| Acquired | 20 June 1945 |
| In service | 1945 |
| Out of service | 1969 (Final) |
| Identification | IMO number: 5014680 |
| Status | Museum Ship, Tampa, Florida |
| Notes | Ship radio callsign: KKUI |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | VC2-S-AP2 Victory Ship |
| Tonnage | 10,750 long tons deadweight (DWT) |
| Length | 455 ft (139 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) |
| Range | 23,500 mi (20,400 nmi; 37,800 km) |
| Capacity | 500,000 cu ft (14,000 m3) (approximate) |
| Complement | 40-62 United States Merchant Marine plus 25 United States Navy Armed Guard (during WWII only). |
| Sensors and processing systems | Modern Surface Search Radar, fitted in 1980s |
| Armament | |
| Location | 705 Channelside Dr, Berth 271, Tampa, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°56′38″N 82°26′39″W / 27.94389°N 82.44417°W |
| Built | 1945, in just three months |
| Built by | California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, CA |
| NRHP reference No. | 01001533[1] |
| Added to NRHP | 4 February 2002 |
SS American Victory is a Victory ship which saw service during the final months of World War II in the Pacific Theater of Operations, the Korean War from 1951–1954, and the Vietnam War from 1966–1969. Built in June 1945, she carried ammunition and other cargo from Los Angeles to Southeast Asia, then ferried cargo, equipment and troops back to the U.S. after the war ended. She survived two typhoons and one hurricane.[2]
American Victory spent part of the period between 1946 and 1966 chartered to commercial carriers and the other part in two stints in U.S. reserve fleets. From 1966 to 1969 she delivered cargo to Southeast Asia in the Vietnam War, then three decades again in reserve.
In April 1999, she was turned over to a preservation organization to serve as a museum ship.[2] Today she is the main feature of the American Victory Ship & Museum, also known as the American Victory Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship in Tampa, Florida's Channel District.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 9 July 2010.
- ^ a b "SS American Victory". Historic Naval Ships Association. Retrieved 23 July 2011.