Name SS Claymont Victory Sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Holt Out of service 1971 Launched 18 November 1944 | Laid down September 25, 1944 Acquired December 15, 1944 Construction started 25 September 1944 Length 139 m | |
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Builder Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation | ||
SS Claymont Victory was a Victory ship-based troop transport built for the U.S. Army Transportation Corps late in World War II. It saw service in the European Theater of Operations during 1945 and in the immediate post-war period repatriating U.S. troops.
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After being briefly laid up in the U.S. Claymont Victory was purchased by Vereenigde Nederlandsche Scheepvaartmaatschapppij of the Netherlands and renamed Mariekerk. In 1966 she was sold to Kavo Compañia Naviera S.A., of Greece and renamed Kavo Longos. She was scrapped at Whampoa Dock, Hong Kong, in 1971.
Construction and operation
SS Claymont Victory was laid down on September 25, 1944 as a U.S. MARCOM Type C2 ship-based VC2-S-AP2 hull by Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard of Baltimore, Maryland. Launched on November 18, 1944, she was then converted into a dedicated troopship, and delivered on December 15, 1944. She was operated on behalf of USAT by Eastern Steamship Lines.
World War II
As a transport allocated to the U.S. Army USAT Claymont Victory was crewed by United States Merchant Marines, protected by a contingent of the US Naval Armed Guards, and had a complement of the US Army Transportation Corps (Water Division) aboard for troop administration.
She was armed with a 5 inch (127 mm) stern gun for use against submarines and surface ships, a bow-mounted 3"/50 caliber gun and eight 20 mm cannon for use against aircraft.
Units transported
Units transported by the SS Claymont Victory include:
Post-war
After being briefly laid up in the U.S., SS Claymont Victory was purchased in 1947 by Vereenigde Nederlandsche Scheepvaartmaatschapppij (the United Netherlands Navigation Company) of The Hague and renamed Mariekerk. In 1966 she was sold to Kavo Compañia Naviera S.A. of Greece, and registered in Monrovia as Kavo Longos. In 1971 she was scrapped at Whampoa Dock, Hong Kong.