Name SS Gustavus Victory Sponsored by Marion Logan Renamed Santa Fe, 1947 Launched 9 July 1945 Tonnage 9.707 million kg | Laid down May 25, 1945 Decommissioned 1947 Construction started 25 May 1945 Length 139 m | |
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Namesake Gustavus Adolphus College Place built Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Balti, Maryland, United States Builder Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard | ||
SS Gustavus Victory was constructed in Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland. The 75th Victory ship, it was named for Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota, which was named for the 17th century King of Sweden Gustav II Adolf. The college made a gift towards furnishing a ship library, which comprised two 40-book units and was managed by the American Merchant Marine Library Association.
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History
Gustavus alumna of 1924, Marion Logan of New York, sponsored the ship. Marion was the wife of Rufus T. Logan, Captain in the Army Air Force, and daughter of former Gustavus professor Dr. John A. Youngquist.
Construction of the vessel took 38 days, and it was launched from the shipyard on July 9, 1945 at 4 p.m. Gustavus Victory was boarded and operated by A. L. Burbank Company, including Captain J. M. Delhome and Chief Engineer Albert L. Hayes. It was converted to a troopship for returning European veterans at the end of World War II before being transferred to the Pacific theater of war. The ship had a carrying capacity of 750 passengers with an 85 person crew. During its career, crew members produced a ship publication titled Atlantic agony: the Landlubber's journal.
Postwar
Gustavus Victory was sold after World War II and renamed Santa Fe (ELMA). The ship was converted to an emigrant ship to transport European emigrants to Argentina. The Santa Fe sailed as part of the Compania Argentina de Navegacion Alberto Dodero.