Name SS Mercer Victory Operator States Marine Line Construction started 26 January 1945 Length 139 m | Namesake Mercer University Laid down 26 January 1945 Launched 14 March 1945 | |
Owner War Shipping Administration Builder Permanente Metals Yard No. 1, Richmond, California | ||
SS Mercer Victory was a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship built for World War II. Mercer Victory, a Victory ship, was launched 14 March 1945 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California and operated by the States Marine Line. At the ceremonial ship launching, Mercer University President Spright Dowell said the SS Mercer Victory should strive: “to do her full-part for the national defense” and “to study a plan for after war conditions and needs.”
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World War II
The SS Mercer Victory had the dangerous job of delivering goods for troops in the Pacific war during World War II. On SS Mercer Victory loaded with 6,000 pounds of goods and traveled to Okinawa for the Battle of Okinawa from 1 April until 22 June 1945.. Simmons Victory loaded up on supplies to prepare for the Operation Downfall the Invasion of Japan.
After the war she was laid up Wilmington, California in a reserve in 1946 and operated by Luckenbach Steamship Co.Inc. In 1966 she was set to be reactivated for Vietnam War, but the order was cancelled 1 February 1966. In 1973 she was laid up Suisun Bay in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. In 1988 she was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
USNS Havenford
USNS Havenford (T-AG-179) was one of 12 ships scheduled to be acquired by the United States Navy in February 1966 and converted into Forward Depot Ships and placed into service with the Military Sea Transport Service, The Mercer Victory (MCV-591) was chosen for this conversion and assigned the name Havenford but the program was canceled and the ships were not acquired by the Navy.
Honors
Crew of Naval Armed Guard on the SS Logan Victory' earned "Battle Stars" in World War II for war action during the assault occupation of Okinawa from 8 June 1945 to 20 June 1945. She used her deck guns to defend herself and other ship in action.