 Typical Victory ship | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Canada Victory |
| Owner | War Shipping Administration |
| Operator | Alaska SS Company |
| Builder | Oregon Shipbuilding Company |
| Laid down | January 22, 1944 |
| Launched | March 20, 1944 |
| Completed | April 19, 1944 |
| Fate | Sank in action April 27, 1945, at Okinawa, with loss of 3 crew members |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | VC2-S-AP3 Victory ship |
| Tonnage | |
| Displacement | 15,200 tons |
| Length | 455 ft (139 m) |
| Beam | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Draft | 28 ft (8.5 m) |
| Installed power | 8,500 shp (6,300 kW) |
| Propulsion | HP & LPturbines geared to a single 20.5-foot (6.2 m) propeller |
| Speed | 16.5knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 4 Lifeboats |
| Complement | 62 Merchant Marine and 28 US Naval Armed Guards |
| Armament | |
| Notes | [1] |
TheSSCanada Victory was one of 531Victory ships built duringWorld War II under theEmergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by theOregon Shipbuilding Corporation on January 12, 1944, and was completed on February 28, 1944. The ship’sUnited States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 93 (1009). The Maritime Commission turned her over to a civilian contractor, theAlaska SS Company, for operation.[2]
TheCanada Victory was used as a cargo ship in World War II. She was sent toOkinawa to supplyammunition for theBattle of Okinawa on April 27, 1945; while unloading the ammunition atNaval Base Okinawa, she was hit by akamikaze attackairplane in cargo hold five. A large explosion blew out the side of the ship, and she sank in seven minutes at 26.23N 127.41E, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) west ofTokashiki Island. Two armed guards and one merchant mariner were killed, and twelve crew members were wounded in the attack.[3][4] TheUSS Pakana, afleet ocean tug, picked up survivors of theCanada Victory.
TheSS Logan Victory andSS Hobbs Victory were also hit bykamikaze planes at Okinawa. TheLogan Victory andHobbs Victory sank as fires on them grew. TheSS Pierre Victory was able to shoot down one plane and move away from the burning ships.[5]Canada Victory was one of three Victory ships,[6] and one of forty-seven ships sunk bykamikaze attack during World War II.[7]
The loss of the three Victory ships, each sunk bykamikaze attacks during the invasion of Okinawa, severely hurt the combat forces. The ships were carrying a total of 24,000 tons (54 million pounds) of ammunition; including most of the81 mm mortar shells needed for the invasion.
The ammunition shipSS Saginaw Victory arrived April 12, 1945, at Okinawa to replace the ammunition lost on the ships. More ammunition ships were not needed, as the war came to an end without the invasion of Japan, calledOperation Downfall.[5] The other ammunition ship at Okinawa was theSS Berea Victory.[6][7][8]
The crew of Naval Armed Guards on theCanada Victory' earnedBattle Stars in World War II for war action during the assault and occupation of Okinawa from April 26 to 27, 1945.[9]
