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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235)

USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235) International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Charlie - India NYCI

SS Red Oak Victory International Radio Call Sign:
Kilo - Yankee - Victor - Mike KYVM

USS Red Oak Victory Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal
Second Row - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - Philippines Liberation Medal

SS Red Oak Victory Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - US Merchant Marine Korean Service Medal
Bottom Row - US Merchant Marine Vietnam Service Medal - United Nations Service Medal - Republic of Korean War Service Medal

Boulder Class Cargo Ship:

Laid down, 9 September 1944, as SS Red Oak a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 544) at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No.1, Richmond, CA.

Named after a town in Southwestern Iowa, the town that lost more of men per capita than any other community in the United States

Launched, 7 November 1944

Acquired by the US Navy, 5 December 1944 and commissioned USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235), the same day, LCDR. John Sayers, USNR, in command

During World War II USS Red Oak Victory was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Decommissioned, 21 May 1946, at Seattle, WA.

Struck from the Naval Register, 19 July 1946

Merchant Service

Leased under GAA contract, 4 April 1947, to American Mail Line

Bare bottom charter, 22 May 1947, to Alaska SS. Co.

Bare bottom charter, 27 June 1947, Crosby Navigation Co.

Transferred to the Maritime Commission, 27 October 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Leased under GAA contract, 4 August 1950, to Stockard SS Co.

Leased to Luckenbach Gulf Steamship Company, Seattle, WA., 11 February 1952

Returned to the Maritime Administration, 23 November 1953, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet Astoria OR. Group

Re-actived, 20 November 1956, by Pacific Atlantic SS. Co.

De-actived, 24 September 1957, by Pacific Atlantic SS. Co.

Laid up, 3 October 1957, in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Astoria, OR. Group

Re-actived, 21 December 1965, leased to American Mail Lines (MSTS operations)

De-actived, 19 December 1969, by Wisco Shipyard

Returned to the Maritime Administration for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 12 January 1970

Released from the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 19 September 1998 for restoration at the Richmond, CA. Museum of History

Towed to BAE Shipyard San Francisco for re-activation, 15 September 2011

Returned to her museum mooring at Richmond, CA., 15 October 2011

Specifications:
Displacement 4,480 t.(lt) 15,580 t.(fl)
Length 455'
Beam 62'
Draft 29' 2"
Speed 15.5 kts.

Complement

Officers 12

Enlisted 87

Cargo Capacity 7,800DWT

non-refrigerated 453,210 Cu ft

Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.

Armament

one single stern mounted single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount

one single bow mounted 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount

eight single 20mm AA gun mounts

Fuel Capacity NSFO 18,575 Bbls

Propulsion

one Westinghouse cross compound steam turbine

two Babcock and Wilcox header-type boilers, 525psi 750°

double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears

two turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V D.C. Ship's Service Generators

single propeller, 6,000shp

Size	Image Description	Source
1772k	Newspaper article describing features of SS Red Oak Victory including the source of the ship's name.	Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
253k	SS Red Oak Victory on the builders way at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No.1, Richmond, CA. ready for launching.	Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
218k	SS Red Oak Victory launching, 7 November 1944.	Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
324k	Ex-*USS Red Oak Victory* (AK-235)** at Richmond Museum of History awaiting restoration, December 2000	Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
54k	Ex-Red Oak Victory (AK-235) at Richmond Museum of History awaiting restoration, December 2000	Photo by Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus
55k	Ex-Red Oak Victory (AK-235) at Richmond Museum of History undergoing restoration	Jerry Souza RD1 USNR
123k	Ex-Red Oak Victory (AK-235) at Richmond Museum of History, date unknown.	Robert Hurst
155k	Ex-Red Oak Victory (AK-235) moored pierside at Richmond Museum of History, 2012	Photo by Mike McCullough
143k	Ex-Red Oak Victory (AK-235) moored pierside at Richmond Museum of History, 20 July 2013. Photo by Leonard G.	Robert Hurst
173k	2019 poster commemorating the 75th anniversary of ex-*USS Red Oak Victory* (AK-235)**	Gerhard L. Mueller-Debus

For more photos and information about USS Red Oak Victory, see;
Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Suisun Reserve Fleet photos by Michael McDermott
SS Red Oak Victory
Red Oak Victory
Red Oak Victory Comes Home
USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235) War Diary 5 Dec 1944 - 31 Oct 1945

Commanding Officers
01	LCDR. Sayers, John Smith, USNR	5 December 1944 - 22 January 1946
02	LCDR. Krupa, Harry Bernard, USN	22 January 1946 - 21 May 1946


Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 6 December 2019