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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Yankee - Bravo - Juliet
 NYBJ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1)
World War II Victory Medal - Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) - Philippines Liberation Medal
Boulder Victory Class Cargo Ship
  • Laid down, 1 September 1944, as a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP2) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 543) at Permanente Metals Corp., Yard No.1, Richmond, CA.
  • Launched, 31 October 1944
  • Commissioned, USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234), 29 November 1944, at Richmond, CA., LCDR Felix A. Geissert, USN in command
  • During World War II USS Bucyrus Victory was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaign:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaign
    Campaign and Dates
    Okinawa Gunto operation
    Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 24 March to 30 June 1945
    5th and 3rd Fleet raids on support of Okinawa Gunto operations, 26 March to 22 May 1945

  • Following World War II USS Bucyrus Victory was assigned to Occupation service from 29 September to 16 November 1945
  • Decommissioned, 24 April 1946 and returned to the Maritime Commission for disposal
  • Struck from the Naval Register, 8 May 1946
  • USS Bucyrus Victory earned one battle star for her World War II service
  • Merchant Service
    Leased to Prudential Steamship Corp, 24 April 1946, at San Francisco, CA.
    Leased to Isthmian Steamship Co., 17 January 1947, at San Francisco, CA.
    Leased to Mississippi Shipping Co, 23 September 1948, at New Orleans, LA.
    Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 7 October 1948, at Beaumont, TX.
    Leased to Mississippi Shipping Co., 15 September 1950, at Beaumont, TX.
    Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 10 November 1950, at Mobile, AL.
    Leased to Pacific Far East Lines, 15 January 1951, at Mobile, AL.
    Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 18 July 1952, at James River, VA.
    Leased to Waterman Steamship Co., 27 March 1953, at James River, VA.
    Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 8 October 1953, at Astoria, OR.
    Leased to J.J. Tennant Co., 14 September 1966, at Astoria, OR., for MSTS operations
    Returned to Maritime Administration (MARAD) custody , 19 March 1968, at San Francisco, CA.
    Leased to W.R. Chamberlyn & Co., 20 March 1968. at San Francisco, CA.
    Returned to Maritime Administration (MARAD) custody , 15 June 1968, at San Francisco, CA.
    Leased to American President Lines, 16 June 1968, at San Francisco, CA.
    Laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, 29 August 1969, at Long Beach, CA.
    Purchased by Union Minerals & Alloys Corp, 26 September 1969, for scrapping, (OD-X-843) for $151,000
    Removed from the National Defense Reserve Fleet anchorage and delivered to Union Minerals and Alloys. San Pedro, CA., 17 October 1969
  • Final Disposition, scrapped in October 1969
    Specifications:
    Displacement 15,580 t.(fl)
    Length 455'
    Beam 62'
    Draft 29' 2"
    Speed 15.5 kts
    Complement
    Officers 12
    Enlisted 87
    Largest Boom Capacity 50 t.
    Cargo Capacity, 7,800 DWT
    non-refrigerated 453,210 Cu ft.
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 cal dual purpose gun mount
    one single 3"/50 cal dual purpose gun mount
    Fuel Capacity NSFO 18,575 Bbls
    Propulsion
    one Westinghouse steam turbine
    two Foster Wheeler header-type boilers, 525psi 750°
    double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears
    two turbo-drive 300Kw 120V/240V Ship's Service Generators
    single propeller, 6,000shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Bucyrus Victory 41k One of USS Bucyrus Victory's (AK-234) 20mm AA gun mount and crew, date and location unknown. Patrick Griffin for his father Roy Lee Griffin F1/c, USS Bucyrus Victory
    Bucyrus Victory 112k One of USS Bucyrus Victory's (AK-234) holds being loaded with artillery ammunition, date and location unknown. Patrick Griffin for his father Roy Lee Griffin F1/c, USS Bucyrus Victory
    Bucyrus Victory 97k USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234) deck crew working on the forward main deck, date and location unknown. Patrick Griffin for his father Roy Lee Griffin F1/c, USS Bucyrus Victory
    Bucyrus Victory 77k USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234) crew members playing volley ball on the main deck, date and location unknown. Patrick Griffin for his father Roy Lee Griffin F1/c, USS Bucyrus Victory
    Bucyrus Victory 63k USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234) probably photographed when she returned to San Francisco from the Western Pacific in December 1945.
    US Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo No. NH 78547    		 Patrick Griffin for his father Roy Lee Griffin F1/c, USS Bucyrus Victory
    USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01LCDR. Geissert, Felix Alexander, USN29 November 1944 - 24 April 1946
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234) War Diary Nov 1944 - Dec 1945, History and Action Report
    USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234) Crew Letter
    MARAD Vessel History Database
    Back To The Navsource Photo Archives Main Page Back To The Service Force Ship Type Index Back To The Cargo Ship (AK) Photo Index
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    All pages copyright NavSource Naval History
    Last Updated 19 April 2019