The SS Chanute Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on January 19, 1945, and completed on February 20, 1945. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2- S- AP3, hull number 79 (V44).
World War II
SS Chanute Victory served as a troop ship in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during World War II. She was operated by the American-Hawaiian SS Company. Just before the end of the war, the Chanute Victorys Captain Larz Neilson steamed out of New York City to take new troops to Europe. But, three day out she was told to turn around and go home, back up the East River, as the war was nearing an end in Europe.Home News, Capt. Neilson’s 100th birthday, June 24, 2011, By LARZ F. NEILSON and PETER A. NEILSON She served as a troop ship again, but as part of Operation Magic Carpet to bring troops home. SS Chanute Victory and 96 other Victory ships were converted to troop ships to bring the US soldiers home at the end of World War II. Some of her noted trips: Chanute Victory returned 1,403 Army veterans to San Francisco from Yokohama, Japan on Jan. 24, 1946.The Kane Republican from Kane, Pennsylvania, February 11, 1946 Page 6 On May 17, 1946 she arrived in New York City returning Army veterans to the States.The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana, Page 24, May 18, 1946 December 1946 she sailed from Piraeus, Greece to Genoa, Italy, then to Lisbon, Portugal picking up troops and returning them to New York. Chanute Victory, returned 1061 troops from Bremen, Germany on June 25, 1946 .[The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, June 25, 1946 In December 1945 she returned troop home from Le Havre, France.skylighters, Going HomeBinghamton NY Press Grayscale 1945 - Fulton History, Oct. 15, 1945Troop Crossings, 1946 Photo Chanute Victory and crewPhoto Chanute Victory
Post war After the war in 1947 she was sold to N.V.Van Nievelt, Goudriaan & Co, of Rotterdam, Netherlands and renamed SS Alphacca. In 1964 she was sold to China Merchants S.N.Co, in Port of Keelung, Taiwan and renamed SS Hai-Fu . In 1973 she was sold to Yang Ming Marine Transport Company in Taipei, Taiwan and renamed SS Kai Ming. In 1977 Yang Ming Marine Transport Company renamed her the SS Ming Cathay'''. In 1978 she was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Mariners, The Website Of The Mariners Mailing List., Victory Shipsshipbuildinghistory.com, List of Victory ships
See also List of Victory ships Liberty ship Type C1 ship Type C2 ship Type C3 ship
References
Sources Sawyer, L.A. and W.H. Mitchell. Victory ships and tankers: The history of the ‘Victory’ type cargo ships and of the tankers built in the United States of America during World War II'', Cornell Maritime Press, 1974, 0-87033-182-5. United States Maritime Commission: Victory Cargo Ships