List of Victory ships (W-Z)

This is a list of Victory ships with names beginning with W, X, Y or Z.

Description

A Victory ship was a cargo ship. The cargo ships were overall, between perpendiculars They had a beam of , a depth of and a draught of . They were assessed at , and .

The ships were powered by a triple expansion steam engine, driving a steam turbine via double reduction gear. This gave the ship a speed of or , depending on the machinery installed.

Liberty ships had five holds. No. 1 hold was long, with a capacity of , No. 2 hold was long, with a capacity of , No. 3 hold was long, with a capacity of , No. 4 hold was long, with a capacity of and No. 5 hold was long, with a capacity of .

In wartime service, they carried a crew of 62, plus 28 gunners. The ships carried four lifeboats. Two were powered, with a capacity of 27 people and two were unpowered, with a capacity of 29 people.

Wabash Victory was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation, Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California. Her keel was laid on 14 April 1945. She was launched on 9 June and delivered on 6 July. Built for the War Shipping Administration (WSA), she was operated under the management of Interocean Steamship Company. To the United States Army Transportation Corps in 1947 and renamed Pvt. Francis X. McGraw. To the United States Navy in 1950. Operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service. Laid up in the James River in 1974, she was scrapped in the United States later that year.

Waco Victory was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 12 May 1944. She was launched on 22 July and delivered on 14 October. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of American Mail Line. Laid up in Suisun Bay in 1946. Sold in 1947 to Compagnie Maritime Belge Lloyd Royale, Antwerp, Belgium and renamed Vinkt. She collided with the fishing boat Sonny Boy in the English Channel off Dungeness, United Kingdom on 30 November 1947. Sonny Boy sank with the loss of one of her six crew. Sold in 1965 to United Transoceanic Shipping Corp., Liberia and renamed Hongkong Grace. She collided with the steamship Linda in 1967 and was severely damaged. Sold in 1968 to Universal Marine Corp., Liberia. She collided with the tanker off Mossel Bay () on 16 May 1973 whilst on a voyage from Hong Kong to New York. She caught fire and was severely damaged. She put in to Cape Town, South Africa for temporary repairs. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 1973.

Wake Forest Victory was built by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California. Her keel was laid on 28 February 1945. She was launched on 31 March and delivered on 10 May. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Oliver J. Olson & Company. Laid up at Olympia, Washington in 1950. Scheduled to be returned to service in 1965 due to the Vietnam War, operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service. Driven from her moorings by Hurricane Betsy at New Orleans, Louisiana on 10 September 1965. She collided with , and . Laid up at Mobile, Alabama. She was sold for scrapping in October 1972, and was scrapped at Mobile in 1973.

Waltham Victory was built by Permanente Metals Corporation. Her keel was laid on 14 June 1945. She was launched on 25 July and delivered on 30 August. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of General Steamship Company. Laid up at Olympia in 1948. She arrived at Kaohsiung for scrapping in August 1972.

Warwick Victory was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 2 July 1945. She was launched on 10 September and delivered on 9 October. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of McCormick Steamship Company. Laid up at Wilmington, North Carolina in 1948. Later transferred to the Hudson River. Sold in 1966 to AEC Shipping Corp., New York and renamed U.S. Navigator. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in January 1971.

Waterbury Victory was built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Baltimore, Maryland. Her keel was laid on 9 June 1945. She was launched on 26 July and delivered on 31 August. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of North Atlantic & Gulf Steamship Company. Laid up in Suisun Bay in 1947. Sold later that year to N.V. Vereenigde Nederlandsche Scheepsvaarts Maatschappij, Den Haag, Netherlands and renamed Muiderkerk. Sold in 1965 to Concord Navigation Corp., Liberia and renamed Angelia Reflagged to Taiwan in 1968. Sold in 1969 to E. Hsiang Steamship Corp., Taiwan. She arrived at Kaohsiung for scrapping in February 1973.

Waterville Victory was a troop transport built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard. Her keel was laid on 13 July 1945. She was launched on 19 September and delivered on 15 October. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Parry Navigation Company. To the United States Army Transportation Corps in 1947 and renamed Lt. George W. G. Boyce. To the United States Navy in 1950. Operated by the Military Sea Transportation Service. Laid up in Suisun Bay in 1973. She was scrapped at Portland, Oregon in 1974.

Waycross Victory was a troop transport built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard. Her keel was laid on 1 June 1945. She was launched on 20 July and delivered on 25 August. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of A. H. Bull & Company. Laid up in the Hudson River in 1946. Sold in 1947 to Compagnie Royale Belge-Argentina, Antwerp and renamed Luxembourg. Sold in 1951 to Armament Deppe S.A., Antwerp. Sold in 1962 to Compagnie Maritime Belge, Antwerp. Operated under the management of Lloyd Royal. Sold in 1965 to United Transoceanic Shipping Corp. and renamed Hongkong Honour. Sold in 1966 to Universal Marine Corp., Liberia. She was scrapped at Gadani Beach, Pakistan in 1975.

Wayne Victory was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 3 April 1945. She was launched on 28 May and delivered on 23 June. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Alcoa Steamship Company. Laid up at Astoria, Oregon in 1953. Returned to service in 1966 due to the Vietnam War. Laid up in the James River in 1973. She was scrapped at Brownsville, Texas in 2002.

Webster Victory was a troop transport built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard. Her keel was laid on 14 May 1945. She was launched on 26 June and delivered on 30 July. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of United States Navigation Company. Laid up in Suisun Bay in 1947. Sold later that year to Koninklijke Rotterdamsche Lloyd, Rotterdam, Netherlands and renamed Sarangan. Sold in 1963 to Oceanic Shipping Co., Monrovia, Liberia and renamed Westwind. Sold in 1970 to Great Pacific Marine Industries, Panama and renamed Oceania. She arrived at Kaohsiung for scrapping in September 1972.

Wellesley Victory was built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon. Her keel was laid on 2 February 1945. She was launched on 16 March and delivered on 13 April. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Pacific-Atlantic Steamship Company. Laid up in the James River in 1948. Sold in 1963 to Blidberg Rothchild Company, New York. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in August 1971.

Wesleyan Victory was built by Permanente Metals Corporation. Her keel was laid on 16 January 1945. She was launched on 28 February and delivered on 29 March. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Sudden & Christenson. Laid up in the Hudson River in 1948. Later transferred to the James River. She was scrapped at Castellón de la Plana, Spain in 1985.

Westbrook Victory was a troop transport built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard. Her keel was laid on 23 February 1945. She was launched on 17 April and delivered on 2 May. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of A. L. Burbank & Company, Ltd. Laid up in the James River in 1946. Sold in 1947 to South African Marine Corp., Cape Town, Union of South Africa and renamed Vergelegen. Renamed South African Victory in 1961. She collided with a fishing vessel off the coast of Natal on 4 July 1962. the fishing vessel was taken in tow, but sank. South African Victory rescued her sixteen crew. Renamed S.A. Victory in 1966. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in November 1969.

Westerly Victory was a troop transport built by Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard. Her keel was laid on 9 September 1944. She was launched on 31 October and delivered on 28 November. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of States Marine Line. Sold in 1947 to South African Marine Corp. and renamed Morgenster. She collided with the ferry Hinderton in the River Mersey on 1 November 1954. Renamed South African Venture in 1961, then S.A. Venture in 1966. Sold in 1968 to International Export Lines, Nassau, Bahamas and renamed Hongkong Weaver. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in June 1972.

Western Reserve Victory was built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 9 March 1945. She was launched on 20 April and delivered on 18 May. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Alaska Packers' Association. Sold in 1946 to Compania Argentina de Navigation Dodero, Buenos Aires, Argentina and renamed Overo. Sold in 1949 to Flota Argentina de Navigation de Ultramar, Buenos Aires. Sold in 1961 to Empresa Lineas Argentinas, Buenos Aires. She was scrapped at Campana, Argentina in 1972.

West Lynn Victory was built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 19 November 1944. She was launched on 22 December and delivered on 22 January 1945. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of United States Lines. Laid up at Wilmington, North Carolina in 1948. Later transferred to Olympia. She arrived at Kaohsiung for scrapping in August 1972.

Westminster Victory was a troop transport built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 30 January 1945. She was launched on 13 March and delivered on 11 April. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of R. A. Nicol & Company. Sold in 1946 to Compagnie Maritime Belge Lloyd Royale and renamed Steenstraete. She caught fire at Beira Portuguese East Africa on 28 June 1953, damaging four other ships and with the loss of 20 stevedores. Sold in 1965 to United Transoceanic Shipping Corp. and renamed Hongkong Amber. Sold in 1968 to Universal Marine Corp. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in 1973.

Wheaton Victory was a troop transport built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 27 January 1945. She was launched on 22 March and delivered on 14 April. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Marine Transport Line. Sold in 1947 to Van Nievelt, Goudriaan & Co., Rotterdam and renamed Alpherat. Sold in 1963 to China Merchants Steam Navigation Co., Keelung, Taiwan and renamed Hai Fu. She ran aground at Honolulu, Hawaii on 26 October 1963 whilst on a voyage from Houston to Kaohsiung. She was later refloated and towed in to Hawaii. Declared a constructive total loss. She was towed to Kaohsiung and scrapped there in 1965.

Whitman Victory was built by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 13 March 1945. She was launched on 24 April and delivered on 26 May. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of American Mail Line. Sold in 1946 to Holland-Amerika Lijn, Rotterdam and renamed Arkeldijk. Renamed Arkeldyk in 1954. Sold in 1966 to Athlitis Compania Navigation, Piraeus, Greece and renamed Athlitis. She was scrapped at Kaohsiung in September 1969.

Whittier Victory was built by California Shipbuilding Corporation. Her keel was laid on 27 April 1945. She was launched on 20 June and delivered on 18 July. Built for the WSA, she was operated under the management of Moore-McCormack Lines. Laid up at Mobile in 1948. Later transferred to Beaumont. She was scrapped at Tuxpan, Mexico in 1993.

Willamette Victory