- USS Boulder Victory (AK-227)
USS "Boulder Victory" (AK-227) was a "Boulder Victory"-class
cargo ship acquired by theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II . She carried ammunition into thePacific Ocean war zone and, atManus , she struck anaval mine which blew a very large hole in her side.Fortunately her ammunition did not explode due to the sudden inrush of water from the sea; however, her operations were somewhat limited after that unfortunate event and post-war she returned to the
United States for disposal by the Navy and a continued maritime career.Victory built in Richmond, California
"Boulder Victory" (AK-227) was laid down on
18 June 1944 atRichmond, California , byPermanente Metals Corporation under aU.S. Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 536); launched on31 August ; sponsored by Miss Elsa Maxwell; transferred to the Navy on12 October ; and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. Francis E. Church in command.World War II service
On
17 October , the newly commissioned cargo ship sailed toSan Francisco, California , to begin duty as an ammunition supply vessel. Her holds were filled by2 November , and "Boulder Victory" got underway for the western Pacific.In order to support the Allied advances to the west and north, forward ammunition replenishment stations were established at
Ulithi Atoll in the WesternCaroline Islands andKossol Passage in thePalau Islands . "Boulder Victory" received orders to transfer ammunition between these bases as needed. She made port atEniwetok on17 November to refuel, entered thelagoon atUlithi on the 30th, and reached Kossol Passage on8 December .Kossol Passage ultimately proved to be unsuitable for ammunition handling owing to chronic heavy swells, the lack of storage facilities ashore, and the shortage of personnel to unload the supplies, as well as its proximity to Japanese-held
Babelthuap Island. Floating mines from that island were a constant danger.triking a mine
On
20 December , as "Boulder Victory" set out forManus , she struck one of those mines on her port side. The explosion tore a hole in her No. 3 hold that measured 18 feet by 32 feet. The hold contained 5 inch projectiles, but the fires started by the explosion were extinguished by the rapid rush of sea water into the space. As a consequence, only two shells exploded, leaving two 16-inch holes in the skin of the ship. "Boulder Victory" remained afloat, although low in the water; and, after emergency repairs to the engines, managed to get into Palau again on her own power. Her crew suffered no casualties, but the damage to the ship was so severe that her wartime operations ended.The cargo ship remained anchored at Kossol Passage unloading ammunition and cleaning debris from the hold until
8 February 1945 . She then slowly steamed to Manus to unload the remainder of her cargo and to enter a floatingdrydock for further repairs. Finally, on13 June , "Boulder Victory's" temporary repairs made her seaworthy again, and she set course viaPearl Harbor for San Francisco. On30 June , the ship began a major overhaul by United Engineering Co. atAlameda, California , to complete the repairs.End-of-war operations
"Boulder Victory" was still in overhaul when the Japanese capitulated in August; but, on
1 September , the cargo ship began shakedown and training exercises offSan Diego, California . She got underway on10 October to carry supplies to the occupation troops in Japan. After a refueling stop atEniwetok , "Boulder Victory" continued on toOkinawa where she arrived on30 October .She unloaded her cargo and embarked returning veterans. On
10 November , she set sail for theUnited States .Post-war decommissioning
After discharging her passengers, the ship sailed for San Francisco, where she commenced demilitarization on
5 December and was returned to theWar Shipping Administration on4 January 1946 . Her name was struck from theNavy list on21 January 1946 .During 1946 and 1947, "Boulder Victory" was operated by Parry Navigation Co., Inc. She was then inactivated and laid up at
Wilmington, North Carolina , until 1951, when she began operations for the Isbrantsen Co., Inc., and then for theAmerican-Hawaiian Steamship Company . The ship was once again deactivated in 1953 and placed in storage atSuisun Bay, California , where she remained until disposed of sometime in the mid-1980s.Honors and awards
Qualified "Boulder Victory" personnel were eligible for the following::*
American Campaign Medal :*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal :*World War II Victory Medal References
*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/130227.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-227 Boulder Victory]
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