- USS Las Vegas Victory (AK-229)
USS "Las Vegas Victory" (AK-229) was a "Boulder Victory"-class
cargo ship acquired by theU.S. Navy duringWorld War II . She served in thePacific Ocean theatre of operations through the end of the war earning onebattle star , and then returned to theUnited States for disposal.Victory built in California
"Las Vegas Victory", a cargo ship, was launched 1944 by
Permanente Metals Corporation ,Richmond, California ; sponsored by Mrs. E. W. Cragin; acquired by the Navy25 October 1944 and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. William P. Lally in command.World War II operations
After shakedown along the
U.S. West Coast . "Las Vegas Victory" departedAstoria, Oregon ,26 November for the Pacific islands. Sailing viaEniwetok andUlithi , the cargo ship arrivedKossol Passage ,Palau Islands ,31 December , laden with 7,600 tons of vital ammunition. From January to March1945 , "Las Vegas Victory" shuttled ammunition among theCaroline Islands and theMarshall Islands , and replenished the fighting ships as they moved closer to the Japanese homeland. DepartingUlithi 25 March , she sailed for therendezvous with units heading forOkinawa . Making her way throughsubmarine infested waters, the cargo ship arrived off Okinawa on the 31st, and replenished two escort carriers with ammunition. On1 April the invasion of Okinawa started the removal of the last barrier “on the road to Japan.” Under constant attack by Japanese suicide pilots, "Las Vegas Victory" passed ammunition tobattleship s,aircraft carrier s,destroyer s, and LCT’s until late May. Arriving San Pedro, Leyte,10 June , she loaded more ammunition and sailed for Eniwetok19 July . Upon her arrival 1 week later, she was assigned to thePacific Service Force . "Las Vegas Victory" supported American forces in thePacific Ocean until7 November when she departed Eniwetok for theUnited States .Post-war decommissioning
The cargo ship arrived
Port Discovery, Washington ,19 November ; sailed forSan Francisco, California ,15 February 1946 ; and decommissioned there8 April for redelivery to theWar Shipping Administration (WSA). She entered theNational Defense Reserve Fleet and at present is berthed atPuget Sound ,Washington .Honors and awards
"Las Vegas Victory" received one
battle star forWorld War II service.ee also
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United States navy
*World War II References
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* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/130229.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-229 Las Vegas Victory]
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