- USS Bucyrus Victory (AK-234)
USS "Bucyrus Victory" (AK-234) 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
"Bucyrus Victory" (AK-234) was laid down on
1 September 1944 atRichmond, California , by thePermanente Metals Corporation under aU.S. Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 543); launched on31 October 1944; sponsored by Miss Eleanor Fogley; acquired by the Navy on a loan basis on29 November 1944 ; and commissioned that same day, Lt. Comdr. Felix A. Geissert in command.World War II operations
The urgent need for ammunition carriers to resupply the fleet prosecuting the final stages of the war against Japan in the Pacific Ocean prompted the Navy's acquisition of "Bucyrus Victory" and several of her sisters. That exigency also precluded conversion work and limited her fitting out and shakedown periods to the absolute minimum.
She completed shakedown training during the third week in December, loaded cargo at
Port Hueneme, California , and headed forHawaii . The cargo ship arrived inPearl Harbor on3 January 1945 . While at Pearl Harbor, "Bucyrus Victory" put to sea on the 9th in company with "Texas" (BB-35) to test the feasibility of transferring ammunition to large warships while at sea. Soon after the successful conclusion of that experiment, the cargo carrier headed back to theU.S. West Coast , arriving inSan Francisco, California , on20 January .After about a month, she moved to
Port Chicago, California , to load ammunition bound for the western Pacific. "Bucyrus Victory" departed Port Chicago on18 February . Steaming independently by way ofEniwetok Atoll in theMarshall Islands , she arrived in thelagoon atUlithi Atoll in the EasternCaroline Islands on8 March . There, she reported for duty to the Commander,Service Squadron (ServRon) 10.upporting the Okinawa campaign
The ship remained at Ulithi for just over two weeks, first discharging her original cargo to fleet units preparing for the assault on
Okinawa and then reloading for her resupply role in the impending campaign. In company with several other ships, "Bucyrus Victory" put to sea on24 March to joinTask Group (TG) 50.8, the replenishment group operating at sea in support of theU.S. 5th Fleet . She steamed in company with that task organization until ordered toKerama Retto on1 April . The ship entered the anchorage two days later and spent the next week distributing ammunition to various units of the fleet.Though enemy air attacks interrupted her work and sometimes stopped it altogether, "Bucyrus Victory" suffered no damage and took little or no part in the anti-air defense of the anchorage. She returned to sea on 11 April and rejoined Task Group 50.8 briefly before parting company with the replenishment group in accordance with orders directing her to
Ulithi . There, the ship took on Okinawa-bound supplies -- primarily ammunition for units of the U.S. 5th Fleet -- before leaving Ulithi at the end of April.Danger from air attack
She pulled into
Kerama Retto again on3 May and resumed the work of distributing ammunition among the assembled ships. "Bucyrus Victory's" second tour of duty at Kerama Retto lasted afortnight ; and, once again, Japanese aviators contributed all they could in the way of complications to her efforts. Those nuisances, however, did not prevent "Bucyrus Victory" from accomplishing her mission.On
17 May , she emerged unscathed from the anchorage and rejoined Task Group 50.8 in the holding area 24 hours steaming time to the east of Okinawa. A few days thereafter, the ersatz ammunition ship headed back to Ulithi. She remained at Ulithi until4 June at which time she got underway for thePhilippine Islands . From mid-June to late September, "Bucyrus Victory" lay at anchor in San Pedro Bay offLeyte receiving and storing ammunition.upporting occupation forces
After the Japanese capitulation, her mission changed to one of providing support for the occupation forces in the
Far East . She departed Leyte on26 September and arrived inBuckner Bay ,Okinawa , on4 October . The ship provided support for the occupation forces for about five weeks.Post-war decommissioning and career
On
16 November , she headed back to theUnited States for inactivation and arrived back on theU.S. West Coast early in December. Following inactivation overhaul, "Bucyrus Victory" was placed out of commission at San Francisco on24 April 1946 . That same day, she was transferred to theU.S. Maritime Commission 'sWar Shipping Administration for disposal. Her name was struck from theNavy list on8 May 1946 .Honors and awards
"Bucyrus Victory" earned one
battle star during World War II::* Okinawa Gunto operation - Assault and occupation of Okinawa Gunto, 3 to11 April and 3 to17 May 1945 Qualified "Bucyrus Victory" personnel were eligible for the following::*
American Campaign Medal :*Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1):*World War II Victory Medal :*Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp):*Philippines Liberation Medal ee also
*
United States navy
*World War II References
*
* [http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/13/130234.htm NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-234 Bucyrus Victory]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.