USS Provo Victory

USS Provo Victory (AK-228) was a Boulder Victory-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean theatre of operations through the end of the war, and then returned to the United States for disposal.

Ex-USS Provo Victory (AK-228) in Pope & Talbot colors.
History
United States
Name	Provo Victory
Namesake	City of Provo, Utah
Ordered	as type (VC2-S-AP2) hull, MCV hull 537
Builder	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number	Yard No.1
Laid down	28 June 1944
Launched	9 September 1944
Acquired	18 October 1944
Commissioned	18 October 1944
Decommissioned	10 April 1946
Stricken	8 May 1946
Homeport	San Francisco
Identification	Hull symbol: AK-228 IMO number: 5286219 Call sign: KSUS
Fate	traded out for scrapping, 10 February 1984, to Nissho-Iwi Corp. Tokyo, Japan
General characteristics
Class and type	Boulder Victory-class cargo ship
Displacement	4,480 long tons (4,550 t) (standard) 15,580 long tons (15,830 t) (full load)
Length	455 ft (139 m)
Beam	62 ft (19 m)
Draft	29 ft 2 in (8.89 m)
Installed power	6,000 shp (4,500 kW)
Propulsion	1 × Westinghouse turbine 2 × Babcock & Wilcox header-type boilers, 525psi 750° double Westinghouse Main Reduction Gears 1 × shaft
Speed	15.5 kn (17.8 mph; 28.7 km/h)
Complement	99 officers and enlisted
Armament	1 × 5 in (130 mm)/38-caliber dual-purpose gun 1 × 3 in (76 mm)/50-caliber dual-purpose gun 8 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons anti-aircraft gun mounts

Victory built in Richmond, California

Provo Victory (AK–228) was laid down 28 June 1944, by Permanente Metals Corporation #1, Richmond, California, as S.S. Provo Victory (MCV hull 537); launched 9 September 1944; acquired by the Navy 18 October, and commissioned 18 October 1944.

World War II service

Following shakedown off California, Provo Victory (AK–228) reported for duty 8 November 1944. In 1944 she operated at San Francisco, California, in November, and then at Eniwetok, Ulithi, and the Palau Islands from December 1944 into February 1945.

During the remainder of 1945, her cargo duties took her to Guam and Pearl Harbor in March, Seattle, Washington, in April, Ulithi in May, Leyte from June to October, Eniwetok and Seattle in November.

Post-war decommissioning

Decommissioned 10 April 1946, she was returned to the War Shipping Administration at Seattle, Washington, that day, and was struck from the Naval Vessel Register 8 May 1946.

Korean War

She helped with the Hungnam Evacuation with the Military Sea Transportation Service and Merchant Ships participating in Hungnam Korea Redeployment.

References

•  This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-228 Provo Victory