Greenville Victory T-AK-237

Greenville Victory

A former name retained.

(T-AK-237: dp. 4,512; 1. 455'3"; b. 62'; dr. 28'6"; s.
17 k.; cpl. 52; a. none; T. VC2-S-AP3)

Greenville Victory (T-AK-237) was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by California Shipbuilding Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., 21 March 1944; launched 28 May 1944, sponsored by Miss Mary Vukov and delivered to WSA 8 July 1944.

During the remainder of the war, Greenville Victory served as a merchant ship under charter to Sea Shipping Co. of New York. Following World War II, she transported cargo in the Atlantic and the Pacific. She was transferred to the Army Transportation Service in the spring of 1948. Acquired by the Navy 1 March 1950, she was assigned to MSTS.

Manned by a civilian crew, Greenville Victory, from 1950 to 1953, operated in the Atlantic and the Caribbean, carrying military cargo to French, English, and German ports, Guantanamo Ray, And the Canal Zone. Between 19 February and 9 May she sailed out of New York to the Far East and back, loaded with ammunition for Korea. After completing a run to Europe and back, she again departed New York 9 July for the Far East. She reached Yokohama, Japan, 9 August and during the next 2 months operated in the Western Pacific, carrying ammunition to Formosa and to French forces fighting Communist Viet-Minh guerrillas in French IndoChina. Sailing from Yokohama 4 October via San Francisco, she reached New York 6 November 1953 to resume cargo runs to Europe.

During the next 2 years, Greenville Victory steamed primarily between New York and West European ports. In June and July 1954 she sailed to the Western Mediterranean to replenish at sea ships of the mighty 6th Fleet. On 16 November she departed Newport, R.I., for Antarctica and arrived at McMurdo Sound 16 January 1956 to provision ships of Task Force 43. Departing Antarctica 5 February, via New Zealand, she arrived New York 28 March.

Between 1956 and 1964 Greenville Victory maintained a busy schedule transporting cargo to American bases scattered throughout the world. She replenished Task Force 43 on three more Antarctic deployments, and, from December to February of 1956-57, 1957-58, and 1960 61, she operated in Antarctic waters. Cargo runs sent her to the Caribbean in 1958, 1960, and 1962 and to Thule, Greenland, during September and October 1958. She also deployed with the 6th Fleet five times between June 1956 and March 1964; and on two deployments in 1963 and 1964 she transited the Suez Canal, steaming to India and Pakistan.

Greenville Victory departed Norfolk, VA., 6 October 1964 to participate in the massive transatlantic troop lift exercise, "Steel Pike I." Departing Morehead City, N.C., 8 October, she closed the Spanish coast off Rota 19 October. For more than 2 weeks she discharged supplies and cargo in support of amphibious and shore operations. Departing Rota 7 November, she steamed via Morehead City to New York, arriving 20 November.

In response to American determination to protect the integrity and independence of South Vietnam from external Communist,aggression, Greenville Victory departed New York 22 November for duty in the Western Pacific. Sailing via San Diego, she arrived Guam 24 December. During the next month she steamed to Okinawa, Korea,and Japan, carrying cargo. Arriving Manila, Philippines, 26 January 1965, she sailed the 28th for Pearl Harbor and San Francisco. After reaching the West Coast 25 February, she made a run out of San Francisco to Seattle Wash., then sailed for the Gulf Coast 15 March, arriving New Orleans the 28th.

During the next 5 months, Greenville Victory made cargo runs in the Atlantic out of Norfolk and New York. She departed New York 20 October after a voyage to Labrador and back; and, steaming via Norfolk and Long Beach, she reached Yokohama, Japan, 22 November. Loaded with military cargo, she sailed for South Vietnam the 30th and arrived Saigon 16 December. The following day she sailed via Vung Tau for the West Coast, arriving San Francisco 3 January 1966.

Greenville Victory replenished her holds with vital military supplies for the forces of freedom in Southeast Asia before returning to the Western Pacific. Sailing via Sasebo, Japan, she reached Bangkok, Thailand, 13 February, sailed the 22d for South Vietnam and arrived Vung Tau the next day. Having unloaded, she sailed 1 March for the West Coast to transport additional military material from the United States to Vietnam. She continued operations between the United States and the Western Pacific until transferred to the Atlantic at mid-year. In 1967 she is busy supplying Allied forces in Europe.