History –
SS Iran Victory
(courtesy of A.J. Terrell)
Also: read Terrell's description
of his cruise on the SS Iran Victory
Outline - Ship Installations
and Voyage LOG
Ship Built &
Armed: SS Iran Victory, Master R. E. Gibson, Commissioned:
Rank not known. Built and Degaussing Installation completed, Portland,
Oregon, April 20th, 1944, Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation. Armed
April 23rd, 1944, Kaiser Company, Portland, Oregon.
List of all Guns:
- 1 – 3”
50 DP, Gun Mark & Model 22-2, Mount Mark & Model 23-1,
Forward Gun Platform.
- 1 – 5”
38 DP, Gun Mark & Model 12-1, Mount Mark & Model 37-1,
Aft Gun Platform.
- 2 – 20 MM, Gun
Mark & Model 4, Mount Mark & Model 6, Port & Starboard
Forecastle Deck.
- 2 – 20 MM, Gun
Mark & Model 4, Mount Mark & Model 6, Port & Starboard
Top of House.
- 2 – 20 MM, Gun
Mark & Model 4, Mount Mark & Model 6, Port & Starboard
Bridge Decks.
- 2 – 20 MM, Gun
Mark & Model 4, Mount Mark & Model 6, Port & Starboard
Forward on Aft
Gun Platforms.
Life Boats:
- 5 life rafts, capacity
20; 2 rafts, capacity 14 – Total 7
- 2 life boats, capacity
29 per boat.
- 2 motor boats, capacity
29 per boat – Total 4.
- 30 life jackets.
1. Splinter protection
– Bridge: 3” Plastic Armored Panels, Port,
Starboard and Front of House.
1b. Splinter Protection – Anti Aircraft Machine
Guns: 3” Plastic Armored Panels; One Forward Gun Platform;
Two on Forecastle; Two on top of Bridge Deck; Three on Aft Gun Platform.
2. Gun Foundations:
2 on Bridge Deck; 3 on Aft Gun-Platform.
3. Magazines:
2 Starboard Side Aft; One, Port side: one Starboard side; and One
Forward.
4. Sky lookout
stations: One – Port, One – Starboard, Top
of House; Binocular Holder and seat.
Fire Control Communications System: 16 sound powered Battle Phones,
connecting all Battle Stations.
5. Messing Facilities:
Gunners Pantry, Messing and Berthing Combined under Poop
Deck.
Accommodations
Navy Personnel - Space.
- Armed Guard Unit:
Officer in charge: One (1) - Cabin Deck, Port Side, Midships.
Petty Officers Quarters: Four (4) - Boat Deck, Starboard Side,
Midships.
Seamen Quarters: Nine (9) - Main Deck, Port Side, Midships.
Communications Group: Fifteen (15)- Under Poop Deck, Fantail.
Commissioned : Portland Oregon, 12th Navel District.
- Port of Departure:
Portland, Oregon, April 28th, 1944 17.5 knots. Sailed the Columbia
River.
- Port of Arrival: San
Francisco, California, April 30th, 1944.
First Voyage
– May 12th 1944 to June 27th 1944
- SS Iran Victory: Departed
San Francisco May 12th, 1944, 17.5 knots. Arrived Noumea, New
Caledonia on May 27th, 1944. Departed Noumea on June 12th, 1944,
17.5 knots. Arrived San Francisco via Pearl Harbor, T. H. On June
27th 1944.
Second Voyage - SS Iran
Victory ended August 25th, 1944, San Francisco.
Third Voyage SS Iran
Victory August 30th, 1944 to May 25th, 1945
- 08-30-44 to 09-15-44
PORT #1. San Francisco/Port Chicago. Walked into the Town of Martinez.
- 09-16-44 to 01-02-44
Golden Gate. At Sea; Pacific, Solomon Sea, Finchaven, New Guinea.
Bismarck Sea.
- 10-03-44 to 10-17-44
PORT #2. Admiralty Islands, Manus. Anchored off of Los Negros.
- 10-17-44 Went ashore,
0900, at Los Negros looking for my Brother in the 5th Air Force,
B-25 Squadron. Returned 1230.
- 10-18-44 to 10-20-44
Convoy; two Naval, tow Merchant to meet the 5th Fleet. The 20th,
Two days out a stream pipe blew leaving the Iran Victory dead-in-the-water.
- 10-21-55 to 01-05-45
PORT #3. Anchored off Babelthuap Island, Kossol Channel, Palau
Island Group in the Caroline Islands.
- 11-3-44 (1015) Enemy
Action – zigzag out of harbor (1015), back in to port (1400),
anchored (1650).
- 01-06-45 to 01-07-45
Convoy; four Navy, four Merchant bound for Leyte. Arrived San
Pedro Bay the 7th.
- 01-08-45 to 02-01-45
PORT #4. San Pedro Bay, off Samar, Leyte Island. 34 Red Alerts;
Shore Installations attacked once.
- 02-02-45 to 2-5-45
At Sea
- 02-06-45 to 4-27-45
PORT #5. Ulithi Atoll (three months) 9 red alerts.
- 02-25-45 Bowline Snaps,
Naval Landing Craft washes out to sea, Daring Rescue.
- 03-11-45 Kamikaze
planes. USS Randolph, Aircraft Carrier hit.
- 04-29-45 to 05-03-45
PORT #6. Guam, Apra Harbor, Mariana Islands. Shore Leave –
Walk to Agana
- 05-04-45 to 05-23-45
At Sea
- 05-24-45 to 05-25-45
PORT # 7. LA Harbor, San Pedro, California. End of Voyage.
Fourth Voyage –
June 6th, 1945 to September 3rd, 1945
- Left Port Long Beach,
Ca. July 12th, 1945 Arrived Port Lingayen Gulf, P.I. July 31st,
1945.July 19th & 29th, 1945 ship ran at reduced speeds due
to engine trouble
- June 6, 1945. Maximum
temperature 96 degrees. Iran Victory, Owned by: War Shipping Administration.
Chartered to: Pacific-Atlantic S.S. Company. Masters name: Ralph
E. Gibson.
- Chartered to Army.
August 18, 1945 , Port: San Fernando, Luzon, P.I. Sip delayed
14 says before cargo discharged due to limited port facilities.
- ARRIVED: San Francisco,
California, September 3rd, 1945. No improper procedure on the
part of friendly aircraft. Speed 18 knots.
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