USS Lakewood Victory (AK-236)

Career (USA)
Name:	Lakewood Victory
Namesake:	Communities in California, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio are named Lakewood
Ordered:	as type (VC2-S-AP2) hull
Builder:	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number:	Yard No.1
Laid down:	16 September 1944
Launched:	17 November 1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Edward A. Fitzgerald
Commissioned:	11 December 1944 as USS Lakewood Victory (AK-236)
Decommissioned:	16 May 1946, at San Francisco, California
Struck:	date unknown
Honors and awards:	two battle stars during World War II
Fate:	fate unknown
General characteristics
Type:	Boulder Victory-class cargo ship
Displacement:	15,589 tons
Length:	455'
Beam:	62'
Draft:	29' 2"
Propulsion:	steam turbine, single propeller, 8,500shp
Speed:	15.5 knots
Complement:	99 officers and enlisted
Armament:	one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount; one 3"/50 dual purpose gun mount

USS Lakewood Victory (AK-236) 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, earning two battle stars, and then returned to the United States for disposal.

Victory built in California

Lakewood Victory (AK-236) was laid down 16 September 1944 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California, under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract; launched 17 November; sponsored by Mrs. Edward A. Fitzgerald; and commissioned 11 December, Lt. Comdr. Eric H. Petrelius in command.

World War II operations

After shakedown, Lakewood Victory departed San Francisco, California, 18 January 1945 loaded with a cargo of ammunition, booms, and aircraft. Steaming via Pearl Harbor and Eniwetok, she reached the Mariana Islands in convoy 19 February and supplied combat ships with shells and powder.

Departing Saipan the 26th, she headed for Iwo Jima with Task Group 50.8. While the battle for Iwo Jima raged, she arrived the 28th and began supplying cruisers, destroyers, and landing craft with ammunition. She continued discharging her cargo until 8 March; then she sailed for the western Caroline Islands, arriving Ulithi the 11th.

On 3 April Lakewood Victory cleared Ulithi for logistics support operations off Okinawa. After reaching Kerama Retto 13 April, she supplied waiting destroyers, LSTs, and smaller landing craft with explosive cargo. Despite frequent air raid warnings, her crew worked under cover of protective smoke to transfer ammunition before sailing 23 April for Ulithi, where she arrived the 28th.

Lakewood Victory sailed 20 May for the New Hebrides. Steaming via Manus, Admiralty Islands, she reached Espiritu Santo 28 May; loaded ammunition and fog oil; and departed 19 June for Leyte. She arrived San Pedro Bay the 28th and operated off Leyte for more than 2 months. After the Japanese surrender, she returned to the United States via the Mariana Islands and Pearl Harbor, arriving Puget Sound, Washington, 8 October.

After unloading her cargo, she sailed for the western Pacific Ocean 18 November. From 6 December to 2 March 1946 she loaded ammunition at Guam and Saipan.

Post-war decommissioning and career

Returning to San Francisco 15 March, Lakewood Victory decommissioned 16 May and was turned over to the War Shipping Administration (WSA).

Honors and awards

Lakewood Victory received two battle stars for World War II service.

References

• This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - AK-236 Lakewood Victory