USS Las Vegas Victory (AK-229)

Career (USA)
Name:	Las Vegas, Nevada
Namesake:	Las Vegas is a popular tourist city, and the county seat of Clark County, Nevada
Ordered:	as type (VC2-S-AP2) hull
Builder:	Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California
Yard number:	Yard No.1
Laid down:	date unknown
Launched:	1944
Sponsored by:	Mrs. E. W. Cragin
Acquired:	by theU.S. Navy, 25 October 1944
Commissioned:	25 October 1944 as USS Las Vegas Victory (AK-229)
Decommissioned:	8 April 1946, at San Francisco, California
Struck:	date unknown
Honours and awards:	one battle star for World War II service
Fate:	transferred to the Reserve Fleet; fate not known
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 Las Vegas Victory (AK-229) 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 one battle star, and then returned to the United States for disposal.

Victory built in California

Las Vegas Victory, a cargo ship, was launched 1944 by Permanente Metals Corporation, Richmond, California; sponsored by Mrs. E. W. Cragin; acquired by the Navy 25 October 1944 and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. William P. Lally in command.

World War II operations

After shakedown along the U.S. West Coast. Las Vegas Victory departed Astoria, Oregon, 26 November for the Pacific islands. Sailing via Eniwetok and Ulithi, the cargo ship arrived Kossol Passage, Palau Islands, 31 December, laden with 7,600 tons of vital ammunition.

From January to March 1945, Las Vegas Victory shuttled ammunition among the Caroline Islands and the Marshall Islands, and replenished the fighting ships as they moved closer to the Japanese homeland. Departing Ulithi 25 March, she sailed for the rendezvous with units heading for Okinawa. Making her way through submarine infested waters, the cargo ship arrived off Okinawa on the 31st, and replenished two escort carriers with ammunition.

On 1 April the invasion of Okinawa started the removal of the last barrier “on the road to Japan.” Under constant attack by Japanese suicide pilots, Las Vegas Victory passed ammunition to battleships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and LCT’s until late May. Arriving San Pedro, Leyte, 10 June, she loaded more ammunition and sailed for Eniwetok 19 July.

Upon her arrival 1 week later, she was assigned to the Pacific Service Force. Las Vegas Victory supported American forces in the Pacific Ocean until 7 November when she departed Eniwetok for the United States.

Post-war decommissioning

The cargo ship arrived Port Discovery, Washington, 19 November; sailed for San Francisco, California, 15 February 1946; and decommissioned there 8 April for redelivery to the War Shipping Administration (WSA). She entered the National Defense Reserve Fleet and at present is berthed at Puget Sound, Washington.

Honors and awards

Las Vegas Victory received one battle star 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-229 Las Vegas Victory