SS Red Oak Victory Ship

The historic SS Red Oak Victory Ship is tied to the dock in Richmond, CA, Shipyard 3.

Luther Bailey, NPS Photo.

Quick Facts

Location:

Shipyard 3, Richmond, CA.

Significance:

WWII Victory Ship, built by Henry J. Kaiser

Designation:

National Register of Historic Places

MANAGED BY:

Richmond Museum Association

Amenities

2 listed

Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Parking - Auto

Historic WWII Ship

Audio program available on this page in web browser or on the official NPS app. 

The Victory ship SS Red Oak Victory was built in Richmond Kaiser Shipyard # 1, and launched on November 9, 1944. It was one of 414 Victories built during World War II, but one of only a few of these ships to be transferred from the Merchant Marine to the U.S. Navy. The Red Oak Victory served as an ammunition ship in the South Pacific during WWII. The ship was named for the town of Red Oak, Iowa, which suffered the highest per capita casualty rate of any American community during World War II.

Following a fitting out period, the Red Oak Victory was loaded with cargo and departed San Francisco for Pearl Harbor on January 10, 1945. Red Oak Victory departed Hawaii on February 10 loaded with munitions needed in the Marshall and Caroline islands. Sent onward from Eniwetok, she arrived in Ulithi on February 28, 1945, and then began operating under Commander Service Squadron Ten. Operating out of the Philippines, the vessel issued cargo and ammunition to various ships in the fleet through the end of the war in August 1945. During a hazardous tour of duty in the Pacific, SS Red Oak Victory handled many tons of ammunition, supplying the fleet without a single casualty.

Many Rosies recounted how important their jobs were in welding these ships and how careful they were in doing it. They realized the lives of their husbands, brothers and sons depended on the cargoes delivered by these ships. Victory ships were not supposed to last long--but the welds of the Red Oak Victory are still intact after 60 years. The Red Oak Victory is 455 feet in length, and armed with one five-inch/38 caliber gun; one three-inch/50 caliber gun, and eight 20 mm guns. The vessel was decommissioned in 1946 and returned to the U.S. Maritime Commission. Red Oak Victory was used by the Luckenback Steamship Company from 1947 through the 1950s, during which time the vessel went to Japan, Korea, Cuba, Pakistan, India, Singapore and Japan.

The SS Red Oak Victory Ship is the last surviving ship built in the Kaiser Shipyards, and is owned by the non-profit Richmond Museum Association. Today, the Red Oak Victory remains a monument to the men and women who worked in war related industries as part of the World War II Home Front. In 1998, the ship was saved from the Naval Reserve Fleet in Suisun Bay by a courageous group of men and women and has been under restoration since that time. When visiting, take the time to talk to the volunteers on boards the ship. If you are lucky enough to find one who actually served on Merchant Marine vessels during the war, find out what that life was like - ask them how they felt to be on board ships built by women.

Note: The SS Red Oak Victory Ship is now oriented differently than what the photo depicts. Tours of the ship are offered by the Richmond Museum Association on Sundays from 10am-4pm. There is a $10 sugessted donation. Visitors may view the ship from the outside on days that tours are not offered. 

• SS Red Oak Victory Ship

  
  

  This extended audio program provides a comprehensive look at the SS Red Oak Victory and her journey from then to now. This is a great program to listen to before you board the ship, but can be enjoyed at home, on your driving tour or even in your classroom.

  Credit / Author:

  NPS/Luther Bailey/Lauren Goode

  Date created:

  08/01/2023

  Audio Transcript

  The SS Red Oak Victory is a surviving wartime ship that was built in the Richmond Shipyards and launched in November 1944. It is now a museum and monument to the men and women who built a record-breaking 747 ships at the Richmond Kaiser Shipyards.

  During World War II, she carried ammunition for ships in the South Pacific, supporting operations in Okinawa and in the Philippines, finally returning home to the United States in May of 1946. She went on to serve for the next 21 years in the Caribbean Sea, the Indian Ocean, and in the Korean War and Vietnam War.

  Here’s some additional in-depth information about the history of this historic ship, courtesy of the Richmond Museum Association, who owns, and through the hard work of volunteers, operates this amazing piece of history.

  After final outfitting, USS Red Oak Victory (AK-235) was commissioned on December 5, 1944, as a US Navy vessel. Only a very few Victory ships became Navy commissioned vessels, and they were designated as either AK (auxiliary cargo ships) or AT (attack transports). The USS Red Oak Victory, as an AK, carried ammunition to supply the needs of the Pacific Fleet in World War II.

  In January 1945, USS Red Oak Victory under command of Lieutenant Commander John S. Sayers, USNR, with a crew of 13 officers and 91 enlisted men sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge to war service in the Pacific Theater of Operations. She would not return to the United States for 18 months.

  The Red Oak Victory took on a cargo of ammunition for fleet issue at Pearl Harbor and from there sailed to Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands of the Western Pacific. Being located just 1300 miles South of Tokyo, Ulithi was the ideal forward supply base for the US Navy’s final operations of the war. Beginning in April 1945 the USS Red Oak Victory issued ammunition for the invasion of Okinawa from this base. In May she sailed to Leyte Gulf where she supported operations in the Philippines until the war ended in August of that year.

  The USS Red Oak Victory made her final cruise as a Navy vessel back to the United States in May 1946 where she was turned over to the US Maritime Commission and re-designated as SS Red Oak Victory. Under Merchant Marine command she served for the next 21 years in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and in Korean War service. SS Red Oak Victory’s final thirteen voyages were to Vietnam from 1965 through 1968 where she was one of 100 World War II Victory ships used by the Military Sealift Command to support operations in Southeast Asia.

  In January 1970 SS Red Oak Victory was transferred to the Ready Reserve (or ‘mothball’), Fleet in Suisun Bay (California), where she remained until moved as a museum ship to her present location in 1998. After accumulating a proud record of service for nearly 25 years as both a military and civilian vessel, in war and in peace, today the SS Red Oak Victory entertains and educates visitors from all over the world. She stands as a memorial to the workers and sailors who not only delivered the goods but delivered the victory in the Second World War.

  The SS Red Oak Victory is also one of the last surviving World War II Victory ships. These ships, along with their cousins the Liberty ships, were built on an emergency basis to carry vital supplies and troops to all theaters of war. The Victory ships remain today as a symbol of the national resolve and industrial might that won the Second World War.

  In addition to this National Park Service driving tour and exploring our Rosie the Riveter Visitor Education Center, make sure you take the time to visit The Richmond Museum of History & Culture, which is the most significant local history museum in West Contra Costa County. The museum is housed in a Carnegie Library built in 1910, that boasts a permanent exhibit gallery and a space for temporary exhibits and special events. The Museum draws from their extensive permanent collection of artifacts, photographs, and documents to host educational programs and exhibitions for the benefit of the public. The museum has had a presence in Richmond, California for over sixty years and is proud to be a cornerstone of the community.