The SS Pomona Victory was a Victory ship built during World War II under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on April 29, 1944, and completed on July 31, 1944. The ship's United States Maritime Commission designation was 'VC2- S- AP3, hull number 31'. The 10,500-ton Victory ships were designed to replace the earlier Liberty Ships. Liberty ships were designed to be used just for World War II compared to Victory ships, which were designed to last longer and serve the US Navy after the war. Victory ships differed from Liberty ships in that they were faster, longer and wider, taller, had a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure, and had a long raised forecastle.

Typical Victory ship
History
United States
NameSS Pomona Victory
OwnerU.S. Maritime Commission
BuilderCalifornia Shipbuilding Corporation
Yard number246181
Laid down29 April 1944
Launched26 June 1944
Acquired31 July 1944
FateSold to Belgium, 29 March 1947
Belgium
NameSS Tervaete
OwnerCompagnie Maritime Belge
Acquired29 March 1947
FateSold to Liberia, 1965
Liberia
NameSS Hongkong Delegate
Owner
  • United Transoceanic Shipping Corp. (1965—1966)
  • Universal Marine Corp. (1966—1975)
Acquired1965
FateSunk in a collision with the SS Columbus Canada, 4 October 1975 Raised and scrapped, 15 December 1975
General characteristics
Class and typeVC2-S-AP3 Victory ship
Tonnage7612 GRT, 4,553 NRT
Displacement15,200 tons
Length455 ft (139 m)
Beam62 ft (19 m)
Draught28 ft (8.5 m)
Installed power8,500 shp (6,300 kW)
PropulsionHP & LP turbines geared to a single 20.5-foot (6.2 m) propeller
Speed16.5 knots
Boats & landing
craft carried
4 Lifeboats
Complement62 Merchant Marine and 28 US Naval Armed Guards
Armament
Notes[1][2]

Following World War II service, Pomona Victory was sold to Belgium where she served as the SS Tervaete from 1947 to 1965. She was eventually resold to Liberia in 1965 where she served as the SS Hongkong Delegate until she was sunk in a collision with the SS Columbus Canada on October 4, 1975. Deemed beyond repair, was eventually raised and scrapped on December 15, 1975.

References

edit
  1. ^ Babcock & Wilcox (April 1944). "Victory Ships". Marine Engineering and Shipping Review.
  2. ^ "SS Pomona Victory". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 25 March 2020.