Royal Belgian Institute of Marine Engineers Liberty Ships vs. Victory Ships

A Liberty ship’s maximum speed was 11 efforts on both fronts during World War II knots, making her easy prey for and decisively contributed to the ultimate submarines, so early in 1942, the U.S War Allied victory. The U.S. merchant fleet Shipping Administration commissioned a played a major role in winning the war, design for a faster, 15-knot ship. Vessels transporting an estimated 85% of the in this new class were to be known as troops, ammunition and supplies used to “Victory” ships (officially a VC-2) and were support Allied war effort in both the 455 feet in length, slightly longer than European and Pacific theaters. Liberty ships, and 62 feet wide. Cross- compound steam turbine engines with Victory ships also played a significant role double reduction gears were designed to during the Korean War and the Vietnam deliver 6,000 or 8,500 horsepower, and War, transporting thousands of refugees to could make up to 17 knots, significantly freedom and carrying material, equipment faster than a Liberty. and ammunition to these areas.

Victory ship profiles would feature a sleek, Victory ships were at the forefront of the “raked” bow, a raised forecastle, and a resurgence of the United States as a world “cruiser” stern, markedly different from a economic power and became the Liberty ship profile. “workhorses” of American waterborne commerce after the war. To carry Victory ships were strengthened to avoid American goods around the world in fractures in hull plates and ship sides, a support of the Marshall Plan, private firms problem which often plagued Liberty chartered hundreds of Victory ships. ships. Armament for the new ship class Hundreds were sold or leased to foreign was similar to that on Liberty ships, and countries for use as freighters and some included one 5-inch stern gun, one 3-inch were converted for passenger service. bow antiaircraft gun and eight 20-mm machine guns at various locations on main, Others were converted for use as satellite boat and bridge decks for protection from and radar tracking ships for the U.S. Navy; enemy attacks. Victory ships were the U.S. Army converted several Victory designed specifically to allow for easy ships into troop transports. Some may still modification after World War II into other remain in commercial service today, more types of cargo carriers, special uses and than 50 years after the first Victory ship even passenger ships. slid down the slipway.

The first Victory ship, the SS United Victory and Liberty ships were crewed by Victory, was launched on February 28, members of the U.S. Merchant Marine and 1944, and like Liberty ships, production defended by an all-volunteer group of U.S. line techniques were used to build the Navy sailors called the Navy Armed Guard. vessels. The next 34 Victory ships were The operation of these ships during World named for each of the member Allied War II came at great human cost: The nations participating in World War II. Merchant Marine suffered more loss of life, The subsequent 218 were named after by percentage of their ranks, than any American cities, the next 150 after other branch of service; the Armed Guard educational institutions; the balance lost thousands. US Merchant Mariners and received miscellaneous names. the Navy Armed Guard are truly the forgotten heroes of WW II. Regardless of their differences, both Liberty and Victory class ships and tankers Source: www.liberty-ship.com were vitally important to America’s war