(AK-235: displacement 15,580; length 455-3-; beam 62-; draft 28-6-; speed 15.5 knots; complement 99; armament 1 3-, 1 5-, 8 20mm.; type VC2-S-AP2; class Boulder Victory)
Red Oak is a town in Southwestern Iowa.
Cargo ship Red Oak Victory (AK-235) (ex-MCV hull 544) was laid down 9 September 1944 by Permanente Metals Corp., Richmond, Calif., for the U.S. Maritime Commission; acquired by the U.S. Navy 5 December 1944; and commissioned the same day, Lt. Comdr. John S. Sayers, USNR, in command.
After shakedown off San Pedro, Calif., Red Oak Victory loaded general cargo at San Francisco and departed 10 January 1945 for Pearl Harbor, arriving the 17th. There she took on a cargo of ammunition destined for fleet issue. She sailed 10 February for Ulithi, Caroline Islands, arrived the 28th, and commenced operating under Commander, Service Squadron 10.
From March to May, Red Oak Victory served as an ammunition issue ship in Ulithi Atoll. She anchored in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, P.I., 1 June, and for the next 3 months continued issuing ammunition to various ships in the fleet.
She decommissioned 21 May 1946, was returned to the Maritime Commission at Seattle, Oreg., 12 June, and was struck from the Navy List 19 July.
23 September 2005
