The SS Mexico Victory was the 7th Victory ship built during World War II. She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on March 27, 1944 and completed on May 19, 1944. She was built in 114 days under the Emergency Shipbuilding program. The ship’s United States Maritime Commission designation was VC2-S-AP3, hull number 7 (V-7). SS Mexico Victory served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. 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. Victory ships were designed to last longer and serve the US Navy after the war. The Victory ship differed from a Liberty ship in that they were: faster, longer and wider, taller, a thinner stack set farther toward the superstructure and had a long raised forecastle.
SS Mexico Victory was the 7th of a long line of Victory ships to leave the Calship building. The launching of The SS Mexico Victory splashed into the water of Wilmington, Los Angeles.
The fourth ship, with V-7 on the hull, is the SS Mexico Victory.
Typical Victory Ship
California Shipbuilding Corporation
California Shipbuilding Corporation built 467 Liberty and Victory ships during World War II, including Haskell-class attack transports. California Shipbuilding Corporation was often referred to as Calship.
CalShip yard in 1944
Motorized hoisting truck used in moving scaffolding timbers around the shipyard, 1942.
Calship fitting out its first Victory ships, c. early 1944
Construction of a Liberty Ship in California Shipbuilding's yard, June 1943.