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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

Carthage (AG-185)

Laid down, 30 March 1945, as SS American Victory, a Maritime Commission type (VC2-S-AP2) hull under Maritime Commission contract (MCV hull 792) at Permanente Metals Yard No. 2, Richmond, CA.

Launched, 24 May 1945

Delivered to the Maritime Commission, War Shipping Administration, 20 June 1945, under General Agency Agreement to Hammond Shipping Co. LTD., at Los Angeles, CA.

Bare bottom chartered,29 June 1946, to American Export Lines, Inc., at New York, N.Y.

To Boland and Cornelius under General Agency Agreement, 27 November 1947, at New York

Returned to the Maritime Commission, 19 December 1947, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Group

General Agency Agreement to U.S. Navigation Co., 15 February 1951, at the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Hudson River Group

Bare bottom chartered, 19 March 1951, to U.S. Navigation Co., at New York, N.Y.

General Agency Agreement to U.S. Navigation Co., 21 February 1952, at Mobile, AL.

general Agency Agreement to Dichmann, Wright and Pugh Inc., 30 December 1952, at San Francisco, CA.

Returned to the Maritime Administration, 6 January 1954, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, Beaumont, TX.

Withdrawn from reserve and refurbished (FRAM) at a cost of $2.5 million

Scheduled to be acquired by the US Navy in February 1966 for conversion to a Forward Depot Ship, the forerunner of the Fast Deployment Logistic Ships

Renamed Carthage (AG-185) and placed in service with the Military Sea Transport Service, date unknown

Of all the ships designated for the Forward Depot Ship program only Carthage was ever assigned a crew and she logged just 26 hours of at-sea time before once again being returned to mothballs. The FRAM results were not impressive as age had taken a toll on the Victories, which were originally only intended as semi-disposable ships for the duration of WWII.

Program canceled, 1 February 1966

GAA contract to Hudson Waterways, Corp., 19 July 1966, at Beaumont, TX. for operational control of the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS)

Returned to the Maritime Administration, 19 January 1970, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River Group, Lee Hall, VA.

Final Disposition, converted to a museum ship at Tampa, FL., name reverted to SS American Victory

Specifications:

Displacement

As Built 4,512 t.(lt) 15,589 t.(fl)

FRAM 10,075 t. standard, 13,000 full load

Length 455' 2"

Beam 62' 28"

Draft 29'

Complement (post FRAM), 6 USN, 56 civilian MSC)

Speed 16.5 kts. Range 23,500NM@ 16kts.

Propulsion

two 399C boilers

two Allis-Chalmers 6000H cross compound steam turbine

two Falk Milwaukee reduction gears

single schaft w/non CP prop

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
Merchant Service
	91k	SS American Victory moored at Tampa, FL., date unknown. Photo courtesy HAER Maritime Recording Project staff	Robert Hurst
	68k	SS American Victory moored at Tampa, FL., date unknown	Derick S. Hartshorn
	275k	Starboard side view of the museum ship SS American Victory moored pierside at Tampa, Florida's Channel District, 13 December 2010. Photo taken by Akjameson 1 (real unknown).	Robert Hurst
094918504	59k	SS American Victory underway, date and location unknown. MARAD
094918505	192k

There is no DANFS history for Carthage (AG-185) available at NavSource

Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
MARAD Vessel History Database
SS American Victory Mariners Museum

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This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo

Last Updated 19 February 2021