The Story of the S.S. Hobbs Victory

During World War II, the United States shipyards produced over 500 cargo ships, dubbed "Victory Ships" to replace the many cargo ships that were destroyed by German submarines.  There were 218 of these ships named after American cities, and one was named the S.S. Hobbs Victory, after the city of Hobbs, New Mexico.  Because the Atlantic battle had been largely won by the time the Victory Ships were built, few of them were sunk.  However, the S.S. Hobbs Victory was one lost to a kamakazi attack, just two months after its delivery date. On April 6, 1945, while anchored off Kerama Rhetto, between Hikaji Shima and Koba Shima off Okinawa, because "Logan Victory" had been attacked and hit an hour earlier in the same anchorage, the "Hobbs Victory" was ordered to a new anchorage. She was underway at 15 knots when a plane crashed into her at 6:50 p.m. It hit on the port side just forward of the No. 4 lifeboat on the boat deck. There was an immediate and huge explosion which tore off the port side of the midship house and boat deck. The port boiler blew up rendering the engine useless. The ship was entirely aflame when she was abandoned on the captains orders. Those who had not already jumped overboard lowered the starboard lifeboats to the rail and put the injured on board. The remaining men then entered the lifeboats and, when the ship had slowed to a safe speed, launched successfully. Meanwhile, a Navy fireboat fought the inferno for four hours until the fire went out of control. Early the following morning the ship exploded and sank. Eleven crew and one Navy man were lost in this incident. Thanks to Bud Shortridge, U S Naval Fighting Ship History Hobbiest for this account of the attack and sinking of the Hobbs Victory.

Built by Permanente Metals Corporation in
Richmond, California across the bay from San Francisco.
Maritime Commission Hull Number: 599
Ship Type: VC2-S-AP2
Engine: General Electric Co.
Operator: Sudden & Christenson
Type: AP2 Freighter
Keel laid November 10, 1944
Launched January 9, 1945
Delivered February 5, 1945
Total days to build: 87

Voyage: San Francisco to Okinawa via Ulithi Atoll
Cargo: Army ammunition
Complement: fifty-six crew, twenty-seven Armed Guard
Master: Kenneth Izant


To learn more about Victory Ships and Navy history, please visit the website
of Bud Shortridge's Naval History Website.




                   


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