The U.S.S.R. Victory was a Victory ship laid down on January 3, 1944, and launched on February 26, the same year. On April 26, 1944, the vessel was assigned to Moore-McCormack Lines Inc. according to a WSA operating agreement that lasted until 1947. The U.S.S.R. Victory had the hull number 3 (V-3) and the U.S. Maritime Commission designation VC2-S-AP3 and it served in the World War II operations carried out in the Atlantic. It transported up to 1500 troops and it had a complement of 28 US Naval Armed Guards and 62 Merchant Marines. The U.S.S.R. Victory took part in several World War II operations including Operation Magic Carpet. It also took part in the Korean War. In March 1947, the U.S.S.R. Victory was sold to the India Steamship Company.
This vessel, just like others that served the Navy during that period, was built using asbestos. Virtually, all the parts of the ship contained some amount of asbestos: the deck, the engine and boiler room, even the rooms where the soldiers slept. Working in an environment that was contaminated with asbestos meant toxic exposure for the men on the ship. In time, this exposure caused conditions such as cancer or asbestosis.
760-621-6147
