USNS Phoenix

History
United States
Name	SS Capital Victory, then in 1948 USS Phoenix
Namesake	A mythical bird of ancient Egypt which, after living some 500 years, consumes itself in fire, only to rise again rejuvenated from its ashes. Also, Phoenix, Arizona, the State of Arizona's largest city and capital
Builder	Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon
Laid down	27 February 1945 as Capital Victory (MCV–183)
Launched	10 April 1945
Sponsored by	Mrs. Chester It. Kinmon
Completed	8 May 1945
Acquired	by the Navy on 25 November 1962
In service	July 1963 with civil service crew
Out of service	c. 1970
Renamed	Arizona in 1948; Phoenix for Navy use on 20 November 1962
Reclassified	AG–172 on 20 November 1962
Stricken	15 June 1973
Homeport	Subic Bay, Philippines
Fate	sold, 31 August 1973, scrapped in Kaohsiung in 1984.
General characteristics
Type	Phoenix-class miscellaneous auxiliary
Tonnage	6,700 tons
Displacement	6,700 light 14,900 tons full load
Length	436' 6"
Beam	62'
Draft	28' 1" (max.)
Propulsion	steam turbine, single shaft, 8,500hp
Speed	17 knots
Complement	50 officers and enlisted

USNS Phoenix (T-AG-172) was a Phoenix-class miscellaneous auxiliary acquired by the United States Navy in 1962, crewed by a civilian crew from the Military Sea Transportation Service, and sent to the Philippines to serve as a floating depot. Phoenix remained in the Philippines, issuing parts and other supplies, until the early 1970s, being struck by the Navy in 1973. She was built as a Victory ship for World War II as the SS Capital Victory under the Emergency Shipbuilding program for the War Shipping Administration.

Victory ship built in Oregon

SS Capital Victory was laid down under U.S. Maritime Commission (MCV–183) on 27 February 1945 by Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation, Portland, Oregon; launched 10 April 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Chester It. Kinmon and delivered 8 May 1945 to the Alaska SS Company under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.

Assigned to the U.S. Navy

Renamed Arizona in 1948, the cargo ship was renamed Phoenix for Navy use 20 November 1962 and classified AG–172 the same day; acquired by the Navy from the Maritime Administration 25 November 1962; assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (M.S.T.S.) and manned by a civil service crew in July 1963. She was the lead ship of three ships in this class.

A floating depot ship

The special project ship, with Cheyenne (T-AG–174) and Provo (T-AG–173) was stationed in Subic Bay, Philippines as forward floating depots. The utility of such depots was demonstrated in 1964 by the excellent performance of these ships in Operation Quick Release.

In 1965 Phoenix began general cargo operation under Commander, M.S.T.S. in the Far East and with a Korean crew continued this duty until 1970.

Inactivation

Phoenix was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Commission, and was sold 31 August 1973. She was scrapped in Kaohsiung in 1984.

References

• This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.
• NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive - T-AG-172 Phoenix

This page was last edited on 15 April 2023, at 20:39