Description

Press release from the War Shipping Administration, May 20, 1945.

War Shipping Administration
Washington, D.C.

News photo Release No. 76, (#2 of 5).
For Release May 20, 1945.
Your Merchant Marine Has Grown

American merchant shipyards have built four ships for every prewar ship
we had. Our fleet of Liberty, Victory, C-type and other vessels reached
an all-time high of more than 3,500 dry cargo vessels, and more than 900
high-speed tankers.

This huge fleet, in 1944, moved out of the United States more than 72
percent of 78,500,000 tons of cargo shipped. Three percent were carried
by the U.S. armed forces and 24 percent by the combined tonnage of
other United Nations.

Transfer of troops and supplies from Europe to the far Pacific, over sea
lanes ranging from 12,000 to 18,000 miles, will demand maximum
efficiency in the use of our huge fleet under control of the War Shipping
Administration and the United Nation's pool.

                             --WSA photo 4235

Photo and above from http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/116liberty_victory_ships/116visual1.htm

This photo appears to have been taken at California Shipbuilding Corporation (Calship) in Wilimgton, Califonia, because all of the identifiable ships were built at that facility during 1944.

The ships that can be identified are:

• SS U.S.S.R. Victory (MC Hull 3) (foreground)
• SS Philippines Victory (MC Hull 5)
• SS Brazil Victory (MC Hull 8)
• SS Mexico Victory (MC Hull 7)
• a Liberty ship, probably SS Martin Johnson (MC Hull 2244)
• Two more Victory ships, another Liberty, and two more Victory ships beyond

All of the above ships have been launched (i.e. are in the water) and are being fitted out. So, taking into account the launch dates of all of the identified ships and the delivery dates (all found here), this photo would most likely have been taken sometime between 14 April and 26 April 1944

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