>From the "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships," 

(1970) Vol. 5, p.271.





PERSEUS





	A son of Zeus and Danae; the slayer of the Gorgon 

Medusa.





AF-64

Displacement:  4,960 t.

Length:  455’3”

Beam:  62’0”

Draft:  28’6”

Speed:  16.5 k.

Complement:  56

Class:  DENEBOLA

Maritime Commission Standard Type:  VC2-S-AP3





	PERSEUS (AF-64) was laid down as UNION VICTORY (MCV 

hull 683) by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corp., Portland, Ore., 

30 March 1945, launched 11 May 1945; sponsored by Mrs. 

Claude F. Palmer; and delivered to the Maritime Commission, 

8 June 1945.



	Operated on contract from the Maritime Commission, 

UNION VICTORY carried military cargoes during the last 

months of World War II in the Pacific; the initial year of 

the European Occupation; and, four years later, the Korean 

Conflict.  After Korea, she returned to commercial 

transport, then entered the Maritime Administration's 

National Defense Reserve Fleet.  In late 1961, she was 

transferred to the Maritime Sea Transportation Service for 

conversion to a refrigeration ship.  Renamed and designated 

PERSEUS (AF-64) 4 December 1961, she was converted by the 

Willamette Iron and Steel Co., Portland, Ore., and in 

September 1962 was placed in service as USNS PERSEUS 

(T-AF-64) and was manned by a Civil Service crew.  Since 

that time, into 1970, she has operated under ComMSTSPac and 

has carried fresh and frozen foods from the West Coast to 

Pacific and Far East ports.



	[Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 June 

1973, PERSEUS was “disposed of by Maritime Administration 

sale” on 31 August 1973.  As of June 1999, she was a part of 

the National Defense Reserve Fleet.]



Internet Web Site:

	Naval Vessel Register

		www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/details/AF64.htm





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com