The USNS Aiken Victory (T-AP-188) was a troop transport vessel based on the Victory ship design, serving the United States Army Transport Service during World War II and the Korean War. Constructed as a VC2-S-AP2 hull (No. 616) at the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyard in Baltimore, Maryland, she was laid down on October 13, 1944, launched on November 30, 1944, and delivered to the Maritime Commission by December 30, 1944. Operated initially under a Maritime Commission contract by the Mississippi Shipping Company, she played a vital role in supporting wartime logistics and troop movements. During World War II, Aiken Victory delivered cargo to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and transported small groups of troops, including participation in convoy CU 63, which departed from New York in March 1945 and arrived in Liverpool in April 1945. She also contributed to Operation Magic Carpet, assisting in returning troops home from both the Pacific and European theaters. After the war, she was placed in the reserve fleet at Suisun Bay on February 22, 1947. Reactivated on July 21, 1950, in response to the Korean War, she was assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service, designated T-AP-188. Aiken Victory transported troops to Korea, including the Colombia Battalion in May 1951, with stops in Hawaii. She operated with a civilian crew for nearly 30 months in combat zones, earning eight battle stars for her service. Notably, she transported troops during active combat, earning medals such as the Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. Following her service in Korea, she was returned to the Maritime Commission in December 1952 and berthed in the National Defense Reserve Fleet at Olympia, Washington. Her name was struck from the Navy list in February 1953. She remained in reserve until she was sold for scrapping in 1971 to American Ship Dismantlers, Inc., and was dismantled in Portland, Oregon. The USNS Aiken Victory remains significant as a dedicated troop transport, earning eight battle stars and multiple medals for her wartime service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.