Hannibal Victory

Early in February 1945, a new victory ship, the S.S. Hannibal Victory , is ready to make its maiden voyage to the Philippines. It is one of several ships named for U.S. towns, and although no one on board comes from Hannibal, the crew adopts it as their hometown. The ship is stocked with railroad chassies, and small spaces are stuffed with other necessary things, such as rations and cots. Eight full railroad engines and tenders are also loaded, ready to run as soon as they are set on rails at their destination. The heavy machines are carefully lifted by cranes and then wedged, chained and bolted to keep them from shifting in heavy seas. After the ship passes the submarine net designed to keep enemy submarines from penetrating San Francisco Bay, the harbor pilot is dropped off and the ship heads out to sea with 10,000 tons of machinery. The guns are tested immediately, so the ship can turn back if there is a problem. The ship's destination is a mystery to the seamen, who spend their time painting the ship and keeping the equipment in good repair. Like the ship, half of the deck crew is making their maiden voyage. One, nicknamed "Peg Leg," lost a leg in Guadalcanal and, unable to fight, joined the Merchant Marine. New seamen review the parts of the ship and are drilled on their names. Two soldiers maintain the railroad engines to prevent them from rusting in the salt air. In their free time, the men attend church services, cut their hair, do laundry and other chores. While some men practice their knot-tying techniques or write letters, the cadet midshipmen study. Six meals a day are served and coffee and sandwiches are always available. Even rationed items are supplied to keep the men healthy. At night, strict blackout is maintained, but dawn and sunset are always dangerous times for the ship because it is outlined against the sky. As the ship passes through the Hawaiian Islands, all the islanders come out to watch. Eniwetok is the site of a Navy shore station, where Victory and Liberty ships, landing craft and patrol boats are docked. Here, the Hannibal Victory anchors and joins the other ships that will make up its convoy. The fifty ships of the convoy keep radio silence and communicate with signal lights. The men learn that they are heading for the Philippines. Japanese soldiers still are present on the islands, so all guns are manned, and air cover is supplied. When a submarine is spotted, the escorts lay depth charges. After the ship reaches its destination of Lingayen Gulf off Luzon, enemy shells assault the anchorage. Landing craft take the smaller supplies ashore, but bigger craft are needed for the locomotives. That night, a Japanese bomber hits an ammunition dump. Soon the rails are laid, and the engines are placed on them, ready to carry supplies wherever they are needed. After the war, they will remain to help the Philippine Islands rebuild. The Hannibal Victory then takes the rest of its cargo to Manila. Many of the crew come ashore with the cargo to witness the damage caused by the war. Now that the voyage is complete, the Hannibal Victory heads for home.