The second of two museums aboard the ship is located here, in Hatch No. 2, on the upper tween deck. This museum contains large items, some of which were the type of cargo that the ship originally delivered. Most of the items are hands on displays which add interest and provide educational value. A torpedo and an anti ship mine are displayed to show how German U-Boats sank nearly six million tons of Allied shipping in the first six months of 1942. A depth charge, sub chaser ship models, and submarine patrol plane models show how Merchant Marine ships were finally protected from the U-Boats. A group of jeeps from the Korea and Vietnam conflicts are on display, as well as an international collection of Jeep models.

Of primary interest is the only U.S. Memorial listing the names of the heroic Merchant Mariners who gave their lives during World War II bringing critical supplies to Allied Forces.

Other equipment and techniques used in navigating a World War II Victory ship are shown.  These include celestial navigation by sextant, a radio direction finder, azimuth circle, taffrail log speedometer, recording fathometer, and a dead reckoning device. The ship's own degaussing unit and directions for its use are displayed.

Visitors are able to view a 25 man life raft used early in WW II, and to imagine how they would survive the sea. There are also many ship models on display, including the famous Japanese Yamato, the largest battleship ever built.

The triple expansion steam engine displayed in the second museum is an example of the kind of marine engine that powered the Titanic, the Bismark, and the U.S. Liberty Ships. It is a twenty ton, 1000 HP engine built in 1920 by the Vickers Co, of England. It powered a fishing trawler that also served as a convoy escort vessel during World War II. The ship eventually reentered commercial trade until it was broken up in Vancouver, British Columbia. The engine was moved to a Burbank Fox Studio and featured in the 1961 film The Sand Pebbles, starring Steve McQueen and Candice Bergman. It was sold to a San Diego collector and eventually acquired by the S.S. Lane Victory. Hundreds of hours of volunteer labor were required to restore the engine to its present condition, led by Chief Engineers Gene Allen and Jim Higman. The exposed piston rods and crankshaft move quietly without vibration when driven by an electric motor for display. For a taste of yesterday's ship propulsion, don't miss the Second Museum Sand Pebbles Engine!

Veterans PTSD Discussion Group

10 AM Friday mornings

Come on board, ask for George Henning.