Click to go to home page American Victory: built in 1943; 730 ft. long; Flag: USA
the boat American Victory
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

The Middletown was sold by Oglebay Norton to American Steamship in June, 2006. The boat's name was changed to American Victory. The Middletown, was owned by Columbia Fleet, Oglebay Norton Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, was named for the hometown of the Armco Steel Corporation in Middletown, Ohio.

Built in 1943, she is one of the oldest boats to come to Duluth. During the Second World War, she saw duty as a tanker and is credited with shooting down enemy aircraft.

In 1961, she was converted from a tanker to a straight deck bulk carrier and was renamed the Pioneer Challenger. The next year, she became the Middletown.

In 1982 a self-unloader was installed, providing her with many more years of useful service on the Great Lakes.

In 2002, she made about 8 trips to Duluth, usually discharging limestone that she picked up at Cedarville, Michigan. She would often load taconite at the DM&IR Dock in West Duluth or at the Burlington Northern Dock in Superior for the return trip back down.

More often, she visited Silver Bay, Minnesota, loading taconite there for the ports of Ashtabula, Lorain and Toledo, Ohio.
the boat American Victory
Wednesday, April 23, 2008

the boat American Victory
Wednesday, December 26, 2007

the boat American Victory
Sunday, December 9, 2007

the boat American Victory
Thursday, June 22, 2006

the boat American Victory
Thursday, June 22, 2006:
the boat American Victory
Saturday, November 5, 2005

the boat American Victory
Saturday, October 8, 2005

the boat American Victory
Wednesday, December 22, 2004

the boat American Victory
Saturday, October 30, 2004

the boat American Victory
Friday, April 23, 2004

the boat American Victory
Friday, May 3, 2002: in the Duluth harbor
the boat American Victory
Tuesday, November 20, 2001: entering the Duluth ship canal
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