Built for the U.S. Maritime Commission as Hull No. V-81 by California Shipbuilding Corporation in Los Angeles, California, in February 1945, the S.S. Alhambra Victory was one of America's Victory ships, fast, large-capacity cargo carriers that formed a critical maritime link to the theaters of war and served in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. American men and women built more than 500 Victory ships in shipyards across the United States, and only three remain today: the S.S. American Victory, the S.S. Red Oak Victory, and the S.S. Lane Victory in San Pedro, California. The S.S. Alhambra Victory was named to honor Alhambrans such as Ensign John C. England, who perished in the early days of World War II. California Shipbuilding Corporation, also known as CalShip, located in San Pedro, built the S.S. Alhambra Victory and 130 other Victory ships.