Laid-down on 3 May 1944 and launched on 17 June[1]), Quinault Victory was delivered to the War Shipping Administration and subsequently leased to the United States Lines Company.

The railcars slated for Quinault Victory contained 253 tons of bombs and 5 inch projectiles for 5"/25 caliber guns.

The force of the explosions lifted the Quinault Victory out of the water, and she landed 500 ft (150 m) away upside-down and facing the opposite direction.

[2] 320 sailors and dockworkers were killed and 390 were injured, making it the worst U.S. home front disaster of World War II.

The names of those killed aboard Quinault Victory are listed at the Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial which was dedicated in 1994.