She was launched by the California Shipbuilding Company on 6 June 1944 and completed on 19 July 1944 as a Greenville Victory-class cargo ship.

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8] Dalton Victory was acquired by the Navy and assigned to the Military Sea Transportation Service (MSTS) as a Greenville Victory-class cargo ship in a noncommissioned status on 9 August 1950.

SS Dalton Victory served as cargo ship supplying goods for the Korean War.

SS Dalton Victory transported goods, mail, food and other supplies, making trips between the US and Korea.

[9][10] On 27 October 1960 Dalton Victory was reconfigured as a missile range instrumentation ship and renamed USNS Sunnyvale (T-AGM-5).