USNS Michelson (T-AGS-23) was a Bowditch class oceanographic survey ship of the United States Navy.

Joliet Victory was operated by the Alaska SS Company under charter with the Maritime Commission and War Shipping Administration.

[3] Joliet Victory was active in delivering support for the Battle of Iwo Jima from 19 February to 26 March 1945.

[1] She was acquired by the U.S. Navy on 8 February 1958, renamed Michelson, and converted to an Oceanographic Survey Ship (AGS) at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

Varying numbers of civilian scientists and engineers managed survey operations, and maintained certain navigation and sonar equipment, usually about 12 oceanographers from the Naval Oceanographic Office, some personnel from the Naval Applied Sciences Laboratory (NASL, later NSSNF), and about 7 technical representatives from private corporations.