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D/T Willy To Willy on the "Ships starting with W" page. Manager: Victor Jenssen, Oslo Built in 1916 by Harlan & Hollingsworth, Wilmington, Delaware (437) as Gold Shell for Shell Oil Co., California. 411' 6" x 50' 1" x 24' 8", service speed 12 knots, 3-cyl triple expansine steam engine (Harlan & Hollingworth). Acquired by the U.S. Navy on Aug. 8-1917, commissioned the same day, Comdr. David R. Fleming in command. Departed Philadelphia on Aug. 26-1917 for Plymouth, U.K., and until Dec. 10-1918 carried fuel oil to various European ports in support of the Allied forces. She made a total of nine voyages to such ports as Spithead, Scapa Flow, Tobermory and Brest, arriving at New York after her last crossing on Dec. 10-1918. Decommissioned on March 5-1919 at the New York Navy Yard, returning to her owner the same day. Owned from 1923 to 1929 by Shell S.S. Co., New York (Asiatic Petroleum Co.). Sold in 1929 to N.V. Petroleum Maatschappij La Corona, Holland (after 1960 Shell Tankers N.V.). Sold again in 1930 to Victor Jenssens Rederi A/S, Oslo, Norway, renamed Willy. (Compare with the details found on this external page). Captain: R. J. Farsjø Her voyages are listed on this original document received from the National Archives of Norway.
Judging from the information found on the archive document above, Willy was in Corpus Christi when war broke out in Norway on Apr. 9-1940. She had arrived there from Trinidad on March 29.
On fire Apr. 29/30-1940 in Cooper River off Charleston, when on a voyage from Corpus Christi to the U.K. with a cargo of aviation fuel (she was scheduled for Convoy HX 40 from Halifax on May 4 but did not join). No casualties. The fire was extinguished by a fire and rescue party detailed by Commandant Sixth Naval District, and the ship as well as the waterfront were saved. According to the archive document, she left Charleston on May 10 and arrived New York May 16, remaining there for a month, but these entries may be incorrect? She was sold that same year to Cia Nacional de Navegação Costeira, Rio de Janeiro, repaired and renamed Itamaraty. Sold in 1941 to Lloyd Brasilero Patrimônio Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, no name change. Further voyages can be found by going to this external page and clicking on "Ship search", entering "Itamaraty" in the search field. Crew List - No casualties:
Broke in two following an explosion while in drydock in Rio de Janeiro, Jan.12-1949. Scrapped in Rio de Janeiro. Related external links: Helder Line - Some info and a picture of this ship (when Gold Shell). Back to Willy on the "Ships starting with W" page. The text on this page was compiled with the help of: "Nortraships flåte", J. R. Hegland, "Sjøforklaringer fra 2. verdenskrig", Volume II (Norwegian Maritime Museum), The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II, Robert Cressman (via website Hyperwar above), and misc. (ref. My sources). Additionally, pre war and post war details were received from Christine Soares - Her sources: História Naval Brasileiro, Vol. V, Tomo II Serviço de Documentação da Marinha, Rio de Janeiro 1985, Dictionary of Naval Fighting Ships, via Joseph M. Radigan's site, and Kees Helder, webmaster of Helder Line
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