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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

USS Bullwheel (YO-46)


International Radio Call Sign:
November - Bravo - Mike - Zulu
NBMZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is left to right
American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal


Bullwheel Class Fuel Oil Barge (Self-propelled):
  • Built by Lake Superior Shipbuilding Co., Superior WI (YN 101)
  • Laid down, 15 May 1941
  • Launched, 20 December 1941
  • Placed in service as USS Bullwheel (YO-46), 21 October 1942, LT Henry P. Timmers, USNR, in charge
  • Operated in Aleutians, May - October 1943
  • Operated in Ellice Islands, Tarawa, Majuro, Eniwetok, Manus and Ulithi, October 1943 - 1945
  • Stationed at Leyte at war's end
  • Postwar was assigned to "Advanced Bases, Pacific" and operated in the Philippines
  • Placed out of service in the Philippines, circa late 1963 - early 1964
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • Sold to Luzon Stevedoring Corp., Manila, and renamed LSCO Wawa, late November 1964
  • Final Disposition, deleted 1990
    Specifications:
    Displacement 950 tons (lt) 1,731 tons (fl)
    Length 235'
    Beam 37'
    Draft 15' (max)
    Speed 10.6 knots
    Complement 4 officers, 30 enlisted
    Cargo Capacity 10,000 barrels
    Armament unknown
    Propulsion
    two DSG-6 Enterprise Diesel engines driving electric motors
    two shafts, 635shp
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Source
    Bullwheel
    141204602
    114k Bullwheel (YO-46) at her fitting-out berth at Lake Superior Shipbuilding, shortly after launch, 20 December 1941.
    Photo from Kenneth Thro Collection, University of Wisconsin Superior, via Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library
    Dave Wright
    Bullwheel
    141204603
    46k Bullwheel (YO-46) completing at Lake Superior Shipbuilding, date unknown.
    Photo from Kenneth Thro Collection, University of Wisconsin Superior, via Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library
    Dave Wright
    Bullwheel
    141204601
    344k Bullwheel (YO-46) alongside SS Baranof at Kodiak, Alaska, during her initial deployment carrying avgas in the Aleutians, 04 May 1943. Bullwheel and her three sisters were the basis of the Maritime Commission's design for the Mettawee (AOG-17) and Sakatonchee (AOG-19) classes, which were also initially classified as service craft (YOG). Baranof, a merchant ship under allocation to the Army, was originally a sister to USS Canopus (AS-9).
    National Archives photo 80-G-79700, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.
    Mike Green
    Bullwheel
    141204604
    767k Officers and crew of Bullwheel (YO-46) at Olongapo, Subic Bay, PI, 08 May 1946.
    Naval History & Heritage Command photo NH 107091, donated by Dr. Mark Kulikowski, 2010
    Dave Wright

    Bullwheel (YO-46)
    DANFS entry located at the US Naval History and Heritage Command website
    Commanding Officers
    01LT Henry Peter Timmers, D-M USNR 131 October 1942 - (May 1944)
    02LT Angus Brown Metcalf, D-V(G) USNR(May 1944) - (early 1945)
    03LT Albert Ackerly Holt, (D) USNR(early 1945) - (late 1945)
    04LT Eugene Eason Bracken, (D) USNR2(late 1945)- (1946)
    05CHBOSN Lewis J. Venturi USN(February 1947)
    1. Promoted to Lt. Commander, 01 July 1943.
    2. Promoted to Lt. Commander, spring 1946.

    Courtesy Dave Wright

    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log

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    This page was created by Gary P. Priolo and is maintained by David L. Wright
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    Last Updated 30 April 2021