USS Gargoyle, a 4433 gross ton tanker, was built in
1902 at Greenock, Scotland, as S.S. Pennoil and operated
before World War I for a German subsidiary of the Vacuum Oil Co.
She was re-registered under the American flag and renamed Gargoyle
in 1914. Transferred to the Navy in August 1917 and placed in
commission at that time as USS Gargoyle (ID # 1656), she
loaded a cargo of fuel oil and in September fueled several battleships
in the New York area. Taking on another cargo, Gargoyle
sailed from New York in early October for England, where she delivered
her load of fuel to several ports and naval bases in the English
Channel. She made another similar voyage in January 1918, and
during this trip became one of the initial group of ships assigned
to the newly-created Naval Overseas Transportation Service (NOTS).
In March 1918 the tanker sailed from New York on her third transatlantic
voyage, delivering her cargo at Devonport and Plymouth, England.
In May 1918, soon after her return to New York, Gargoyle
was decommissioned and returned to the Vacuum Oil Co. She was
renamed Oswego in 1920, Queen Maeve in 1924, Petroil
in 1931, and Zenobia Martini in 1951. The very elderly
ship was scrapped at Savona, Italy, in 1961.
This page features all available views concerning USS Gargoyle (ID # 1656) and the American tanker Gargoyle, Originally Pennoil, later Oswego, Queen Maeve, Petroil, and Zenobia Martini.
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Page made 25 May 2008
Minor punctuation change 1 June 2008