Pennewill DE-175

Pennewill
(DE-175: dp. 1,240; 1. 306'; b. 36'8"; dr. 8'9"; s. 21 k.; cpl.
186; a. 3 3", 2 40mm, 8 20mm, 3 21" tt., 2 act., 8 dcp., 1
dcp. (hh.); cl. Bostwick)

Pennewill (DE-175) was laid down 26 April 1943 by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newark, N J

launched 8 August 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Lucie Reilly Pennewill; and commissioned 15 September 1943, Lt. John Edward Allen, USNR, in command.

After shakedown, Pennewill steamed to Trinidad, British West Indies, for convoy escort duty. On 20 November 1943, she departed Trinidad as part of the escort for convoy TJ-15 arriving Recife, Brazil, 5 December.

Pennewill was engaged in operations with Task Group 42.2 from December 1943 to April 1944, escorting convoys from Trinidad to Recife, Brazil, and return. She also completed several special missions. From 25 to 27 December 1943 she escorted U.S. Army transport State of Maryland from Trinidad to San Juan, Puerto Rico. lt'rom 21 to 22 January 1944, she was escort for British tanker Destiny out of Recife to rendezvous with Task Group 41.4.

Pennewill arrived at Bahia, Brazil 26 April. During the following months she operated with Memphix, conducting patrol and escort duty off the coast of Brazil and engaged in training operations in the Bahia-Recife area. On 28 July she sailed from Recife to Natal, Brazil, where she decomcommissioned and was leased to the Government of Brazil 1 August 1944. She was transferred to Brazil 30 June 1953 and was struck from the Navy List 20 July 1953. Her Brazilian name is Bertioga, (BE-1).