The USS Camel (IX-133) was an Armadillo-class tanker constructed during World War II, serving as a vital logistical vessel for the United States Navy. Launched on October 31, 1943, by the California Shipbuilding Corporation in Wilmington, California, she was originally named William H. Carruth under a Maritime Commission contract and sponsored by Mrs. J. Low. The ship was acquired by the Navy on November 22, 1943, and commissioned on the same day, becoming an essential part of the wartime fleet. Designed as an armadillo-class tanker, USS Camel was primarily tasked with transporting and delivering petroleum products. She departed from San Pedro, California, on January 1, 1944, heading toward Tarawa, where she arrived on January 24 to supply aviation gasoline used in reconnaissance missions. Between February and August, she operated on shuttle service, supplying fleet units and shore installations across the Marshall and Mariana Islands, including Saipan and Guam. During her service, the Camel was involved in notable wartime activities. While discharging at Saipan, she discovered two Japanese stowaways; one was killed when they jumped overboard, and the survivor expressed hopes of reaching Hawaii or the U.S. mainland. From Eniwetok, she continued her supply runs until March 27, 1945, when she headed for the Ryukyu Islands. She served as a station tanker at Kerama Retto from April 2 to July 8, and subsequently as the headquarters ship for Service Division 104 at Okinawa. During this period, her anti-aircraft guns contributed to the defense against Japanese air attacks, including shooting down one enemy aircraft on April 6. Following her wartime service, USS Camel returned to the U.S., was decommissioned at Norfolk, Virginia, on May 22, 1946, and returned to the Maritime Commission two days later. For her service during WWII, she earned one battle star, marking her contribution to the Allied war effort. Her operational history underscores her importance as a logistical and support vessel in the Pacific Theater.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.