From the U.S. Naval History Blog "Neutrality Patrol Seizes German Prize, 6 Nov 1941."
On 6 Nov. 1941, the light cruiser USS Omaha (CL-4) and destroyer USS Somers (DD-381) sighted a suspicious vessel flying the American flag and with the name Willmoto of Philadelphia on the stern. The freighter refused to suitably identify itself and took evasive action according to reports.
A boarding party was dispatched. As they approached, the freighter's crew took to the lifeboats and hoisted the signal that the ship was sinking. When the American boarders came alongside, they heard explosions in the hull.
They boarded and found it was the German blockade-runner Odenwald and it was being scuttled, but the ship was aved and soon underway to Puerto Rico for adjudication.
In 1947, the crews of both ships were awarded salvage money.
An Incident On the "Neutrality Patrol." --GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
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