Handy billy -- also known as Handy-billie -- was/is a common emergency portable pump

Pump

A pump is a device used to move fluids, such as liquids, gases or slurries.A pump displaces a volume by physical or mechanical action. Pumps fall into three major groups: direct lift, displacement, and gravity pumps...

 that was placed aboard most U.S. Navy ships since World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

.

Purpose of the pump

The handy billy, formally designated "P50", because it pumped 50 gallons per minute, was gasoline

Gasoline

Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...

-powered and could be used, during flooding conditions, in conjunction with other pumps on the ship. However, it was especially valuable when the ship lost electrical power and normal pumping ability was lost.

On smaller ships, it was a critical piece of equipment.

Named “handy billy”

The pump gained its name because it was very “handy” and dependable. It was especially handy because it could be easily transported from place to place by two strong crew members, one at each end, as it weighed 160 pounds during World War II.

Versatility

The handy billy could be used for fire-fighting and/or pumping water from flooded spaces aboard ship.

External links

• USS ATLANTA CL-51 - Battle damage during evening of 12 November 1942
• Abandonment of the "Duncan" and Rescue of Her Survivors by the "McCalla"
• Fire pump aboard ship to pump sea water.