I can't partition my new SSD in Disk Utility for Macbook Pro 13" mid 2012

I recently upgraded the HD to SSD

Macbook Pro 13" mid 2012 A1278

Mac OS-10.11.6 El Capitan

I followed guidance in Apple Support similar comments, but it keeps failing. It seems to be a APFS - old OS - conundrum.

Disk Utilities version 15.0 in El Capital doesn't have a format for recommended choice APFS, only OS X Extended (Journaled)

Scheme is GUID

First Aid reports disk is OK

but ERASE keeps failing

In an attempt to format to APFS, I removed the SSD, put it in external drive with USB, and tried to format with 10.15.7 Catalina on another Macbook Pro. That seemed to be successful. Then I reinstalled SSD drive inside Macbook Pro 13", booting with 10.11.6 El Capitan from the old hard drive via external USB connector, then attempting to use SSD...

....and SSD doesn't work.

Disk Utility version 15.0 reports:

"Volume Type UNKNOWN

File system UNKNOWN

Writable NO

Available free space 0 (zero)

Volume capacity 250....

Free space 0 (zero)

Used space 250....

Owner enabled NO

Is encrypted NO

Can be verified NO

Obi Wan, this is not the SSD I wanted.r