5/26/1940 Indian Ocean 21°42’S, 85°28’E 277th day at sea
SInce the last report only one French freighter was sunk the LARRODE 3,800 grt (ZHDU) from La Rochelle to Rangoon again in ballast. After this Ship 15 returned to the East coast of Madagascar and after another fruitless hunt returned to the mid Indian Ocean and is currently proceeding towards the Sunda Strait. Brinkmann plans to capture tankers for 1. Conversion into Auxiliary minelayers 2. Convert into supply ships. Ship 15 will meet the tanker Ermland the which besides food, fuel, and provisions has parts for the Arado Ar 196 seaplanes, a so called Leichte Schnellboote, and 300 EMC mines. The meeting which was scheduled for May 1st will now take place on June 10th in (Waiting Area F II, Point Red V).
Brinkmann will also receive 10 Prize officers. An indication of what the Seekriegslietung expected of Ship 15. The raider will retain the current disguise of an anonymous British freighter.
Pictures:
1. Ship 15 taken from the motor launch following a hull inspection by the Kommandant and Chief Engineer.
2. Sinking of the French freighter LARRODE