1.11.1936 Indian Ocean 39°43’S, 51°20’E 427th. day at sea
Schiff 30 arrives on the evening of 30.10. after an uneventful 2 day voyage from where the Spanish treasure ships were captured. All the liners have been released and only the captured tanker “Malta” and the auxiliary minelayers “Indien” and “Pazifik” remain. They arrive at naval square 2121 JM, drifting down towards their current position of 2192 JM. For most of the 31st Schiff 30 spent taking on fuel and supplies while the 2 auxiliary minelayers carried out reconnaissance to augment them a seaplane were launched.
Once the oiling was completed the aircraft undertook test flights and made several practice runs on the prize tanker “Malta” unfortunately the pilot accidentally dropped one of the SC50s which landed square on the tankers after deck causing a large explosion which sank the tanker and damaged the aircraft. The entire prize commando was able to leave the tanker before it sank, however 10.000 t of high quality diesel fuel was lost. The pilot and observer were severely reprimanded by Kapitan.z.S Hartmann and Obstlt Forester for the incident, punishment pending. “Indien” and “Pazifik” were sent to pickup the survivors. 8 of the prize commando including L.z.S Heusinger were injured according to Geschw.Arzt Dr. Brinkmann they are expected to make a full recovery.
Schiff 30 has been assigned to operate in the Indian Ocean and will be disguised as an anonymous Norwegian freighter however when she stops a ship she will present herself as a Spanish Hilfskreuzer. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann plans to setout to Madagascar tomorrow at 0600 hrs.
Schiff 30, Altmark, and Malta stopped while aircraft gains altitude on a reconnaissance flight
Tanker Malta sinking and on fire after being accidently hit by one of the Schiff 30's aircraft while on a practice run.
Schiff 30 and Altmark on the evening of 1.11.