May 1, 1938 A.G. Weser Werft, Bremen Commissioning Pier
After many months of reading, writing, and utter failure I bring you the war patrol of the Hilfskreuzer Schiff Nr.44 “Afrika”
Ship 44 began her life as the DDG Hansa Line freighter Weserfels 7,700 grt (DOSG) working the East Asia Line (Hamburg-Calcutta). On her 8th voyage she pulled into Hamburg loaded with Oil Nuts, Jute, Oil Cakes, among other cargo. 3 days later on August 2, 1937 officers and representatives of the Kriegsmarine and Deschimag A.G. Weser Werft boarded the freighter and were taken to the master’s cabin Kplt.z.S Muller informed Kapitan Neumeister “We have orders to requisition the Weserfels for naval service”. Eight hours later the remaining cargo was disembarked and the Weserfels sailed for Bremen arriving 16 hours later under the temporary command of Muller, and docked at the Haushafen II she remained there for 3 days before her new commanding officer arrived KKpt.z.S Hans Felix Hartman. By this time the Spanish Civil War had been raging for over a year. Hartmann had served as Artillery officer aboard the Admiral Graf Spee before that he commanded a minesweeper (M-13) and expert in navigation, minelaying, and artillery made him a suitable candidate for the commander of a commerce raider. Hartmann took command and sailed the ship for the Deschimag A.G. Weser Werft, Bremen where the ship would undergo an extensive refit and modifications
In a 8 months shipwrights lengthened, modified, and finally armed the Weserfels now known by her hull number HSK-16. She was completed on April 30, 1938 and commissioned the following day. During the 8 months she was at the shipyard Hartmann began picking his 440 man crew he meticulously picked officers, petty officers, and ratings rejecting the initial recommendations of the personnel office. After the commissioning came the five and half months of training. Artillery, minelaying, torpedo firing, aircraft launch and recovery, engine, rudder exercises and trials were conducted in the Baltic.
