10/25/1938, Deschimag, AG Weser Bremen, Commissioning Pier, Kriegstagebuch Nr.1 (1st day)
Early history of “Schiff 35”
The DDG Hansa freighter HAMFELS 9.000 grt was launched from Deshimag AG Weser, Bremen on January 25, 1937. She was assigned the Hamburg-Calcutta route. Under Kapitan Rudolf Karphorn the Hamfels would make 6 voyages to Calcutta, on her last voyage she returned fully loaded with tin, rubber oil nuts, and oil cakes. She docked at Hamburg on April 2, 1938 and began unloading her cargo. Early in the morning of April 14th 2 officers, 10 petty officers, and 45 ratings of the Kriegsmarine boarded the freighter and informed the captain that the Hamfels was being requisitioned for naval service. she was now under the command of Kplt.z.S Wolfgang Arnhart (N.4454.33V).By the 30th All civilian crew were disembarked, and the empty freighter departed during the night. At 07:00 hrs. she arrived at Deschimag, AG Weser Werft and work began. For 6 months she remained there where she was lengthened by some 200 feet (100 fore and aft), at the Oberdeck she was strengthened to take on 8x5.9 in guns from the old battleship Hessen (4 port and 4 starboard). 2 additional 5.9s were installed on the Poop deck and on the forecastle. On September 5 Barracks Ship 35 was assigned a new Kommandant KKpt.z.S Hans Felix Hartmann (N.1829.19A). Work on Schiff 35 was completed on October 1st, 1938 and she was commissioned today on October 25, 1938 at 12:00 hrs.
