Hilfskreuzer Schiff 44 (HSK-16) “Afrika”

[CPTLTJASON]

11/28/1938 Gulf of Valencia, 41° 7'N, 4° 11'E (3877 CH) 28th day at sea

Ship 44 has been busy since entering the Gulf on the 22nd of November. In the late evening of the 22nd a small steamer was sighted and at 16:10 Ship 44 decamouflaged and hoisted battle ensign. At 16:11 Fkpt Hartmann ordered the I. Gunnery Officer Kplt(V) Byer to open fire. Cannons VIII, IX, and X opened fire at 8000m, closing the range to 3000m Ship 44 fired 14 salvos obtaining hits on the superstructure, bridge, engine room, and funnel. At 16:19 the ship slowed and eventually stopped. The Kommandant decided against sending a boarding commando aboard as the ship was mostly on fire, 2 lifeboats (Nr. III and V) were sent to rescue the crew all crewmembers were rescued and brought aboard the raider. The master Captain L.R Garcia gave a brief statement to the Kommandant: “The Pinto departed Odessa, USSR on November 9th loaded with ammunition, army/air force equipment, and misc. cargo”.
The first success of Ship 44 was the Spanish Republican freighter PINTO 2,427 grt (AZTO) from Odessa, USSR-Barcelona.
The following morning a British task force was sighted Numerous destroyers, and at least 2 freighters The Navigation Officer L.z.S Schneider, identified the 2 larger vessels as the HMS London and HMS Dorsetshire. At 12:20 another Spanish Republican freighter was spotted at 12:26 range 4000m Ship 44 decamouflaged and hoisted her battle ensign, she signaled “Stop immediately, do not use wireless, sending boat”. The vessel complies and the main radio room reports no distress signals on the 500m, 600m, or 650m wavelengths. A boarding commando under Oblt.z.S Schmidt boarded the vessel and determining that nothing of value could be taken, evacuated the crew, and 170 lbs. of scuttling charges placed aboard in the holds and engine room. These do little more than cause the ship to settle again Hartmann ordered the artillery to finish off the ship, cannons IX and X open fire, 8 salvos (16 HE rounds) send the freighter to the bottom. The freighter was the NORTE 5,929 grt (GCFH) from Odessa-Valencia loaded with army stores and equipment. 105 prisoners aboard. Later that day another enemy ship was sighted the French tanker BONAAT 10,316 grt (ZTLO) from Toulon-Tampico, Mexico. The freighter was not stopped, only friendly greetings exchanged. 15:15 Mtr.O.Gfr Weber on the fore crosstrees reported to the Bridge, “Feindlicher frachter in sicht mit 351°T 3000m, Spanische republikansische flagge vom mast! 2 minutes later Ship 44 rang out 4 salvos from cannons VI and VIII the freighter was hit 7 times in the engine room and bridge the freighter turns to port and explodes, a cutter (Nr. I) is sent away to rescue survivors 15 were saved including 2 officers. It is later determined that the Master, 3 officers, and 49 sailors went down with ship. The freighter FRESNO 6,393 grt (KDNC) again from Odessa-Cartagena loaded with ammunition. For the next 5 days no shipping has been sighted, The Kommandant will retain the disguise of the English ship. 118 prisoners are now aboard. Hartmann plans to transfer them to the freighter Kybfels which has departed La Spezia, Italy on November 27th.

[CPTLTJASON]

12/18/1938 Mediterranean Sea 48th day at sea

Ship 44 hasn’t encountered a single enemy since the last report, now Hartmann the I. Offizier, Navigation officers, and the mine officer laid out a plan to mine 2 harbors and part of the supply route. Working north to south Ship 44 mined the Port of Valencia during the night of 11/28-29 79 EMC mines were laid without being detected. During the day Ship 44 laid a larger minefield (121 mines) along the Odessa Supply route this minefield was laid where the Odessa-Cartagena and Odessa-Valencia routes meet. Moving North towards Barcelona Ship 44 laid her remaining 27 mines, undetected she left the area passing between the Islands of Majorca and Menorca at 17 knots. On December 1, 1938 Ship 44 and the freighter Kybfels met during the night they transferred prisoners so as to keep the identity of the Kybfels anonymous.

The following morning the Kybfels disguised as an Italian freighter proceeded west towards the Strait of Gibraltar and off to Vigo where the prisoners would be released.

For 10 days Ship 44 remained changing her disguise yet again and overhauling the Diesel engines, she would take on the identity of the Kybfels
1. Outer hull painted black
2. White superstructure
3. Yellow masts height remained the same
4. Ventilators, winches, etc. painted dark yellow
5. Funnel painted in DDG Hansa line livery height
and width remain the same
6. 4 Derricks removed
7. Cannons I and X disguised as deckhouses both
are painted white
8. German merchant flag hoisted on the signal deck

During the night the main radio room reported the first success of the minefields,

1. Soviet freighter ANASTASIA 7,310 grt (TLOZ)
2. Soviet freighter LOTZ 2,616 grt (UNTZ)
3. Spanish Republican freighter LUISA 1,300 grt (BYTM)
4. Spanish Republican tanker BRANKO 7,960 grt (YMLZ)
5. Spanish Republican tanker TOLEDO 6,000 grt (BOMM)
6. Soviet tanker MOLOTOV 9,360 grt (PMOM)
Total tonnage sunk: 34,816 grt

Hartmann reported the success to the 1/SKL and at 08:00 hrs.

Radio message 1366/38 Anlage 169/38
“Have sunk 10 ships for 49,565 grt”, 3 minefields laid off Valencia, Barcelona, and the Odessa shipping route”.
Ship 44

Just over an hour later, Ship 44 received the following radio message,

Radio message 1513/38 Anlage 1761/38
“Congratulations to the Kommandant and crew, released from combat operations, proceed as directed (gkdos 1773/38 anlage 1923/38 V.1.9.28)”
1/Seekriegslietung

Ship 44 set sail for La Spezia arriving 3 days later meeting the freighter Hamburg and the tanker Hansel. She remained at La Spezia for 3 days her departure delayed due to bad weather her next stop is Piraeus, Greece. After that she will spend time training in Mediterranean south of Island of Cyprus.

[CPTLTJASON]

2/15/1938 Mediterranean Sea 107th day at sea

Ship 44 arrived at Piraeus and spend Christmas at the port. On December 27th Ship 44 departed Piraeus for Point X and Area A where she would conduct training with the seaplanes and Leichte Schnellboote.
The Leichte Schnellboote (LS 33) conducted minelaying exercises. On January 1st Hartmann was promoted to Kapitan zur See. For the last 3 weeks officers and men of 8.Marine Stosstrupp Kompanie trained disembarking and reembarking from Ship 44. On February 13th Kapitan.z.S Hartmann informed that they would return to the Atlantic before crossing the Straits of Gibraltar Ship 44 would conduct another raid along the Odessa supply route. Hartmann decided to avoid visiting anymore ports.

Once the Spanish Civil War draws to a close Hartmann will undertake an expedition into the Pacific Ocean in which the vessel will seek out the best islands to use as bases and rendezvous points for commerce raiders. After this Ship 44 will return to Kiel by the end of the summer.

[CPTLTJASON]

Apologies for again ending the patrol but I’m still not satisfied,

3/21/1939 Mediterranean Sea 40km South of Majorca Island 141st day at sea

Ship 44 has had success of in just 3 days 7 freighters and 2 tankers were sunk for 31,827 grt, however just south of the Island of Majorca. the Spanish Republican submarine C-5 was on patrol.Under the command of Capitan de Navio Ernesto Garcia the submarine had left Valencia on March 18th en route to the Italian supply lines of the Nationalists 2 days before Ship 44 had taken the guise of a Greek freighter The raider was approaching Majorca At 13:30 hrs. The port bridge watch reported torpedo tracks bearing 349°T Hartmann ordered hard to port but It was too late the first torpedo slammed into the ship under the aircraft hold. The second torpedo detonated 300-500m away Hartmann at once steered for the Island in hopes of beaching the raider, no sooner had he given the order that a second torpedo struck astern in the area of the aft magazine a colossal explosion engulfed the raider before anyone could escape. Of the 430 officers and ratings there were no survivors.

Ship 44 had been at sea for 141 days sailed 57,000 km and had sunk 62,000 grt of shipping. The crew were posthumously awarded the Iron Cross I and II class as well as the Spanish Cross in Silver and the
Kommandant the Spanish Cross in Gold

[CPTLTJASON]

11/10/1939 Caribbean Sea 91st day at sea

With the camouflage complete Ship 77 sets sail for the Port of Kingston. She arrived 2 days later and 10km southeast of Wreck Reef Ship 77 launched the Leichte Schnellboote to lay mine fields and afterwards conduct reconnaissance. 2 Arado Ar 196 A-1 are launched for reconnaissance.
At 17:30 hrs. Ship 77 entered Kingston Harbor and made for the main anchorage, shortly before opening fire 3 V-boats were sent with a detachment of the 8.Marine Stosstrupp Kompanie to raid the harbor where they destroyed oil storage tanks and dockyard facilities., at 17:55 hrs. the Kriegsmarine flag was hoisted, camouflage dropped, and at 18:00 hrs. the entire battery opened fire, shuttering the 616ft ship from stem to stern. Soon searchlights illuminated the entire harbor, however she continued to pump salvo after salvo as it turns out well over a dozen ships were in the harbor awaiting an escort to arrive from Freetown to escort them to England. By 04:00 hrs. the shelling stopped, with torpedoes, artillery, and the raids conducted by the 8.Marine Stosstrupp Kompanie as well as her Leichte Schnellboote which laid 2 small minefields at the harbor entrance. The merchant raider sank 16 ships for 118,430 grt, destroyed 6 oil tanks for 150,000 tons of fuel, 3 cranes, railroad tracks, 69 railroad cars, and 3 vehicles.

Freighter 7,066 grt
“” 7,016 grt
“” 2,366 grt
“” 2,316 grt
“” 3,426 grt
“” 3,419 grt
“” 7,173 grt
AMC 14,463 grt
“” 14,314 grt
Tanker 17,397 grt
“” 17,397 grt
“” 4,077 grt
“” 4,500 grt
“” 4,500 grt
“” 4,500 grt
“” 4,500 grt
Total: 118,430 grt

6 x oil tanks (25,000 tons ea.) 150,000 tons of oil burned.
3 x 6 ton cranes
6 x railroad lines coming into the harbor and a small marshaling yard
2 x Steam locomotives
69 x Railroad cars
3 x vehicles (trucks)
(449 shells and 6 torpedoes fired.)

Ship 77 departed the harbor at 06:00 hrs. As she was departing a Royal Navy vessel attempted to pursue but ran aground, she was the trawler HMS UNSTOPPABLE 4,000 grt, on the bridge was Admiral Norrington commander of Port Kingston who to say the least, was infuriated, helpless he watched the mystery raider sail away. Ship 77 pressed on stopping 10km south of Wreck Point to recover 2 Arado Ar 196 A-1 aircraft and the Leichte Schnellboote. For the next 4 days she sailed at full speed, with the Kriegsmarine flag hoisted high on the mainmast, she stopped once again in the middle of the Caribbean she changed her disguise once again to a neutral Mexican freighter, the 8,700 grt steamer TAMPICO home port Acapulco belonging to the Mexican Aztec Shipping Co.Ltd, Mexico City
Changes made to the auxiliary cruiser,
1. Outer hull painted black.
2. Superstructure painted white, upper bridge and signal deck painted brown.
3. On deck hatches, ventilators, winches, etc. painted light brown.
4. Awning from signal deck partially removed.
5. 2 derricks added aft of the superstructure, both painted brown
6. Funnel lowered, painted top black with dark red bottom, 2 thin white bands.
7. Deck house built on aft part of the boat deck; 2 ventilators added.
8. 2 derricks added aft of the mainmast booms.
9. Mexican neutrality markings painted on the hull amidships, TAMPICO and MEXICO along with 2 Mexican flags one to port one to starboard.
10. 2 derricks added ahead of the foremast booms.
11. 2 large lifeboats added between boats V and VI and the bridge.
Kapitan.z.S Hartmann as usual takes a V-Boat out to inspect the ship’s camouflage and is once again satisfied with the work, Ship 77 will now proceed for the Aruba area once again before making for the Yucatan Channel and the Gulf of Mexico. After that Ship 77 will make for the Atlantic via the Straits of Florida and proceed to operate between England, France and the Azores. By the end of the year the Seekriegslietung is expected to give clearance for Ship 77 to make for the South Atlantic.

Captions for pictures,
1.Ship 77 in the Caribbean shortly after the raid
2.Ship 77 photographed by L.z.S(PK) Sons aboard Leichte Schnellboote (LS 33)
3-7.Following 5 pictures taken by the men of the 8.Marine Stosstrupp Kompanie Kommandant Oblt.z.S(MA.E) von Lindner
9.Current disguise of Ship 77
10.Ship 77 painted in her special camouflage with flags flown during the raid

[ConvoyHunting]

Great thread, ideas and reports !

[CPTLTJASON]

Thank you very much im glad y'all are enjoying it!

[CPTLTJASON]

June 12, 1940 Indian Ocean 306th day at sea 1°38’N, 79°19’E

Ship 77 proceeded through the South Atlantic without further incident and rounded the Cape of Good Hope on 3/1/1939. On April 7th 2 ships were sunk the British freighters BURLINGTON 2,775 grt and INDIA 4,897 grt. 3 days later the British freighter MORGAN 5,229 grt was shelled and sunk. After this Ship 77 began a trek across the Indian Ocean and soon found herself approaching Australia where on April 14th she sank the Australian freighter HERO 8,075 grt and that same day the British freighter READING 4,237 grt.
After operating south of Java, she sank the British freighter LIVERPOOL 7,904 grt. Moving north along the coast of Sumatra Ship 77 entered the Bay of Bengal and began to hunt enemy merchant shipping on June 4th she shelled the British freighter BRENTWOOD 4,923 grt. Exiting the Bay of Bengal Ship 77 sank south of Ceylon the British motorship OXFORD 3,038 grt.
Ship 77 is now being hunted by up to 15 warships and Kapitan.z.S Hartmann makes a decision that will seal the fate of the dreaded raider...............

[CPTLTJASON]

August 8, 1940 Arabian Sea 6°56’N, 60°47’E 363rd day at sea


Kapitan.z.S Hartmann takes Ship 77 into the Arabian Sea, a hotspot for merchant and naval shipping she begins to hunt enemy merchant shipping on June 28th she captured the Norwegian tanker ARUBA 9,800 grt she transferred 392 of the 504 prisoners to the tanker and under the command of L.z.S.d.R Panzer the tanker departed for Germany. The following day the disguise was changed for the last time, she was disguised as an anonymous Greek freighter,

1. Outer hull black
2. Superstructure white with black band on the upper bridge
3. White band painted on the hull, Greek neutrality markings painted on the hull port and starboard “GREECE” painted 4 times with 6 Greek flags
4. Aft 15cm cannon disguised as a deckhouse
5. Fore 15cm disguised as deck cargo

After this change the raider pressed July passed with no success moving towards Addu Atoll she was cruising on the shipping lanes when in the early hours of August 8th a large silhouette was sighted, Ship 77 came about and began to run at 19 knots. by 11:00 hrs. the unknown vessel was identified as the heavy cruiser HMS LONDON, the range closed, and Hartmann swung Ship 77 hard to port, put on his Kriegsmarine uniform and gave his final order, decamouflage and open fire! The one and only salvo was fired from the auxiliary cruiser when a salvo from the cruiser found its mark the first rounds hit the bridge destroying it and all inside were killed instantly including the Kommandant, Kapitan.z.S Hartmann. A second salvo again hit the bridge and it was obliterated other hits were on the fore deck, amidships, and in the engine room.

There was still hope for the survivors as the most senior officer, as reported by OStrm Witterhold, was the IV. Artillery Officer L.z.S(W) Wrangel gave the order to abandon ship when the final salvo came in and hit Hold Nr.7 which house the remaining 109 EMC mines the ship was blown apart of the 623 man crew only 3 Petty Officers, and 21 ratings survived. As for the prisoners only 2 made it out alive. (Ship 77 never sent a radio message to the S.K.L. The S.K.L. found out over a Reuters broadcast "British heavy cruiser sinks German raider in the eastern Arabian sea")

The raider sank at 13:02 hrs. local time. HMS LONDON stopped to pick up the survivors, and all were taken to Colombo, Ceylon where they spent the remainder of the war. In 363 days at sea Ship 77 sank 279,037 grt of shipping in the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The entire crew were awarded the Iron Cross II Class many received the Iron Cross I class and 3 Knights Cross of the Iron Cross were awarded. The Knights Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, and Swords was awarded to Kapitan.z.S Hans Felix Hartmann on November 1, 1940.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
And so, the first voyage was concluded. it will be evaluated, and I will improve on the storyline and the writing of the Kriegstagebuch. The Ship’s number and possibly the commander name will change as well.