Hilfskreuzer Schiff 44 (HSK-16) “Afrika”

[CPTLTJASON]

30.8.1935 Kiel Harbor

Working in 2 shifts (port and starboard) the ship is outfitted and ready for departure in record time.

5,500 cbm3 of diesel fuel
4,000 cbm3 of lubricating oils
4,500 cbm3 of fresh water
3,200 t of coal
2,200 cbm3 of aviation fuel
1,000 cbm3 of reserve diesel fuel
Endurance of 350 days.
10,000 t of cargo and equipment.

In Stettin part of the cargo was loaded in accordance with 1.Okm. 100579/35 gkdos. this cargo was initially supposed to arrive by train and be loaded at Scheerhafen. But both trains were still sitting in the marshaling yards in Stettin when the Kommandant inquired about their arrival to Kiel. So, Hartmann decided to sail for the port and take aboard the cargo there.
In the evening Freg.Kpt. Hartmann travelled to Berlin for the last time for a final briefing and brought up to date on the latest political situation and intelligence from the B-Dienst. During the Kommandant’s voyage to Berlin the ship was disguised as a Transportschiffe A10 sailing under the Reich service flag.

1.) Outer hull dark grey
2.) On deck ventilators, hatches, winches, etc. light grey
3.) Superstructure grey
4.) Smokestack length unchanged, painted light grey with black top
5.) Masts light grey, crow’s nest unchanged
6.) Pole masts put up including cargo booms
7.) I and X cannons completely disguised, painted grey
8.) Boats setout
9.) Draft marks and identification markings on hull
10.) Reich Service Flag hoisted on roof of signal deck

In the night, the disguise work was complete, Schiff 30’s outbound orders are as follows to proceed independently to Cape Arkona and meet the tanker “Esso Bremen”. From here both will proceed via the Great Belt, Kattegat, and Skagerrak to the North Sea where they will follow 4224 AN, 7878, 4949 AF, 9939 AB, 1236 AC, and 8711 AG. Here they will meet another freighter the “Wachtfels.”

The fitting out of Schiff Nr. 30 is on schedule and is anticipated to depart on 1.Sep.1935.

[Rwearjr]

Freg.Kpt Hartmann will have five years of preparation, and excercises to familiarize himself and the crew with Schiff 30 prior the looming date of Sept 1, 1939.
"Nach Osten ho Pirat der Fuhrer"

[CPTLTJASON]

Originally Posted by Rwearjr

Freg.Kpt Hartmann will have five years of preparation, and excercises to familiarize himself and the crew with Schiff 30 prior the looming date of Sept 1, 1939.
"Nach Osten ho Pirat der Fuhrer"

Yes and the ship will take part in Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

[CPTLTJASON]

Happy New Years!

[CPTLTJASON]

1.9.1935 Kiel Harbor, Buoy Nr. 10. 1st. day at sea

After months of preparations, at 24:00 hrs. on the 31st. of August Schiff 30 weighs anchor casts off from Kiel. None of the 800 men aboard had any idea that their 10 month cruise would turn into 10 years and that some would never see Kiel or Germany again.

Schiff 30 will meet the tanker “Esso Bremen” off Cape Arkona from here they will then proceed to Keldsnor. Then to a meeting point with the freighter “Wachtfels” which is currently off Spitzbergen.

Excerpt from Operational Orders of Schiff Nr. 30 O.K.M. I Op 4424/35
“.........will proceed via the Great Belt, Kattegat, and Skagerrak to the North Sea where they will follow 4224 AN, 7878, 4949 AF, 9939 AB, 1236 AC, and 8711 AG.........”

[CPTLTJASON]

23.9.1935 Norwegian Sea, Point Blue 23rd day at sea

Schiff 30 is still stopped in the Norwegian Sea while planning on the voyage south continues.

I had to alter the storyline due to a conflict in events. Special Station IX was to be located on Henderson Island, with construction starting in late 1935. However further reading on the history of Henderson Island indicates that in August 1937 H.M.S. Leander carried out an ariel survey of Henderson, Oeno, and Ducie Islands. These were claimed as British Territory. Therefore, the construction will have to wait until after August 1937.

There will be also a change in tankers. But in spite of this slight delay, the ship will soon begin her trek south.

Schiff 30 in the Norwegian Sea.

[CPTLTJASON]

1.10.1935 Norwegian Sea 74°17’N, 18°26’E, 30th day at sea

During the last few days there have been changes in the operations of Schiff 30. The “Wedemark” was out, she was heavily damaged when she ran aground in the Jade Bay. Operations radioed on 23.9. to Schiff 30 the situation and Hartmann responded 2 days later requesting that a new tanker be assigned, hold the “Lindenfels” in port, and that he was dismissing the “Wachtfels” back to Bremen. There would be no more indecision, Schiff 30 would embark as much material, stores, etc. from the “Wachtfels” as possible then begin the trek west to the Denmark Strait.

Today in the afternoon, the crew of Schiff 30 bid farewell to the “Wachtfels” she circled the merchant raider twice before crossing her bows at 10 knots as she sailed south towards the North Sea. Now Schiff 30 was alone and tomorrow would weigh anchor and set sail for Jan Mayern then to the Denmark Strait and disappear forever into the wide expanses of Atlantic.

Freg.Kpt. Hartmann would radio operations when he was ready for the transports to sail.

[CPTLTJASON]

25.10.1935 Barents Sea 77°5’N, 48°22’E 54th day at sea

Schiff 30 weighs anchor after 19 days Freg.Kpt. Hartmann decides to sail to the Barents and Kara Sea for reconnaissance and to test the reinforced bow. Just before leaving the crew disguised the ship as an anonymous Soviet freighter


Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1.) Russian nationality markings
2.) Name plates and name affixed
3.) Smokestack and masts lowered, smokestack insignia
4.) Forward bulwark lengthened
5.) Superstructure white
6.) Bridge and signal deck brown
7.) Russian merchant flag on the signal deck roof.
8.) 2 lifeboats with davits added over the catapult.

Schiff 30 sailed eastward, on the 4th. the chief Meteorological Officer reported to the Kommandant, Oblt.z.S Dr. Wurst informed the Kommandant that the bad weather being experienced will cease within 24-48 hrs. by 07:30 the following morning the weather had calmed but the seas remained choppy. Schiff 30 began sighting Soviet merchant traffic on the 10th. at 19:20 hrs. she sighted the Soviet steamer “BELOMORKANAL”. The following day she sighted at 13:45 the Soviet tanker “SMOLETS” just under an hour later the Soviet freighter “KOSMOSEK” were passed. Also, that day the Meteorological Office reported that a storm was to be expected within the next 3-4 days, heavy seas, high winds, and strong rain squalls were expected. The I. Navigation Officer Oblt.z.S Neumann suggested sailing as far north as Salm Island to avoid the worst of the storm, but this was rejected because this would add an additional 3 day sail. Hartmann decided to sail through the storm and ordered the ship prepared. The camouflage for Cannons I and X were secured as well as the disguised 3.7cm cannons. In the afternoon the ship carried out boat drills and practiced a silent alarm.

Schiff 30 began encountering heavy seas on the 12th with overcast skies and light fog by 06:00 hrs. on the 13th. the ship was being pounded by heavy seas. A large wave slammed into the forepeak causing damage to the 7.5cm stop gun, the bridge watch reported that the gun was swinging from port to starboard, no repairs could be carried out so, 2 Port.U.O. were sent forward to secure the gun with rope this was successfully carried out. On the bridge the engine room telegraphs were moved to Kleine Fahrt Voraus.

On 14.Oct. at 04:51 hrs. Schiff 30 rounded Cape Zhelaniya in bad weather and cruised the area until the 19th. then the Kommandant ordered the voyage westward to commence. The I. Navigation Officer informed the Kommandant that Schiff 30 would be entering the Denmark Strait by the first week of November.

[CPTLTJASON]

11.11.1935 18 Miles North of Jan Mayern, 71st day at sea

Schiff 30 continued sailing east, during her eastward passage the F.T. detected a Soviet Research vessel less than 20 miles away heading for Murmansk from Alexandra Land. Freg.Kpt. Hartmann ordered A.K. Voraus (21 knots). The Research Vessel was heard to make now for Archangelsk. Hartmann reduced speed to 16 knots then went back to cruising speed 12 knots (1 engine) after 36 hrs. Another pass with the direction finders resulted in no contacts. However, on 31.10. the British freighter “King” was sighted the British steamer passed at a distance of 4 miles, making no contact with Schiff 30 which was still disguised as a Soviet vessel.

Schiff 30 was once again alone. She arrived off Jan Mayern Island without incident. Hartmann ordered the ship to be camouflaged as an anonymous German Freighter:

Paint and Camouflage:
1.) Outer hull black
2.) Superstructure white
3.) On deck ventilators, hatches, winches, etc. yellow
4.) Smokestack black, length unchanged
5.) Cannons I and X camouflaged, painted grey
6.) 3.7cm guns camouflaged, painted grey
7.) 2 Additional lifeboats on aft boat deck removed.
8.) Awnings with coverings added on the after boat deck
9.) German Merchant Flag hoisted on the mainmast
10.) Added 2 derricks on the after boat deck.

The work will be completed in 2 days and the ship will then set sail for the Denmark Strait and into the North Atlantic.

[CPTLTJASON]

1.12.1935 North Atlantic 49°25’N, 40°37’W 91st day at sea

The work was completed in 2 days and the ship immediately set sail for the Denmark Strait. Meteorological reports from operations said that clear weather was to be expected in the strait. The Kommandant decided to proceed to the ice limit near Greenland to await for more favorable weather for the breakthrough into the North Atlantic.

Schiff 30 arrived at the ice limit on 14.11. and stopped until more favorable weather reports were received. It was not until the 19th that bad weather began to develop and soon the ship was steaming at 12 knots for the Denmark Strait. As the ship headed southeast the weather became worse. On the 22nd the breakthrough began at 09:06 hrs. speed was increased to 18 knots. At noon her 9 cylinder MAN diesel engines were put to the test; speed was increased to her actual top speed of 25 knots for the remainder of the breakthrough.

At 12:15 hrs. a shadow was sighted in the rain bearing 214°T, Schiff 30 steered a new course 258°T the rest of the cruise through the strait was uneventful. On 24.11. at midnight the breakthrough was successfully carried out and now Schiff 30 was loose in the North Atlantic.

The ship is to carryout the first task of her expedition, survey of the Labrador Sea for suitable areas to build weather stations. This is to be completed by the end of the year.

[CPTLTJASON]

10.12.1935 Labrador Sea, Davis Strait, Anchored 1 mile from Knight Island, 100th day at sea

Schiff 30 spent her 100th day at sea at anchor off an uninhabited island in the Davis Strait. She arrived after an uneventful voyage from the Denmark Strait and North Atlantic. 2 Survey teams disembarked from the ship as follows:
Boat Nr. I under Oblt.z.S Dr. Wurst to Knight Island
Boat Nr. III under L.z.S Dr. Klein to Lawson Island
Boat Nr. V under Reg.Rat. Dr. Bey to Knight Island
V-Boot Nr. I under L.z.S Schmidt on standby in the water
During the time the ship is anchored the following repairs are carried out:
Repairs to the canvas camouflage on the foredeck
Repairs to the 7.5cm stop gun
Superstructure was given a fresh coat of white paint
Floatplane moved from Hold Nr. II back to Hold Nr. IV.

Schiff 30 will then move up the Davis strait and stop at Resolution Island, Loks Island, and finally Coburg Island in the Baffin Bay. The meteorological expedition is expected to be completed by 31.12.1935.


Schiff 30 on the high seas

Boats I and V making for Knight Island

[Rwearjr]

Keeping the boat at PD until we spot another post from Schiff30. Enjoying the series so far.

[CPTLTJASON]

20.4.1936 Pacific Ocean 25°29’S, 109°24’W 201st day at sea

Schiff 30 arrived off Easter Island on 10.4. and sent a landing party ashore to trade with the islanders for 5 tons of sugar and 5 tons of flour Schiff 30 got 15 t of fruit (pineapples, coconuts, and mangos)
After this trade a Chilean gunboat tied up alongside the 600ft hull of Schiff 30 and inquiring officials and naval officers boarded unknowingly a German disguised raider. After inspecting the ship’s clearance papers, cargo manifest, and crew list the Chileans departed and good for Kapitan.z.S Hartmann a lapse of judgement meant that there was no “cargo” aboard. This time he got lucky and Schiff 30 departed for a new rendezvous area 100 nm. north of Easter Island. On arriving she signaled to the “Rio de Janerio” the new position. During the waiting period locomotive smokeboxes and cabs were made from wood and empty beer kegs and crates were lettered for various cargos and placed in empty Hold Nr. II.

During this time as well the superstructure and decks were washed and the paint touched up on the smokestack.

The “Rio de Janerio” arrived 2 days later in the morning of 14.4. the vessel came alongside she was riding very low in the water. In the end 6 vehicles and trailers, wood, canvas, steel plates, spares for diesel engines/aircraft, rifles, ammunition, steel helmets, and 60 3.7cm Pak cannons were transferred to Schiff 30. In addition to 10 sacks of mail and a sealed envelope marked “Kommandant” in it were orders that after leaving the cargo for Japan Schiff 30 was to call at Hong Kong and Shanghai and deliver the indicated cargo for the army of Cheng Kai-Shek. Generalleutnant v. Falkenhausen advisor to Cheng Kai-Shek would meet the H.K. at Hong Kong.

Afterwards Schiff 30 was to carry out an expedition of the Pacific Islands for the remainder of 1936 or so that is the plan.............


A Chilean gunboat tied up alongside Schiff 30

Schiff 30 and "Rio de Janeiro" transferring cargo

[CPTLTJASON]

2.8.1936 Bismarck Sea 0°51’N, 139°47’E 336th. day at sea

Since the last report the situation has deteriorated quickly Schiff 30 departed Kirimati Island and sank in target practice the last tanker on 14.7. Three days later on the 17th. the Spanish Army in Morocco rose up against the Spanish Republic and so the Spanish Civil War broke out the Kommandant was informed at 0200 hrs. local time. Hartmann decided to continue into the Bismark Archipelago and the Bismarck Sea which the Hilfskreuzer entered on 21.7. On 23.7. a fleet under V.Adm. Carls sailed from Wilhelmshaven with the pocket battleships “Deutschland” and “Admiral Scheer” a larger contingent of light cruisers and torpedo boats will depart in the near future for Spanish waters. Schiff 30 has been kept well informed by reports from the Deutsche Rundfunk, Reuters, and the BBC.

Schiff 30 was sailing off the coast of Papua New Guinea when the fore crosstrees sighted smoke on the horizon. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered an intercept course of 157° speed increased to 14 knots and crew to action stations. Closing to 189 hm. a single mast and smoke stack came into view shortly by a smokestack and a bridge structure the arrangement of a tanker. At 150 hm. a Spanish flag was flying from the mast over the bridge and Hartmann decided to stop the Spanish tanker for a search. At 1449 for the first time in combat the battle flag was hoisted and the camouflage for the 7.5cm stop gun and Cannon Nr. X was hastily dropped 2 warning shots brought the tanker to a halt and the Examination and Demolition commandoes went aboard. It was determined that the Spanish tanker “Jose I” 11 200 grt had departed Miri, North Borneo and was bound for Cartagena. The master, officers, and crew stated their support for the Spanish Republicans and that their firm had ordered the cargo to be delivered to the Spanish Republican Army the cargo being paid for by the Spanish Republican Government. After careful consideration Hartmann gave the order to scuttle the tanker and its cargo of 13 200 t of gasoline.

After the scuttling of that tanker Schiff 30 sailed off at 16 knots on course 200° Hartmann radioed his success to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine who in turn gave Hartmann slight congratulations for sinking the tanker and its valuable cargo of 13 200 t of gasoline however there was strict reprimand for sinking vessel when the order had not been given to engage and sink Republican merchant shipping.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to abandon the Pacific and disappear into the Ross Sea and wait there for at least 30 days to let the situation calm down as soon Madrid would be calling for the now sunk tanker. The weather begins to quickly deteriorate as Schiff 30 sails east.


Schiff 30 sails east towards the Solomon Islands

Examination Commando makes its way towards the tanker

Tanker sinking over the stern

[CPTLTJASON]

Schiff 30 continues to drift in the Aegean Sea. Haven’t been able to advance the game. Stay tuned for an update soon.