Hilfskreuzer Schiff 44 (HSK-16) “Afrika”

[Rwearjr]

Will keep checking in a couple of times a week as usual and watching for the new storyline. Thank you for sharing these CPTLTJASON.

[CPTLTJASON]

15.2.1936 Central Atlantic 34°26’N, 16°21’W 168th day at sea

On entering the North Atlantic the Kommandant Kapitan.z.S Hartmann mustered the crew and gave a short speech in which he announced that Schiff Nr. 30 would be christened “Wolf”. On 12.1. at 1630 hrs. the inbound German freighter “Kanada” was met and the specialists and their findings were transferred. Both ships departed after 2 hours of transferring the crew and supplies. afterwards Schiff 30 continued on her voyage south. The following day a radio message was received from operations indicating that the raider was to put into Santa Cruz de Tenerife and meet the HAPAG liner M.S. Milwaukee for transfer of cargo, mail, and passengers.

On the 15th. Schiff 30 stopped west of the Azores and the disguise was changed to a HAPAG Line freighter M.S. Seattle 10 800 grt DKSE homeport, Bremen.

Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1.)Outer hull black
2.)Superstructure white
3.)On deck ventilators, winches, hatches, etc. buff color
4.)Smokestack buff with HAPAG livery, length unchanged.
5.)Markings painted on the bows and stern
6.)Lifeboat painted white, after most set of boats removed
7.)Masts painted buff, crow’s nest put up
8.)cargo booms put up
9.)Name and markings added on the hull, bridge, and signal deck

By 18.1. the camouflage was completed and Schiff 30 resumed transit to Las Palmas. On the 23rd. La Isleta Lighthouse came into view and by noon Schiff 30 was tied up alongside the HAPAG Liner M.S. Milwaukee. For 2 weeks Schiff 30 transferred cargo and passengers from the liner to the Hilfskreuzer these “Passengers” were actually personnel from the Kriegsmarine, Heer, and Luftwaffe and the “cargo” was spare parts for the diesel engines and aircraft, mail, official correspondence, and other material for the H.K.’s voyage to the east. On 25.1. another radio message was received indicating that the German Reich purchased 3 old vessels for Schiff 30 to use as target practice or any use the Kommandant would see fit all three were built between 1900-1915 they were 1 freighter and 2 tankers of just over 4 400 grt each. The vessels were currently located in Puerto Franco and would be sailed by Spanish crews to our location.

On 26.1. the tanker “Spichern” arrived and topped off the H.K.’s stores of diesel fuel, lubricating oils, and aviation fuel. That same day another radio message was received indicating that the German freighter S.S. “Afrika” outbound for Hong Kong was to be met off Punto Santo Island.

30.1. the three purchased vessels arrived and 3 prize crews were assembled they were ordered to sail for 49°36’N, 25°55’W. During the night Schiff 30 and the three ships moved to Punta del Arrecife to prepare the ships they were disguised as HAPAG freighters at midnight they departed for the ordered location.

On 5.2. Schiff 30 departed for the meeting area and after 5 days arrived and began the preparations that the freighter and one tanker were to be sunk as the raider would conduct a mock attack on both ships. All day on 11.2. the gunnery exercises were carried out both ships sank just after 1200 hrs. the Artillery officers and the Kommandant discussed the performance of the crew, artillery, rangefinders, and the ship itself. At 1840 the tanker was dismissed bound for the South Atlantic Schiff 30 would radio the tanker further instructions. Schiff 30 departed at 1900 hrs. for Punto Santo Island.

After 4 days of sailing Schiff 30 arrived and now awaits the arrival of the S.S. “Afrika”.


Schiff 30 and M.S. Milwaukee in Las Palmas

Schiff 30 after sinking her practice targets

Schiff 30 preparing to sail for Punto Santo Island

[CPTLTJASON]

18.2.1936 Central Atlantic 34°26’N, 16°21’W 171st day at sea

The S.S. “Afrika” arrives at 0500 on 16.2. and the transfer of cargo destined for Montevideo and Buenos Aires. A second transfer was begun later in the day in which Schiff 30 took aboard spare parts for the diesel engines and aircraft, fresh vegetables, and other stores and equipment.

Schiff 30’s new orders now state that the ship is to make directly for Yokohama, Japan and deliver her cargo as instructed.

The “Afrika” departed at 2331 hrs. on 17.2. Schiff 30 departed today at 0600 hrs. bound for Yokohama the raider will not sail through the Panama Canal but instead sail through the Drake Strait to enter the Pacific Ocean.


Schiff 30 and the S.S. "Afrika"

[CPTLTJASON]

Current disguise of Schiff 30

HAPAG Line freighter M.S. Seattle 10 800 grt DKSE homeport, Bremen

[propbeanie]

(I moved my "Yeah!" down here for story continuity)

[CPTLTJASON]

1.4.1936 Pacific Ocean 53°11’S, 78°40’W 182nd. day at sea

After leaving the S.S. “Afrika” Schiff 30 sailed south on 5.3. a British formation consisting of 8 freighters and 3 destroyers were sighted Schiff 30 steered clear of these vessels. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann is not sure what or where the formation was transporting or sailing to. Two days later on 7.3. The Equator was crossed the Equator Crossing Ceremony was carried out that same day. Now begins the long trek south towards Cape Horn. By 10.3. Schiff 30 was west of Ascension Island. 4 days later the British South America Squadron was sighted of St. Helena Island after this sighting no further sightings have been logged.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann intended to use the seaplane extensively in the South Atlantic but periods of bad weather and the two sightings with warships convinced the Kommandant not to use his seaplane hopefully the aircraft will be see flying time in the Pacific. The days passed aboard the H.K. without excitement the typical shipboard routine, the usual entertainment whether it be watching a film in Hold Nr. III, playing deck games, or just roaming the decks it quickly became monotonous. The Division Officers were instructed by the Kommandant to find ways of keeping the crew’s spirits up with new activities.

Today Schiff 30 rounded Cape Horn and entered the Pacific in partly cloudy skies freshening winds and rough seas. Hartmann plans to stop at various Islands along the way to allow the crew some shore leave and if the Island is inhabited trade with the locals.

Schiff 30 is on course 305° bound for Yokohama (12 knots, 1 engine.)

[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]

25.5.1936 Tokyo Bay 267th. day at sea

Schiff 30 stopped at Malden Island to give the crew 3 days shore leave. Afterwards Schiff 30 sailed northward crossing the busy Fiji-Honolulu and Auckland-Honolulu routes her main radio rooms picked up over 2 dozen ships and a further 2 dozen which could not be identified. The seaplane was also launched and in 3 flights sighted 2 steamers. In spite of sighting 2 steamers at long range the H.K. was itself not sighted.

Schiff 30 continued her march northward and soon entered the Yokohama-Honolulu route she sailed towards Japan without sighting a ship although the B-Dienst carried out by the Main radio room indicated that the several Japanese ships were sailing in the area however none were sighted. On the 22nd. a radio message was received indicating that Schiff 30 would meet the S.S. “Bremen” and 2 German freighters to transfer the cargo for the German Naval Attache.

Schiff 30 entered Sagami Bay then Uraga Channel and into Tokyo Bay where she anchored alongside the S.S. Bremen at 2300 hrs. the first major objective of the H.K. had been achieved. Schiff 30 will remain in Tokyo Bay until July 1st then sail for Shanghai and Hong Kong.


Schiff 30 and SS Bremen in Tokyo Bay

Schiff 30 transiting the North Pacific