Hilfskreuzer Schiff 44 (HSK-16) “Afrika”

[CPTLTJASON]

9/10/1939 North Atlantic 30th day at sea (43°7’N, 34°55’W)

Since the last report conditions have deteriorated and one does not refer to the weather, the Wehrmacht invaded Poland at 05:00 hrs. on September 1, 1939 just as Ship 77 began her transit to the Denmark Strait. On Sunday the 3rd on the outskirts of the strait the main radio room picked up the message that England had declared war on Germany. The passage through the Denmark Strait was successful and now Ship 77 begins the trek south on the 5th she received the first radio message from the Seekriegslietung (SKL) informing that they would take command before Ship 77 crossed 40°N. So far, the passage through the Atlantic has been quiet only sighting a neutral Swedish freighter at night on the 8th.Hartmann is not authorized to engage in commerce warfare until September 21st. at 16:00 hrs. on the 9th Ship 77 passed 45°N and will soon signal this to the SKL. While the transit to the operational area continues the crew carry on with the usual shipboard routine and maintenance. Hartmann expects to be in the operations area by the 15th.

[CPTLTJASON]

9/28/39 Central Atlantic 48th day at sea 25°41’N, 58°28’W

Schiff 77 arrives at her operational area and launches one of her Arado Ar 196 A-1 aircraft reconnaissance flight under O.Fldwl Deutsch (pilot/Luftwaffe) and L.z.S Lemke (observer/Kriegsmarine). The aircraft carries out a reconnaissance flight to the east while Schiff 77 proceeds at cruising speed, 10 knots, 1 engine in zigzags along the shipping lanes. At 11:30 hrs. lookouts on the fore crosstrees report a smoke column bearing 310°T range 18,000m range is closed to 9,000m the vessel is identified as a neutral Norwegian tanker, at 11:44 hrs. battle ensign hoisted and the ship decamouflaged, Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the port 12.7cm to open fire and a shot is fired across the tanker’s bow, from the signal deck the flags are hoisted “Stop at once, do not use wireless”. The Norwegian blasts her horn 3 times signaling she is coming to a stop the heavily armed boarding commando is sent, under the command of L.z.S Schmidt, consisting of 4 officers, 8 petty officers, and 30 ratings. The following information was obtained,
Norwegian tanker TUNAS 3,574 grt (KFLS) of the Norwegian Tanker Line Co.Ltd. Oslo loaded with 4,000 tons of gasoline from Willemstad to Southampton via Kingston under the command of Captain G.K. Gunderson with a crew of 45. The agent was British (Jones and Sons Ltd, London). Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to sink the vessel since no radio message had been sent Schiff 77 took her first prize quietly. At 13:02 hrs. the Tunas sank beneath the waves.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann plans to remain in the area until October 10th before making for the Mona Passage into the Caribbean. Schiff 77 will cruise off the coasts of South America in search of oil tankers. Schiff 77 will retain the British disguise. The Graf Spee will clear the South Atlantic by December; therefore Schiff 77 will remain as long as possible in the Caribbean then moving into the Central Atlantic, Operating between the Azores and Freetown.

[CPTLTJASON]

10/22/1939 Caribbean Sea 10°48’N, 76°19’W, 120nm NW of Punta de Manzanillo 72nd day at sea

Since the last report Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to raid Bermuda, by the time Ship 77 made it to Bermuda the pocket battleship Deutschland had already cleared the area. But said vessel caused the intelligence reports by the B-Dienst to be outdated, which stated that there were at least 8 English vessels in the harbor. On October 3rd Ship 77 arrived off the coast of Bermuda, her aft 15cm camouflage being removed, proceeded into the harbor disguised as a British freighter, under the cover of darkness she arrived off Hamilton only to find all the anchorages empty. Immediately Kapitan.z.S Hartmann steered Ship 77 out of the harbor encountering neutral warships who didn’t challenge the raider, however she was 22km from Whale Bone Bay when a large tanker and small British freighter was sighted, taking a great risk Hartmann turned hard to starboard, decamouflaged, and opened fire with 6 15 cm/48 Tbts KC/36 guns the aft guns engaged the smaller freighter while the fore guns engaged the larger tanker, after 11 salvos both vessels were on fire and sinking fast, the tanker began to transmit but the main radio room managed to jam the signals. Hartmann ordered the V-boat launched at once and soon 171 survivors were picked up, The torpedo officer Oblt.z.S(T)Becker launched 2 torpedoes which missed both their targets in spite of the close range.

British freighter CAMBRIDGE 2,009 grt (JFHS) and DALE 17,423 grt (HKSF) as it later turned out both vessels were operating directly for the Royal Navy and were crewed by Royal Navy crews, both departed Liverpool and arrived at Halifax before making for Bermuda then to Aruba, where from there they were to proceed independently to Colombo, Ceylon. Ship 77 steered towards the Caribbean, by the 14th she was off the coast of Puerto Rico and the following day transited the Mona Passage and at 10:53 hrs. 26km off Haiti was in the Caribbean, now making for Aruba. After cruising for 3 days nothing was sighted so Ship 77 changed course and cruised off the coasts of Colombia and Panama with the goal of making it to the shipping lanes off the Panama Canal. On the night of the 22nd a shadow was seen and she was identified as a British freighter, again the ship hoisted the battle flag, decamouflaged, and switched on her searchlight (Searchlight Nr.II) the 12.7cm fires a shot across her bow however the English began to transmit “RRR...........” before the main radio room jammed the transmissions. 3 15cm (Cannon VII, IX, and X) opened fire 6 salvos send the vessel to the bottom. 2 lifeboats were recovered. 3rd mate most senior survivor was questioned, the freighter was the HAMMOND 2,009 grt (TYFB) from the Royal Line Ltd., London from Perth to London via the Panama Canal loaded with tires, wood, steel plate, and general cargo.

Hartmann is now considering where to take the raider.............

[iambecomelife]

Nice shots, this thread's a gem - would be interesting to see how well your ship would do against a light cruiser - like the "Sydney" & "Kormoran" duel. Too bad there's no class that looks like Sydney in SH5!

Anyway keep it up!

[CPTLTJASON]

Originally Posted by iambecomelife

Nice shots, this thread's a gem - would be interesting to see how well your ship would do against a light cruiser - like the "Sydney" & "Kormoran" duel. Too bad there's no class that looks like Sydney in SH5!

Anyway keep it up!

Thank you, maybe Ship 77 might stand a better chance since it has the more modern 15cm tbtsk c/36 guns unlike the WWI guns of that were typically mounted on raiders during WWII and unlike the 6 all carried Ship 77 has 10 total meaning that a broadside would consist of 6 instead of 4 cannons. However like all merchant raiders she is just a modified freighter and in a said duel the result would probably be the same a single hit would blow the ship apart (example would be the Pinguin). Its too bad that one cant create new ships in SH5 id like to see how this raider would've preformed against other commerce raiders.

[CPTLTJASON]

11/4/1939 Caribbean Sea Point Trafalgar 86th day at sea

Since the last report Ship 77 sighted the neutral Spanish freighter CADIZ 7,471 grt (ZJFB) on identifying the freighter as neutral Ship 77 broke off pursuit and moved further into the Caribbean to continue the hunt. On the 23rd a freighter was sighted, the Ben Line freighter BENSON 3,024 grt (TLOK) British, from Colon to Liverpool with a cargo of rubber was sunk. 3 days later a Brazilian neutral was sighted early in the morning and was intercepted by Ship 77 she hoisted her battle flag and decamouflaged, she signaled in international code, “Stop at once, do not use wireless” the neutral came quickly to a stop and Boarding Commando Nr. I under the command of L.z.S Schmidt boarded the freighter and based on the investigation conducted determined that she was sailing with cargo destined for England, the freighter was proceeding from Rio de Janeiro to Kingston with 5,000 tons of grain, mail and general cargo. The vessel was at first attempted to be sunk with scuttling charges, this failed so 2 15cm guns opened fire, realizing the waste Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the Torpedo Officer Oblt.z.S(T)Becker to fire a precious torpedo into the vessel, at 07:15 the torpedo hit under the bridge and 1 hour later the freighter sank beneath the waves. SPARROW 4,874 grt (FDGU) Brazilian.

So far Ship 77 has sunk 6 ships for 35,046 grt. Afterwards Ship 77 made for Point Trafalgar where for 10 days Hartmann and his officers make plans to raid the British Port of Kingston where according to the captain of the Brazilian freighter that the port was unprotected and that there are numerous British vessels in the harbor, therefore the ship moves deeper into the Caribbean where she is painted in a special painted scheme, she is painted all black from stem to stern, funnel is raised, and 2 lifeboats with davits added aft.

[CPTLTJASON]

12/19/1939 Central Atlantic 32°35’N, 34°17’W 130th day at sea

Since the last report Ship 77 has sailed over 30,000km and sunk 177,822 grt of shipping. Ship 77 cruised the Caribbean once more as far east as Port-of-Spain however no shipping was sighted, then she made for the Yucatan Channel where she stopped and inspected 12 vessels all of which were let go. Entering the Gulf of Mexico, no shipping was sighted, Hartmann then steered into the Straits of Florida where on 11/24 a neutral American freighter was sighted, Ship 77 turned away making no contact with the ship.

Three days later Ship 77 passed the Island of Tortuga the following day off Haiti the bridge watch sighted mastheads and the Hilfskreuzer’s artillery was soon shelling the vessel, which was the Southern Line Ltd, Co. ship KRIKLAND 5,159 grt in ballast from Kingston to Tampico the English freighter was sunk and 49 were taken prisoner. Ship 77 returned to the Atlantic on 11/30 and again began to hunt for British merchant ships. On 12/7 Ship 77 sighted a 2 stack liner and closed in, by 17:39 Ship 77 has sunk the Australian Harris Line Co. RANGOON 9,885 grt from Sydney to Southampton she was to be converted into an Armed Merchant Cruiser, 139 were taken prisoner. From 12/8-12/18 Ship 77’s boarding parties were busy boarding and inspecting 38 ships. After thorough inspections all were released. Due to the high concentration of British warships in pursuit of the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decides to remain in the North Atlantic.

Ship 77 will proceed north to operate between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Azores afterwards she will make for the French coast to lay mines then loop around the Azores and begin the trek southwards into the South Atlantic.

[CPTLTJASON]

2/7/1940 South Atlantic 13°43’S, 9°6’W 180th day at sea
Since the last report Ship 77 has been experiencing success after success. Operating between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Azores Ship 77 sank the British freighter ODYSSEY 5,250 grt from Port-of-Spain to Southampton loaded with 6,000 tons of general cargo 26 crew were taken prisoner later that night another British freighter came into view she was the BRISBANE 4,173 grt from Durban to Liverpool loaded with 5,000 tons of spices and tea. 9 days later Ship 77 found herself off the coast of France where she laid 4 minefields (291 EMC Mines) That same day she sank 6 ships the first was the Bulk Carrier BONNET 3,612 grt from Boudreaux to Liverpool loaded with general cargo 2 hours later 2 French fishing vessels Nr.281 1,100 grtand Nr.38 90 grt were sunk by the 7.5cm gun amidships. No sooner had the last of the 18 survivors been brought aboard that 2 smoke columns were sighted, and Ship 77 started up her diesels and proceeded at 18 knots to the sighting which turned out to be 2 small British freighter both were sunk by artillery. MILLINGTON 2,181 grt and HERSHIRE 3,482 grt. She took on 75 survivors and as she steered towards the open ocean a radio message came in from a warship that departed La Pallice she struck a mine her identity was later established to be the LAVIT 1,188 grt. Heading west then south she rounded the Azores in mid-January on the 23rd she sighted a large steamer and closed the range, she hoisted her battle flag and opened fire, after expending 3 torpedoes and 52 shells 2 more British ships were sent to the bottom the Liner CAPE VERDE 19,000 grt and the freighter CLEMENTINE 4,148 grt both had departed Cape Town and were enroute to Southampton loaded with army and air force equipment. 376 were taken prisoner. By now Ship 77 had over 500 prisoners aboard and on the 27th she met once again with the tanker NORDMARK which took on the prisoners and resupplied Ship 77, her final resupply at least for the time being, the disguise of the ship was changed during this period, she was to become the Norwegian freighter TRONDHEIM 8,500 grt
1.Outer hull painted black
2.Superstructre white with brown band on the upper bridge 3.Ventilators, deck hatches, winches, etc. painted yellow
4.Fake ventilator added aft of the wheelhouse
5.Smokestack lowered, painted black, and orange band added. 6.Boats painted grey 7.2 ventilators next to fake deckhouse removed.
8.Neutrality markings painted on the hull words “NORGE” and “TRONDHEIM” painted port and starboard amidships.
On February 3rd the Nordmark and Ship 77 parted ways and later that day she crossed the equator 2 days later 3 ships were sent to the bottom south of Ascension Island they were the JUNIPER 19,000 grt, TALLY 3,064 grt, and NORTH BANK 3,423 grt. Ship 77’s prisoner quarters were once again home to 268 men.
Ship 77 is now steering for the Indian Ocean where she will operate for the next 11 months. Ship 77 has sunk 247,321 grt of shipping and soon the hunter would become the hunter.......................

[CPTLTJASON]

November 10, 1939 Deschimag A.G. Weser Werft, Bremen

With the entire 441 officers, petty officers, and ratings aboard. The Motorship “Weserfels” is commissioned into the Kriegsmarine as Hilfskreuzer Schiff Nr.19 under the command of Kapitan.z.S Wolfgang Felix Hartmann. After the commissioning ceremony the ship is taken to the Naval Fitting Out depot to being taking on stores and equipment she will then be shifted to Columbus Pier to take on fuel, water, and coal. Once she is loaded Schiff 19 will make for the River Weser to conduct trials.

[fitzcarraldo]

Doenitz requests TONNAGE!

Be more agressive.

Fitzcarraldo

[CPTLTJASON]

[CPTLTJASON]

November 1939

Schiff 19 departed Bremen at 08:00 hrs. for trials with a commission from Deschimag A.G. Weser Werft aboard. Several faults were found and the ship returned to the shipyard to address the faults. Once all were dealt with the ship conducted another trial cruise which was successful after that she once again returned to Columbus Pier to take on fuel, water, and coal. Today she will depart for Kiel via the Kiel Canal. Before she leaves, the crew will disguise the ship as a Sperrbrecher she was painted all grey and tactical markings were painted on her funnel.

Schiff 19 arrives in the early hours of the 16th and is anchored at her assigned location, Buoy A-10. In the morning the ship will be shifted to the Kiel Naval Arsenal and began taking on ammunition and other supplies. By the 21st she is ready for sea and ready to begin the 2 month training period in the Baltic.

[CPTLTJASON]

9.4.1940 Barents Sea 71°21'N, 17°30'E 69th day at sea

Schiff 19 returns to the area off Bear Island, During the cruise from the Kara Sea to the Bear Island Schiff 19 came across 32 Soviet freighters and tankers. Schiff 19 continues to hunt enemy merchant ships the raider stopped 21 Norwegian, Swedish, and Dutch vessels of which 8 were sunk and 3 were taken prize including the Norwegian tanker “KNUDSEN” 10,200 grt which carried over 13000 t of diesel fuel was ordered to Jan Mayern Island for use as Schiff 19’s supply ship.

The remaining ships were released after a thorough search of their cargos ports of destinations and departures. Schiff 19 is scheduled to be off her operational area by the 13th and begin operations which will last 7 days.
Today, While operating off the approaches to Narvik Schiff 19 sighted smoke columns and immediately turned away this was the beginning of the first Battle of Narvik, Hartmann ordered 2 x A.K. the ship was now plowing the seas at 18.5 knots however a single smoke column approaches with great speed and is soon identified as a single destroyer. Schiff 19 still disguised as a Soviet auxiliary ship maintained course towards the northeast speed reduced to 10 knots, crew to action station, and camouflage party to stations. The warship is identified as an H-Class destroyer, the H.M.S. Hearty 1,250 grt the warship armed with 4 x 4in guns signaled us to stop and not use wireless, Kapitan.z.S Hartmann orders that the Soviet flag hoisted and signals “KOSMONOV” St. Petersburg to Murmansk the destroyer closes to a range of 1200m and stops. The guns are not trained nor is anyone on deck only a few are seen on the bridge and the upper control position. While the destroyer launches a boat Kapitan.z.S Hartmann orders to run up the war flag and port artillery and torpedo tubes to drop camouflage and open fire! 3 G7v torpedoes and 4 x 15cm salvos surprise the destroyer of the 3 torpedoes launched 2 torpedoes hit causing a large explosion. The destroyer immediately heels to starboard and begins to sink.

On the bridge Kapitan.z.S Hartmann orders Halt battery Halt!, Hard to starboard! 2 x A.K.! Schiff 19 speeds away from the sinking destroyer 3 hours later the raider returns and picks up 1 officer and 2 ratings. They were taken to the ship’s hospital for treatment. Schiff 19 now moves towards Bear Island; the radio officer reports that the destroyer was being called by another warship D/F’d 225° range estimated at 19km. During the engagement no radio message was transmitted by the destroyer.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann and the Navigation Officer Oblt.z.S Neumann choose to anchor off South Cape Island for a few days as now Schiff 19 was being hunted by at least 2 warships. The ship’s camouflage was slightly altered by painting the red band on the funnel blue and building an additional deckhouse on the boat deck. The raider now sails as the Soviet Research Ship “ROSSKOVO” 7,780 grt KLTV homeport Murmansk and is in transit to launch another raid on merchant shipping between Norway and England.


Sunk between Narvik and Bear Island

English
“” Destroyer H.M.S. “Hearty” 1,250 grt
Dutch
“” Freighter “TAMPICO” 4,869 grt
“” Freighter “VENEZUELA” 5,125 grt
“” Freighter “ATLANTIC” 3,325 grt
“” Tanker “KETTY OSLO” 6,562 grt
“” Freighter “ROTTERDAM” 8,202 grt
“” Freighter “HONG KONG” 3,300 grt
“” Tanker “STAVERDEN” 5,800 grt
Norwegian
“” Freighter “CEYLON” 7,100 grt
Swedish
“” Freighter “GEORGIA” 4,473 grt
Taken prize:
Norwegian
“” Tanker “KNUDSEN” 10,200 grt
“” Tanker “OLE HANSEN” 8,800 grt

[CPTLTJASON]

15.4.1940 South Cape Island 75th day at sea

Schiff 19 arrives at South Cape Island. The raider now undergoes another change in disguise from Soviet Research Ship to a Dutch freighter. She will sail as the “Arendsderk” 7,700 grt PFLK homeport Amsterdam
Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1. Outer hull black
2. Superstructure dark grey
3. Bridge and signal deck brown
4. Forward bulwark lengthened
5. Smokestack lengthened black with orange ring
6. Nationality and name on both sides of the hull
7. Cannon VI camouflaged as deckhouse, painted dark grey
8. 2 pairs of cargo booms added, one pair aft of the bridge structure the second forward of the foremast.
9. Masts and cargo booms painted yellow
10. 2 lifeboats and davits removed; bulwark extended aft.
11. Dutch flag hoisted on the signal deck

Schiff 19 will remain hidden until 1.May and then resume raids in the North Sea the Seekriegslietung now plans to send the raider into the North Atlantic sometime in late May early June. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann wants to leave the North Sea and breakthrough into the North Atlantic by the end of April. So far Schiff 19 has sunk 97,195 grt of shipping plus one destroyer. In the coming days Hartmann and his officers will come to a decision on where to operate next.

[CPTLTJASON]

18.8.1940 South Atlantic 9°5’S, 6°16’W 207th day at sea

The Wolf continues her cruise of destruction. sinking 13 ships from Pernambuco to Brazil. On the 22nd of June she sank the Panamanian tanker WYOMING 10,011 grt of the Tanker Corp (Johan Rasmussen & Co), Panama loaded with 12000 t of gasoline from Aruba to Freetown the entire crew of 52 were taken aboard. The following day Oblt.z.S Soltau of the starboard bridge watch sighted 2 smoke columns off the starboard bow on approaching the 2 vessels identified as 2 Panamanian tankers, the raider disguised as a neutral Dutchman approached to within 1000m and decamouflaged ordering both tankers to stop at once and not to use wireless neither complied and soon 18 salvos from all her artillery sent both vessels to the bottom. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered 2 boats to be launched and with searchlights located 119 survivors from the tankers they were the FLORIDA 11,335 grt and VISTA 10,061 grt of the Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama the first tanker was loaded with 13000 t of aviation spirits and the second with 11,000 t of gasoline. On 26.6 the merchant raider was drifting on the South Atlantic swells when lookouts of the fore crosstrees sighted 2 ships closing to 1800m and opened fire on the two ships within minutes boarding parties under the commands of L.z.S Schmidt and L.z.S Mohr board the vessels and take them intact. The Panamanian freighter RANGOON 3,421 grt from Colombo to Aruba loaded with misc. cargo and the tanker SAMSON 4,972 grt from Aden to Liverpool loaded with 4500 t of diesel fuel and 1,000 t of gasoline. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the vessels taken prize and bring aboard all valuable goods found aboard after taking over all the Nautical charts, ships logbook, provisions, tools, a welding rig, and 20 bottles of oxygen from the freighter from the tanker the Wolf took on the 4500 t of diesel fuel the Demolition party under Oblt.z.S Wolff sinks both vessels with scuttling charges. The Wolf continued the hunt on the 29th another tanker came into view and within 20 minutes she was sent to the bottom. The Panamanian tanker was sighted and sunk in position 74°7’S, 33°8’W she was the EL MAR 3,486 grt from Aruba to Bahia Blanca loaded with 3500 t of fuel oil. 19 were taken prisoner.

On 1.7.1940 Wolf sinks the British freighter WINDWARD 6,701 grt from Freemantle to Liverpool via Durban-Cape Town-Pernambuco-Freetown loaded with 7000 t of steel plate and general cargo. the freighter was sunk with a torpedo, 22 were taken prisoner. The following day 2 more Panamanian vessels were sunk the tanker EL RIO 10,000 grt of the Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama from Aruba to Freetown loaded with 11000 t of bunker fuel she was sunk with 8 x 15cm salvos the liner DEMETRIO 6,951 grt from Bahia Blanca to Freetown then on to Sydney to be converted into a troopship was sunk with scuttling charges. 116 were taken prisoner. Later that day Mtr.II Meyer of the port bridge watch sighted another freighter closing to the target this vessel was identified as a Panamanian as well the vessel was further closed and a warning shot was fired over the bows bringing the freighter to a halt again a boarding party under L.z.S Schmidt board the ship and identify her as the CONSTANSA 5,040 grt of the Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama from Freemantle to Aruba loaded with 7700 t of pipe, steel plate, and machinery destined for the oil refinery on the island. Again, the vessel was taken prize all valuable documents, stores, and equipment taken aboard the raider and the ship scuttled. 2 days later while cruising south to get out of the area the Wolf came across another 2 ship convoy consisting of yet another Panamanian tanker and freighter both were stopped with warning shots over the bow, boarded, inspected, and sunk. They were the SANTIAGO 5,286 grt loaded with misc. cargo and BURMINGHAM 3,481 grt loaded with 3500 t of gasoline.

The Seekriegslietung informed Kapitan.z.S Hartmann that the Altmark was at Point Andalusia to fully resupply the raider and soon the ship headed south on the 9th she sank the Panamanian freighter SHERMAN 4,188 grt from Colombo to Aruba loaded with 4000 t of general cargo. After sinking the freighter, the raider headed south then east towards St. Helena Island sighting no shipping until this morning when lookouts sighted a large silhouette off the port bow Kapitan.z.S Hartmann identified the mysterious shadow as a light cruiser! All stop! darken the ship! crew to action stations! the Wolf came to a halt the cruiser passed at a distance of 2400m after the cruiser was out of sight the raider moved north one hour later a British freighter came into view however Hartmann decided not to sink the ship due to the proximity of the cruiser. Instead, the Dutch flag was hoisted on the mainmast and the Wolf continued north accelerating to 17.5 knots. Soon the freighter was out of sight. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann now decides to breakoff operations and head south to meet the Altmark now 200km north of Tristan da Cunha.