20.6.1937 Mediterranean Sea 627th. day at sea.
Since our last report, Schiff 30 has been drifting in the Mediterranean Sea having drifted for almost a month Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to return to the area south of Malta to sink further republican shipping.
Another round of sinkings occurred east of Malta on 5.6. the republican freighter “Trevinio Mendi“ 7 400 grt loaded with 9.000 t of military equipment from Odessa to Alicante her cargo included 4 soviet aircraft, tanks, small arms and a hefty quantity of ammunition. Later that afternoon the Swedish liner “Halmstad” 13.420 grt was stopped and inspected. This caused some unwanted effects, the Investigation Officer L.z.S Schmidt and 1 Port. U.O. and 2 sailors were photographed in their Kriegsmarine uniforms as they made their way up to the bridge to make matters worse over 300 passengers and crew went to the railings and took pictures of the German merchant raider. Nevertheless
the German raider continued her work, late that same afternoon Schiff 30 passed a Portuguese freighter, three days later another Republican freighter was stopped and taken prize, the freighter “Villaneuva Mendi” 7.700 grt loaded with 2.000 t of gold 2.000 t of silver from the Spanish Gold reserves this was to pay for more aircraft, tanks, etc. the motorship had once been part of the British Ben Line’s “Bennington” which ran on the line’s Far East routes. 3 hours later the “Castillo de Eizaguirre” 6.500 grt was sent to the bottom
On 10.6 the radar was used again and it picked up a target bearing 302°T range 300 hm. after a pursuit which was guided by the Seetakt radar, the freighter was identified as a British freighter which was sailing in the direction of Alexandria in the afternoon Kapitan.z.S Hartmann requested that arrangements be made for entry into Operations Area B. At 1728 hrs. the Republican liner “Mar Atlantico” 8.800 grt was stopped, searched, and taken prize. The prize was dismissed to Treffpunkt “India”. On the 12th. a freighter came out of a fog bank, flying the republican flag, after chasing the vessel and firing 10 15cm salvos the “Agustin Mendi” 4.400 grt was sent to the bottom.
Sailing further east Schiff 30 stopped in position 33°41’N, 28°48’E and a change in camouflage to that of an anonymous republican freighter
Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1.) Outer hull black.
2.) White superstructure
3.) Smokestack black, shortened, and the emblem of the Compania
Maritima del Nervion painted white.
4.) On deck hatches, ventilators, winches, etc. painted gray
5.) Masts and booms light yellow
6.) Republican merchant flag hoisted on the mainmast
7.) Name “Mar Pacifico” and Valencia was painted for identification.
On the 18th. the BBC and Reuters reported from a Republican radio broadcast that “Rebel pirate ships are sinking numerous Soviet and Spanish freighters and tankers south of Malta”
The political and military situation in Spain was to get worse and very tense on 24.5 a Republican air raid hit the Italian freighter “Barletta” 6 Italian officers died. Later that day two Soviet aircraft piloted by Soviet pilots attacked the Panzerschiffe “Deutschland” 31 sailors died and 73 were wounded. The Fuhrer intended to declare war on the Republicans but instead opted for the shelling of Almeria. At dawn on 31.5. the “Admiral Sheer” and the destroyers “Albatros”, “Leopard”, “Seeadler’, and “Luchs” shelled the town and harbor with 200 shells. A further submarine attack on the “Leipzig” further aggravated the already complicated situation.
It is unclear what Berlin intends to do, nevertheless Schiff 30 will continue the trade war against republican merchant ships. Sailing again on the 20th. Hartmann was to meet the 2 prizes at Treffpunkt “India” meeting them 2 days later the prisoners were placed aboard Prize VIII. After briefing the 2 Prize Offz. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann sailed away at midnight rounding the Island of Cyprus where the crew could relax before beginning the next phase of the operation. However, there was one convention which had been signed less than a year ago which would most likely derail Hartmann’s plans but worse yet in less than a month a new war would break out and see Schiff 30 return to a very familiar area of operations to protect German shipping and interests............
Schiff 30 drifting in the Mediterranean Sea
Sinking of the Spanish republican freighter “Agustin Mendi” 4.400 grt