12/30/1938 Deschimag AG Weser, Bremen Commissioning Pier 1 08:00 hrs.
“Schiff 35” was commissioned today at 08:00 hrs under the command of Fregattenkapitän Hans Felix Hartmann. Her Kommandant named her “Afrika” .this is her story,
On 3/24/1937 the newly constructed freighter of the DDG Hansa Line unloads her cargo of raw materials which include tin, rubber, jute, ground nuts, oil nuts, and oil cakes. She is the Hamfels 9,000 grt.
At 12:00 hrs 3 officers, 9 petty officers, and 30 ratings come aboard and informed her master Kapitän Klingemann that she is being requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine to serve as a barracks ship. Her 50 man crew were disembarked at Hamburg and she departed on 3/25 bound for Deschimag AG Weser, Bremen. The newly formed Seekriegslietung has given her the designation of “Barracks Ship 35”. Slowly making her way through the Elbe she passed Cuxhaven on the 26th and rounded into the German Bight. On the 27th she entered the Weser and slowly made her way to Bremen, she arrived at Deschimag AG Weser in the early hours of the 27th. At 05:00 hrs work commenced, she was turned inside out stripped of everything her hull cut and lengthened fore and aft to accommodate new holds, her boat deck lengthened and her bridge structure was raised and another deck was added. At the Hauptdeck she was strengthened and mounts for 8 x 5.9 in SK L/45s were installed. 2 more 5.9s would be installed on the poop deck and forecastle. She was originally fitted with 2 x 6 Cylinder Diesel engines with the new length of the ship another pair of diesels will be added and according to MAN she could make a top speed of 25 knots. More fuel tanks were added as well however some will carry fuel for the aircraft, drinking water, and wash water. Other work Included transforming her spaces into quarters for her large crew.
On 8/1/1937 Fregattenkapitän Hans Felix Hartmann took command of the now designated “Schiff 35” . for the next 4 months he rejected 3/4 of all the crew sent by the personnel department. Half of the men had fought in the Great War and at least 10 of the petty officer and ratings had served aboard the Möwe and Wolf II. On 8/18/1938 the conversion work was completed final Installation and adjusting of her guns and 6 torpedo tubes was complete by late November. Her full complement was assembled by Christmas and was finally commissioned today. Now we will make for Kiel for loading of supplies, food, ammunition, torpedoes, mines, and everything in between.
