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.
