25.11.1936 Indian Ocean 14°35’S, 68°18’E 451st day at sea
Today Schiff 30 completes 451 days at sea matching the record set by her namesake in the Great War the dreaded commerce raider SMS Wolf (IV).
Excerpt from Kriegstagebuch des Schiff Nr. 30
1220 hrs. Schiff 30 has been at sea for 451 days matching
the time at sea from her namesake of the Great War
SMS Wolf (IV). Unfortunately, the success achieved
by the SMS Wolf (IV) has yet to be reached by
Schiff 30.
So the hunt began for Spanish Republican merchant shipping. The 2 auxiliary minelayers disguised as British naval trawlers while Schiff 30 changed camouflage to the Dutch freighter “Abbekerk” later changed to the “Mar Verde” after a radio message from operations received on the 12th. indicated that Spanish Republican vessels are disguising themselves as British, Dutch, and even Norwegian. The following day the funnel was shortened and insignia was painted on. The aircraft was catapulted almost daily on reconnaissance flights. On 11.17. the 3 ships stopped and a Kommandant’s Conference was held aboard Schiff 30 and a procedure for scouting was set the two vessels were further equipped with 1 2cm MG C/30 anti-aircraft cannon and Both vessels were topped off with fuel. On 0030 hrs. on the 18th. Schiff 30 and the scouts sailed further into the Indian Ocean. At 1641 hrs. a radio signal was received informing that the Reich and Italian government officially recognize the Franco government.
0658 hrs. on 19.11. the “Pazifik” sights a freighter bearing 025°T range 154 hm. the vessel is flying a British flag and making evasive maneuvers Kapitan.z.S Hartmann orders the “Pazifik” to make contact. meanwhile aboard the raider the Spanish Republican flag was hoisted and crew went to combat stations, approaching as the “Mar Verde” the “British” freighter signaled at 100 hm. in Spanish “Comrade! we are being persecuted by the British!” Confirming the nationality of the vessel the war flag was set. The 7.5cm cannon fired a warning shot over the bow and signals to stop by flag. The freighter began to transmit, the 15cm cannons were permitted to open fire and the Bridge radio room successfully jammed the transmissions after 3 salvos the freighter stopped transmitting. Investigation and Prize commandos were disembarked the vessel was identified as the Spanish freighter “Florida” 7.803 grt from Manzanillo to Valencia with a crew of 31 loaded with 8.000 t of military equipment bound for the Spanish Republican Army.
The crew was disembarked and the Demolition commando went aboard. At 0800 hrs. 3 detonations and an explosion send the “Florida” to the bottom of the Indian Ocean. The hunt continues, on the 22nd. a radio message was picked up indicating that a Spanish Republican tanker was sailing from the Persian Gulf to Cartagena via Durban. The tanker is reportedly disguised as a tanker from the British Tanker Company. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decides to detach the two scouts and orders them to wait at “Point Hans” while Schiff 30 will continue alone to hunt for the tanker in the Arabian Sea.
Schiff 30 has sunk or captured 58.077 grt of Spanish shipping.
Schiff 30 on the hunt in the Indian Ocean
Demolition charges going off on the freighter "Florida"
"Florida" 7.803 grt Sinking
Schiff 30 and the auxiliary minelayers "Indien" and "Pazifik" at "Point Hans"