13.3.1937 South Atlantic 38°3’S, 2°15’E 559th. day at sea
Schiff 30 has been sinking Spanish bound shipping in the Indian Ocean and in the Bay of Bengal. Since the last report Schiff 30 has sunk over 150.000 grt of shipping.
After dismissing the prize “Bordeaux” on 5.1., Schiff 30 continued east-northeast towards the Bay of Bengal. On 6.1. one of the Heinkel He 114b seaplanes was catapulted on reconnaissance sighting 1 British tanker, 1 British liner, and 1 Dutch freighter, these were not operated on. That evening the radar was deployed and after 2 1/2 hrs. nothing was detected The following day the Skl. informed Kapitan.z.S Hartmann that a supply ship will be met at Treffpunkt “Sonnenblume” on 1.3. and that Schiff 30 is to remain operational in the Indian Ocean.
At 2125 the Skl. signaled that Prizes I and II had been taken in escort and Prize III was met by the destroyer Z 12 off Jan Mayern Island. Sailing on the dark night was illuminated by a Dutch liner which passed the H.K. at a distance of 55 hm. On 9.1. the II. W.O. L.z.S Treager sighted the British freighter “Benington” of the Ben Line passing very close at a distance of only 10 hm. At 1720 the raider suffered a rudder failure and was swiftly brought under control. The following morning Mtr.H.Gfr Muller of the Bb. Bridge watch sighted a Dutch liner the Reichskriegsflagge was hoisted and a warning shot fired over the bows the Dutch liner turned away and hoisted the flag of the Spanish Republicans. 2 more warning shots were fired but were ignored, Feuerlaubnis! 19 salvos from the fore 15cm cannons brough the Spaniard to a halt, it would take another 32 shells for the liner to sink to the bottom. She was the “Agustin Dominquez” 17.107 grt from Hong Kong to Barcelona.
On 13.1. Schiff 30 marked 500 days at sea the occasion was celebrated after an inspection by the Kommandant of the crew lined along the after decks in their summer uniforms. However, the jovial mood would not last long.
On 14.1. at 0430 Stbs.O.Strm Knorr sighted a freighter approaching fast bearing 054°T at 0500 hrs. the war flag was set, one warning shot fired over the bows, and the vessel was signaled to heave to. The vessel, hoisting a Dutch flag complied and quickly came to a halt. 5 minutes later the Investigation and Demolition commandos were disembarked. At 0511 hrs. shots could be heard from the freighter, Hartmann immediately maneuvered the raider towards the Dutchman’s starboard side and just as in the Golden Age of Piracy at 0525 a heavily armed boarding commando boarded the enemy with grapnels and gangplanks the Stb. 10.5cm, and 2cm along with the 3.7cm anti-aircraft guns dropped camouflage and raked the decks of the enemy freighter
By 0533 the Spanish resistance was suppressed. By 0553 the ship, still flying the Dutch flag split in half and sunk.
3 of the Investigation Commando fell and were buried at sea.
Leutnant.z.S Meyer
O.Fldwl Fischer
Mtr.O.Gfr Hass
After interrogation of the master, it was determined that the reason for the Spanish resistance was a mutiny aboard the vessel by the crew that was loyal to the Spanish Republicans, none survived. They were led by the 1st. mate. The freighter was identified as “Palma” 4.037 grt. On 16.1. the Dutch freighter “Texel” 6.450 grt was stopped and searched it was determined that the vessel was enroute from Batavia to Valencia loaded with 5.000t of rubber and 1.200 t of tin, this cargo was transferred to Schiff 30 and the vessel was scuttled the following morning. During this time the Skl. sent the much awaited radio message ordering Schiff 30 to cease operations in the Indian Ocean and begin the long voyage to the Mediterranean Sea. On 22.1. Schiff 30 arrived at Treffpunkt “Apfel” and daily reconnaissance was carried out while the ship was cleaned and the diesels overhauled. The off duty crew was given 3 days leave aboard. On 25.1. a Blue Funnel Liner was sighted sailing east towards Sumatra. In the morning of the 26th. the Skl. sent another radio message with orders for the upcoming mission. On 28.1. Prize V arrived and then the following day the “Ehrenfels” arrived transferring prize officers, supplies, and ammunition. Prize V was refueled and ordered to the Canary Islands.
Up until 15.2. Schiff 30 remained at Treffpunkt “Apfel” the crew carrying out artillery, torpedo, and even minelaying exercises. Then Schiff 30 began the march to the east. By 21.2. Schiff 30 passed Rodriquez Island and rounded well south of the Cape of Good Hope on 3.3.
on 8.3. Schiff 30 and the “Altmark” met and took over 2.203 cbm of diesel fuel and 1.233 cbm of lubrication oil. Several crates of aircraft spare parts were taken over. By 9.3. the oiling and loading was completed and the “Altmark” sailed back to Germany.
Schiff 30 resumed the march to the Central Atlantic and is expected off the Canary Islands by 1.4.
The situation in Spain is slowly turning towards the Nationalists with Franco’s armies taking Malaga. The Condor Legion dominates the skies. An advance into Jarama leads to a stalemate where the Republicans briefly gain the upper hand with aircraft arriving from the Soviet Union.
