Baltic, Kiel.
Schiff 30 is ready for her test cruises. While in port and During the night the following was carried out: adjustment of the torpedo tubes, compensation of the compass, and determination of the radio load. At Scheerhafen Fresh water, provisions and coal were supplied and the tanks for aircraft fuel were filled at Kiel-Holtenau. 3 Heinkel He 60 aircraft and aircraft parts were taken on board. The following test cruises were carried out in the following sequence:
25.7.-26.7. Howachtbucht Proceeded with bow protection gear and cutter for mines.
27.7-1.8. Eckenforder Bay Small and large caliber weapons shooting.
2.8.-5.8. Kiel Bay T.E.K. Torpedo shooting.
6.8.-8.8. Kiel Bay Torpedo shooting.
9.8.-10.8. Lübecker Bay Anti-aircraft weapons shooting.
11.8. Kiel Bay Practice launching and recovering the embarked aircraft and use of the onboard catapult.
12.8. Kiel Bay Engine measured mile
13.8.-15.8. Kiel Bay During these cruises further training of the crew in boat drills and combat exercises. Repeated launch and recovery of the embarked aircraft on the catapult and trial fitting of the disguise mechanisms.
16.8. Kiel Bay Training for searchlight crews and the boarding and demolition commandos
On 17.8 the Kommandant, Freg.Kpt. Hartmann reported the ship and crew ready for combat. That evening the Kommandant was recalled to Berlin and informed that the ship would sail on 1.Sep. at midnight. He arrived early on the 18th. and immediately began preparations be begin the final outfitting of the ship. Hartmann had less than 15 days to outfit his ship, an impossible task reported the Administrative and supply officers, but impossible was not in Freg.Kpt. Hartmann’s vocabulary.
Soon Schiff 30 returned to the Naval Fitting Depot and began taking aboard, ammunition, torpedoes, and her cargo which brings us to her operational orders: Sail from Kiel to Yokohama via Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Punta Arenas, and Valparaiso. On arrival to Yokohama the raider is to disembark her cargo for the Naval Attache and Ambassador in Yokohama then cruise the Pacific for suitable Islands to be used for rendezvous points for raiders in times of war, among other tasks. The ship is scheduled to depart Kiel for Stettin on the morning of the 22nd. and be back in Kiel by midnight.
Now I will pause for a few days to begin writing the Kriegstagebuch. I initially will write it by hand as I've always done with the uboat patrols then type a final copy of which will now include attachments such as combat sketches, radio reports, reports from different ships divisions, etc.
(Picture shows Schiff 30 back at the Kiel Ordnance Depot)