October 31, 1938 Kiel, Kaiserhafen IV
Confident that his ship was ready for action Hartmann sailed into Kiel on August 5, 1938 and docked at the Kaiserhafen IV that same evening Ship 44 took on her ammunition, torpedoes, stores, mines, fuel, water, coal among other items needed for her operation. Hartmann, recently promoted to Fregattenkapitän has been making several trips to Berlin for briefings with the Seekriegslietung (1/SKL)
On October 1st Ship 44 weighed anchor and proceeded to Kiel-Holtenau the home base of 5/196 Bordfliegerstaffel here she took aboard 6 Arado Ar 196 A-1 aircraft during the night, by dawn she was back at her dock and loading resumed.
Shipments are brought in by train or ship, Hartmann arranged to have no more than 30 wagons per shipment by day each set would arrive with a mix of food, provisions, supplies, spare parts, torpedoes, ammunition, etc. for 4 nights barges would come alongside and load mines (100 EMC mines per shipment).
On the night of October 30th, a new Leichte Schnellboote (LS 33) arrived and was hoisted aboard. The following Morning 10 wagons were dropped off these contained ammunition, fuel, spare parts, and equipment for the boat. The final shipment was on October 19th when 103 wagons were dropped off these contained wood, steel plate, beams, canvas, paint, among other structural materials needed to effect disguises. The following evening and into the night 60 officers and men of the newly formed 8.MSK under Oblt.z.S Felix von Lindner board Ship 44 a few hours later the Luftwaffe detachment under the command of Hptm Wolfgang Kelsch come aboard along with 15 Prize officers, an indication of what was expected of Ship 44.
During the night the ship’s disguise was changed, she was to become a transport sailing under the “Reich Service Flag”
1. Hull Black
2. Superstructure light grey
3. I and X 15cm guns camouflaged and painted grey
4. Smokestack length and width remain
5. Masts yellow without the crows nest
6. Boats setout
7. Deck hatches, ventilators, winches, booms, etc. painted grey
8. Masts and cargo booms put up
9. Draft marks added to hull
10. Reich Service Flag hoisted atop the bearing deck.
Ship 44 has orders to sail at 01:00 hrs. on November 1.
*Radio Transmission Gkdos 3184/38 *
After 01:00 hrs. on November 1st Ship 44 is to depart at Kommandant discretion.
*S.K.L.*
