2/7/1940 South Atlantic 13°43’S, 9°6’W 180th day at sea
Since the last report Ship 77 has been experiencing success after success. Operating between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and the Azores Ship 77 sank the British freighter ODYSSEY 5,250 grt from Port-of-Spain to Southampton loaded with 6,000 tons of general cargo 26 crew were taken prisoner later that night another British freighter came into view she was the BRISBANE 4,173 grt from Durban to Liverpool loaded with 5,000 tons of spices and tea. 9 days later Ship 77 found herself off the coast of France where she laid 4 minefields (291 EMC Mines) That same day she sank 6 ships the first was the Bulk Carrier BONNET 3,612 grt from Boudreaux to Liverpool loaded with general cargo 2 hours later 2 French fishing vessels Nr.281 1,100 grtand Nr.38 90 grt were sunk by the 7.5cm gun amidships. No sooner had the last of the 18 survivors been brought aboard that 2 smoke columns were sighted, and Ship 77 started up her diesels and proceeded at 18 knots to the sighting which turned out to be 2 small British freighter both were sunk by artillery. MILLINGTON 2,181 grt and HERSHIRE 3,482 grt. She took on 75 survivors and as she steered towards the open ocean a radio message came in from a warship that departed La Pallice she struck a mine her identity was later established to be the LAVIT 1,188 grt. Heading west then south she rounded the Azores in mid-January on the 23rd she sighted a large steamer and closed the range, she hoisted her battle flag and opened fire, after expending 3 torpedoes and 52 shells 2 more British ships were sent to the bottom the Liner CAPE VERDE 19,000 grt and the freighter CLEMENTINE 4,148 grt both had departed Cape Town and were enroute to Southampton loaded with army and air force equipment. 376 were taken prisoner. By now Ship 77 had over 500 prisoners aboard and on the 27th she met once again with the tanker NORDMARK which took on the prisoners and resupplied Ship 77, her final resupply at least for the time being, the disguise of the ship was changed during this period, she was to become the Norwegian freighter TRONDHEIM 8,500 grt
1.Outer hull painted black
2.Superstructre white with brown band on the upper bridge 3.Ventilators, deck hatches, winches, etc. painted yellow
4.Fake ventilator added aft of the wheelhouse
5.Smokestack lowered, painted black, and orange band added. 6.Boats painted grey 7.2 ventilators next to fake deckhouse removed.
8.Neutrality markings painted on the hull words “NORGE” and “TRONDHEIM” painted port and starboard amidships.
On February 3rd the Nordmark and Ship 77 parted ways and later that day she crossed the equator 2 days later 3 ships were sent to the bottom south of Ascension Island they were the JUNIPER 19,000 grt, TALLY 3,064 grt, and NORTH BANK 3,423 grt. Ship 77’s prisoner quarters were once again home to 268 men.
Ship 77 is now steering for the Indian Ocean where she will operate for the next 11 months. Ship 77 has sunk 247,321 grt of shipping and soon the hunter would become the hunter.......................
