25.2.1940 Barents Sea 71°56’N, 2°19’E 25th day at sea
Schiff 19 has been cruising the area without success so Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to move further east into the Barents Sea one of her 3 Arado Ar 196 A-1 aircraft was launched with the exception of last night and today due to the sea state being 4-5 at times 6. The aircraft only found a neutral Soviet tanker which was not pursued. On 24.2 at 22:54 hrs. Mtr.O.Gfr Beyer a distant shadow bearing 255°T at a range of 7600m, in seconds the crew was at action stations and Kapitan.z.S Hartmann on the bridge with the navigation officer Oblt.z.S Neumann plotted the enemy’s course which came to 101° speed estimated at 6 knots the shadow is very big quite possibly a fleet tanker. The Kommandant ordered the helm swung hard to port, steer course 207° Ship ready for action. At 23:30 hrs. range 3000m, Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the battle flag hoisted and drop camouflage. With a clinging of the ship’s bell the battle flag was hoisted on the mainmast by Sig.O.Gfr Becker. The fore 15cm guns decamouflaged as well as the 7.5cm on the bow, a warning shot was fired over the bows of the ship and with a lamp on the bridge the ships were signaled “STOP AT ONCE, DO NOT USE WIRELESS, OR I OPEN FIRE” the enemy did not heed the warnings a second warning shot was fired which was also ignored at which point the tanker began to transmit at the same moment on the bridge L.z.S Meyer sighted a smaller vessel aft of the tanker, Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the raider’s helm swung hard to starboard and the aft cannons were decamouflaged The artillery was given permission to open fire. 21 salvos from the 15cm guns sank the smaller ship and brought the tanker to a halt. A boarding commando under the command of L.z.S Schmidt (3 officers, 6 petty officers, and 25 ratings) was preparing to board the tanker when the tanker suffered 2 large explosions and began to quickly sink over the stern. Searchlights located 3 lifeboats which were picked up all were from the tanker. Schiff 19 remained in the area until 6 in the morning when picket boats sent from the raider to look for survivors. A total of 97 were picked up 91 from the tanker’s crew of 141 and 6 from the freighter’s crew of 22. At 07:00 Schiff 19 headed further east in search of more targets.
Oblt.z.S(F) Kohler reported that the main radio room successfully jammed all signals from the tanker. In any case the radio rooms will continue to monitor the radio waves for any shore stations calling either ship.
Ships sunk:
PINEDALE (A189) 17,380 grt GBZP From Scapa Flow to Narvik loaded with 20000 t of oil and aircraft fuel.
NORTON 1,918 grt GHWN From Plymouth to Narvik via Scapa Flow loaded with general cargo, mail, and tires.
Total sunk: 19,298 grt
