8.3.1940 Barents Sea 76°10’N, 23°36’E, 37th day at sea
Since the last report no sinkings have occurred. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to make for the sea area between Spitsbergen and Hopen Island where he will change the disguise of the raider to that of a Soviet Naval Auxiliary ship then sail as far east as the Kara Sea and even into the Laptev Sea. During the voyage to the sea area the ship was battered by heavy seas. On the afternoon of 4.March Schiff 19 stopped to launch her Arado Ar 196 aircraft on a reconnaissance flight, unlike her pervious reconnaissance flights this time she was launched fully armed. Her orders were to conduct a reconnaissance of Hopen Island and her surroundings. The pilot and observer were instructed to report any sightings. In the meantime, Schiff 19 would continue on its present course and heading. At around 19:19 a VHF transmission was received by the aircraft “steamer and radio station destroyed, have taken damage am off Kapp Thor” At once the radio officer was summoned to the bridge. No distress signals to report was the radio officer’s report to the Kommandant. It was an unexpected but welcomed success. Later the B-Dienst reported that the steamer sunk was the Norwegian motorship DALHOLEN 7,170 grt NKGT this vessel was apparently tasked with supplying the radio station. Schiff 19 arrived off Kapp Thor where she took aboard the aircraft which was damaged by splinters and had small shell holes in her fuel tank and floats. Schiff 19 arrived at her hiding place early on 5.March she anchored in position 76°45’N, 25°0’E from the 6th to the 8th the camouflage was changed from the Norwegian freighter ‘BATAVIA” to the Soviet Auxiliary ship “KOSMONOV” 7,200 grt SVKO homeport Murmansk.
Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1. Soviet nationality markings
2. Smokestack and masts lowered, smokestack insignia
3. Forwards bulwark lengthened
4. Superstructure white
5. Bridge and signal deck brown
6. Soviet naval flag hoisted on the signal deck.
With her new disguise complete and seaplane operational Schiff 19 resumes her war cruise at 04:00 hrs. course 097°, speed 12 knots, 1 engine.
