Hilfskreuzer Schiff 44 (HSK-16) “Afrika”

[Rwearjr]

Will keep checking in a couple of times a week as usual and watching for the new storyline. Thank you for sharing these CPTLTJASON.

[CPTLTJASON]

15.2.1936 Central Atlantic 34°26’N, 16°21’W 168th day at sea

On entering the North Atlantic the Kommandant Kapitan.z.S Hartmann mustered the crew and gave a short speech in which he announced that Schiff Nr. 30 would be christened “Wolf”. On 12.1. at 1630 hrs. the inbound German freighter “Kanada” was met and the specialists and their findings were transferred. Both ships departed after 2 hours of transferring the crew and supplies. afterwards Schiff 30 continued on her voyage south. The following day a radio message was received from operations indicating that the raider was to put into Santa Cruz de Tenerife and meet the HAPAG liner M.S. Milwaukee for transfer of cargo, mail, and passengers.

On the 15th. Schiff 30 stopped west of the Azores and the disguise was changed to a HAPAG Line freighter M.S. Seattle 10 800 grt DKSE homeport, Bremen.

Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1.)Outer hull black
2.)Superstructure white
3.)On deck ventilators, winches, hatches, etc. buff color
4.)Smokestack buff with HAPAG livery, length unchanged.
5.)Markings painted on the bows and stern
6.)Lifeboat painted white, after most set of boats removed
7.)Masts painted buff, crow’s nest put up
8.)cargo booms put up
9.)Name and markings added on the hull, bridge, and signal deck

By 18.1. the camouflage was completed and Schiff 30 resumed transit to Las Palmas. On the 23rd. La Isleta Lighthouse came into view and by noon Schiff 30 was tied up alongside the HAPAG Liner M.S. Milwaukee. For 2 weeks Schiff 30 transferred cargo and passengers from the liner to the Hilfskreuzer these “Passengers” were actually personnel from the Kriegsmarine, Heer, and Luftwaffe and the “cargo” was spare parts for the diesel engines and aircraft, mail, official correspondence, and other material for the H.K.’s voyage to the east. On 25.1. another radio message was received indicating that the German Reich purchased 3 old vessels for Schiff 30 to use as target practice or any use the Kommandant would see fit all three were built between 1900-1915 they were 1 freighter and 2 tankers of just over 4 400 grt each. The vessels were currently located in Puerto Franco and would be sailed by Spanish crews to our location.

On 26.1. the tanker “Spichern” arrived and topped off the H.K.’s stores of diesel fuel, lubricating oils, and aviation fuel. That same day another radio message was received indicating that the German freighter S.S. “Afrika” outbound for Hong Kong was to be met off Punto Santo Island.

30.1. the three purchased vessels arrived and 3 prize crews were assembled they were ordered to sail for 49°36’N, 25°55’W. During the night Schiff 30 and the three ships moved to Punta del Arrecife to prepare the ships they were disguised as HAPAG freighters at midnight they departed for the ordered location.

On 5.2. Schiff 30 departed for the meeting area and after 5 days arrived and began the preparations that the freighter and one tanker were to be sunk as the raider would conduct a mock attack on both ships. All day on 11.2. the gunnery exercises were carried out both ships sank just after 1200 hrs. the Artillery officers and the Kommandant discussed the performance of the crew, artillery, rangefinders, and the ship itself. At 1840 the tanker was dismissed bound for the South Atlantic Schiff 30 would radio the tanker further instructions. Schiff 30 departed at 1900 hrs. for Punto Santo Island.

After 4 days of sailing Schiff 30 arrived and now awaits the arrival of the S.S. “Afrika”.


Schiff 30 and M.S. Milwaukee in Las Palmas

Schiff 30 after sinking her practice targets

Schiff 30 preparing to sail for Punto Santo Island

[CPTLTJASON]

18.2.1936 Central Atlantic 34°26’N, 16°21’W 171st day at sea

The S.S. “Afrika” arrives at 0500 on 16.2. and the transfer of cargo destined for Montevideo and Buenos Aires. A second transfer was begun later in the day in which Schiff 30 took aboard spare parts for the diesel engines and aircraft, fresh vegetables, and other stores and equipment.

Schiff 30’s new orders now state that the ship is to make directly for Yokohama, Japan and deliver her cargo as instructed.

The “Afrika” departed at 2331 hrs. on 17.2. Schiff 30 departed today at 0600 hrs. bound for Yokohama the raider will not sail through the Panama Canal but instead sail through the Drake Strait to enter the Pacific Ocean.


Schiff 30 and the S.S. "Afrika"

[CPTLTJASON]

Current disguise of Schiff 30

HAPAG Line freighter M.S. Seattle 10 800 grt DKSE homeport, Bremen

[propbeanie]

(I moved my "Yeah!" down here for story continuity)

[CPTLTJASON]

1.4.1936 Pacific Ocean 53°11’S, 78°40’W 182nd. day at sea

After leaving the S.S. “Afrika” Schiff 30 sailed south on 5.3. a British formation consisting of 8 freighters and 3 destroyers were sighted Schiff 30 steered clear of these vessels. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann is not sure what or where the formation was transporting or sailing to. Two days later on 7.3. The Equator was crossed the Equator Crossing Ceremony was carried out that same day. Now begins the long trek south towards Cape Horn. By 10.3. Schiff 30 was west of Ascension Island. 4 days later the British South America Squadron was sighted of St. Helena Island after this sighting no further sightings have been logged.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann intended to use the seaplane extensively in the South Atlantic but periods of bad weather and the two sightings with warships convinced the Kommandant not to use his seaplane hopefully the aircraft will be see flying time in the Pacific. The days passed aboard the H.K. without excitement the typical shipboard routine, the usual entertainment whether it be watching a film in Hold Nr. III, playing deck games, or just roaming the decks it quickly became monotonous. The Division Officers were instructed by the Kommandant to find ways of keeping the crew’s spirits up with new activities.

Today Schiff 30 rounded Cape Horn and entered the Pacific in partly cloudy skies freshening winds and rough seas. Hartmann plans to stop at various Islands along the way to allow the crew some shore leave and if the Island is inhabited trade with the locals.

Schiff 30 is on course 305° bound for Yokohama (12 knots, 1 engine.)

[CPTLTJASON]

20.4.1936 Pacific Ocean 25°29’S, 109°24’W 201st day at sea

Schiff 30 arrived off Easter Island on 10.4. and sent a landing party ashore to trade with the islanders for 5 tons of sugar and 5 tons of flour Schiff 30 got 15 t of fruit (pineapples, coconuts, and mangos)
After this trade a Chilean gunboat tied up alongside the 600ft hull of Schiff 30 and inquiring officials and naval officers boarded unknowingly a German disguised raider. After inspecting the ship’s clearance papers, cargo manifest, and crew list the Chileans departed and good for Kapitan.z.S Hartmann a lapse of judgement meant that there was no “cargo” aboard. This time he got lucky and Schiff 30 departed for a new rendezvous area 100 nm. north of Easter Island. On arriving she signaled to the “Rio de Janerio” the new position. During the waiting period locomotive smokeboxes and cabs were made from wood and empty beer kegs and crates were lettered for various cargos and placed in empty Hold Nr. II.

During this time as well the superstructure and decks were washed and the paint touched up on the smokestack.

The “Rio de Janerio” arrived 2 days later in the morning of 14.4. the vessel came alongside she was riding very low in the water. In the end 6 vehicles and trailers, wood, canvas, steel plates, spares for diesel engines/aircraft, rifles, ammunition, steel helmets, and 60 3.7cm Pak cannons were transferred to Schiff 30. In addition to 10 sacks of mail and a sealed envelope marked “Kommandant” in it were orders that after leaving the cargo for Japan Schiff 30 was to call at Hong Kong and Shanghai and deliver the indicated cargo for the army of Cheng Kai-Shek. Generalleutnant v. Falkenhausen advisor to Cheng Kai-Shek would meet the H.K. at Hong Kong.

Afterwards Schiff 30 was to carry out an expedition of the Pacific Islands for the remainder of 1936 or so that is the plan.............


A Chilean gunboat tied up alongside Schiff 30

Schiff 30 and "Rio de Janeiro" transferring cargo

[CPTLTJASON]

25.5.1936 Tokyo Bay 267th. day at sea

Schiff 30 stopped at Malden Island to give the crew 3 days shore leave. Afterwards Schiff 30 sailed northward crossing the busy Fiji-Honolulu and Auckland-Honolulu routes her main radio rooms picked up over 2 dozen ships and a further 2 dozen which could not be identified. The seaplane was also launched and in 3 flights sighted 2 steamers. In spite of sighting 2 steamers at long range the H.K. was itself not sighted.

Schiff 30 continued her march northward and soon entered the Yokohama-Honolulu route she sailed towards Japan without sighting a ship although the B-Dienst carried out by the Main radio room indicated that the several Japanese ships were sailing in the area however none were sighted. On the 22nd. a radio message was received indicating that Schiff 30 would meet the S.S. “Bremen” and 2 German freighters to transfer the cargo for the German Naval Attache.

Schiff 30 entered Sagami Bay then Uraga Channel and into Tokyo Bay where she anchored alongside the S.S. Bremen at 2300 hrs. the first major objective of the H.K. had been achieved. Schiff 30 will remain in Tokyo Bay until July 1st then sail for Shanghai and Hong Kong.


Schiff 30 and SS Bremen in Tokyo Bay

Schiff 30 transiting the North Pacific

[CPTLTJASON]

2.6.1936 Tokyo Bay 275th. day at sea

Since arriving in Japan Schiff 30 has been anchored alongside the German liner T.S. “Bremen” from here the ship received the naval attache in Japan, Kapitan.z.S Paul Wenneker who arranged not only the ship’s unquestioned stay in the harbor but the ability to obtain some supplies which came over the Trans-Siberian railway these included new visor caps for Kriegsmarine officers rank L.z.S and up which were part of the Naval regulations introduced on May 13, 1936 they added visor trim to the brims of the hats. For loading of the cargo a dock was prepared at the Mitsubishi Shipyard, the ship remained here for 2 days before sailing back to her assigned anchorage. By 2.6. the T.S. “Bremen” had departed and Kapitan.z.S Hartmann was ready to sail back to the Pacific. The raider weighed anchor in misty weather at 0100 hrs.

As they motored towards the Uraga Channel they passed the lighted and very busy Yokohama harbor and 35°21’N, 139°45’E. None of the 658 officers and ratings aboard had any idea that in 9 years, 3 months, and 0 days Yokohama like most of the world would be devastated by another horrendous world war and that war would come to an end with the stroke of a pen aboard an American battleship anchored in position 35°21’N, 139°45’E..................


Schiff 30 sailing through Tokyo Bay

[CPTLTJASON]

27.6.1936 Pacific Ocean 2°15’N, 139°59’W 300th. day at sea

Schiff 30 sailed through the expanses of the North Pacific unseen. On 19.6. Schiff 30 sailed 362 sm. south of the Hawaiian Islands. The following day the Kommandant stopped the ship and ordered the disguise to change to that of a British Blue Funnel Liner the S.S. “Hercules” 10 400 grt homeport London for 2 days the camouflage was changed.

Paint and camouflage of the ship:
1. outer hull black
2. superstructure white
3. smokestack light blue with black top, lengthened
4. on deck winches, hatches, ventilators, etc. dark brown
5. bridge and signal deck brown
6. awnings put up between the bridge and engine room skylight and between holds
nr. V and VI.
7. cannons I and X remain camouflaged painted grey
8. markings added to the hull

For the next 4 days Schiff 30 continued the advance east arriving at the rendezvous point today at 1910 hrs. Now Schiff 30 awaits the arrival of the tanker.

[CPTLTJASON]

14.7.1936 Kiribati Island, St. Stanislas Bay 317th. day at sea

Schiff 30 and the tanker arrive off Kiribati Island and enter St. Stanislas Bay via the Cook Island Passage and anchored in position 1°55'N, 157°29'W. Here the tanker is stripped of all useful material, fuels, oils, and equipment in preparation for the ship to be sunk as a target in the pacific. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann plans to remain in St. Stanislas Bay for 10 days.

Sending 2 aircraft on reconnaissance flights daily one of the aircraft’s observers, L.z.S(M) Freytag took a photograph of Schiff 30 and the tanker at anchor in St. Stanislas Bay. While on Kirimati Island 6 landing parties are sent on land to explore the Island At 1000 hrs. 3 landing parties are sent aboard the 3 V-Boots and the remaining three will go aboard the cutters I-III. A seventh landing team will go and collect coconuts for the ship.

A house was located on Benson Point from a sign on one of the buildings the name “Paris House” was barely made out. The German officers stated that there were no sign of inhabitants this was reported to the Kommandant however to Kapitan.z.S Hartmann there is a possibility that the island was inhabited. Hartmann decided to sail from the island and anchor off Cecile Peninsula in the Vaskess Bay this was transmitted to the landing parties as well as to say away from the northern part of the island as it is most likely to be inhabited Schiff 30 sailed at night arriving that same night to her new position 1°51'N, 157°30'W.

By 13.7. All landing parties return to Schiff 30 reporting that there were mostly fresh and saltwater lagoons numerous coconut trees. 800 coconuts were collected from 60 coconuts trees. Hartmann plans to sail out into the Pacific to conduct her gunnery, boarding, and demolition exercises.

According to BBC and Reuters, the situation in Spain is deteriorating rapidly.

In less than 48 hrs. the peacetime cruise of Schiff Nr. 30 would end and her wartime cruise would begin.

Schiff 30 and the tanker anchored in St. Stanislas Bay one of the seaplanes is in the air for a reconnaissance flight

Schiff 30 anchored off Cecile Peninsula in Vaskess Bay

Schiff 30 and the tanker photographed from the second seaplane.

[Rwearjr]

Great Pics, CPTLT. Enjoying the new storyline as well.
Eine legende wirde geboren.

[CPTLTJASON]

2.8.1936 Bismarck Sea 0°51’N, 139°47’E 336th. day at sea

Since the last report the situation has deteriorated quickly Schiff 30 departed Kirimati Island and sank in target practice the last tanker on 14.7. Three days later on the 17th. the Spanish Army in Morocco rose up against the Spanish Republic and so the Spanish Civil War broke out the Kommandant was informed at 0200 hrs. local time. Hartmann decided to continue into the Bismark Archipelago and the Bismarck Sea which the Hilfskreuzer entered on 21.7. On 23.7. a fleet under V.Adm. Carls sailed from Wilhelmshaven with the pocket battleships “Deutschland” and “Admiral Scheer” a larger contingent of light cruisers and torpedo boats will depart in the near future for Spanish waters. Schiff 30 has been kept well informed by reports from the Deutsche Rundfunk, Reuters, and the BBC.

Schiff 30 was sailing off the coast of Papua New Guinea when the fore crosstrees sighted smoke on the horizon. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered an intercept course of 157° speed increased to 14 knots and crew to action stations. Closing to 189 hm. a single mast and smoke stack came into view shortly by a smokestack and a bridge structure the arrangement of a tanker. At 150 hm. a Spanish flag was flying from the mast over the bridge and Hartmann decided to stop the Spanish tanker for a search. At 1449 for the first time in combat the battle flag was hoisted and the camouflage for the 7.5cm stop gun and Cannon Nr. X was hastily dropped 2 warning shots brought the tanker to a halt and the Examination and Demolition commandoes went aboard. It was determined that the Spanish tanker “Jose I” 11 200 grt had departed Miri, North Borneo and was bound for Cartagena. The master, officers, and crew stated their support for the Spanish Republicans and that their firm had ordered the cargo to be delivered to the Spanish Republican Army the cargo being paid for by the Spanish Republican Government. After careful consideration Hartmann gave the order to scuttle the tanker and its cargo of 13 200 t of gasoline.

After the scuttling of that tanker Schiff 30 sailed off at 16 knots on course 200° Hartmann radioed his success to the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine who in turn gave Hartmann slight congratulations for sinking the tanker and its valuable cargo of 13 200 t of gasoline however there was strict reprimand for sinking vessel when the order had not been given to engage and sink Republican merchant shipping.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to abandon the Pacific and disappear into the Ross Sea and wait there for at least 30 days to let the situation calm down as soon Madrid would be calling for the now sunk tanker. The weather begins to quickly deteriorate as Schiff 30 sails east.


Schiff 30 sails east towards the Solomon Islands

Examination Commando makes its way towards the tanker

Tanker sinking over the stern

[CPTLTJASON]

Originally Posted by Rwearjr

Great Pics, CPTLT. Enjoying the new storyline as well.
Eine legende wirde geboren.

Glad you're enjoying the story of Schiff 30

[CPTLTJASON]

9.9.1936 Ross Sea 74°42’S, 165°38’E. 374th. day at sea

After steaming for 23 days Schiff 30 arrives in the Ross Sea on 25.8. The previous day Germany and Italy joined France, England, and the Soviet Union to form the Non-Intervention Committee.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann plans to remain in this area until 20.9. In the 2 radio rooms transmissions are being picked up calling for a tanker with no response. Soon British warships from Rabaul and Australian warships from Sydney sailed out to search for the tanker in the Bismarck Sea. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decided to make for Victoria Land and began the advance east on 28.8. at 1600 hrs. however 2 days later a powerful snowstorm brought the 606ft. raider to a halt with the temperature at 2.1°C winds at force 11 and sea state of 12. Everyone was ordered below decks with the exception of the bridge watch wearing every jacket and oil skin they could find, stood watch as the ship was battered by the snow and wind. By the 31st. the weather began to improve and at 0700 hrs. the advance east resumed.

Schiff 30 arrived off Victoria Land on 1.9., 365 days after departing Kiel and immediately sent an aircraft on reconnaissance all the way to Cape Washington. However, the aircraft returned early as in the cold weather fuel consumption increased drastically. The pilot reported he did not make it to Cape Washington but in the distance flown the intended route was free of ice and there were no ships in the area. On 3.9. Schiff 30 anchored in position 74°42’S, 165°38’E.

In the cold of the Antarctic the Spanish Civil War was followed with great zeal. On the evening of 3.9. the Island of Majorca was taken by the Nationalists as Republican forces retreated from the island. The following morning Schiff 30 received a series of messages from the Ob.d.M. with a very interesting mission, to capture 3 ships laden with Spanish gold. These were in fact just the beginning of the transfer of gold reserves to the Soviet Union. In the same radio message, the Non-Intervention zone for Germany was established between Almeria and Valencia. At 1020 hrs. another radio message came through indicating that Schiff 30 was to be fully resupplied by 2 freighters and a naval tanker at Heard Island.

On 5.9. for the first time the onboard Seetakt/De-Telegraph radar was used. The thick ice and snow cleared off the hatch where the radar “mattress” antenna was stored and was then fully extended. The radar referent Korv.Kpt.(N.T.) Dr. Schlosser reported the radar to be in working order and will be tested on the supply ships. During the following days the ship remained at anchor, another radio message came through on 6.9. indicating what ships were sailing with the gold reserves and the estimated value of the cargo along with news that there had been a mutiny in the Portuguese Navy in which 2 vessels attempted to sail and join the Spanish Republican Navy. But perhaps the most interesting off all was Incoming radio message 31425/36, the contents of the message informed that the sealed orders were to be opened, the very first page was “Führer Directive 100a” which instructed Kapitan.z.S Hartmann to establish a shipping company between India-Dutch East Indies, Asia and Germany to supply raw materials, it was to be called the “German East India Trading Company”.

On 9.9. the first Non-intervention meeting took place between 23 countries in which Mexico firmly and openly gave its support to the Spanish Republicans.

Kapitan.z.S Hartmann plans to sail for the Indian Ocean on 10.9.


Schiff 30 off Cape Washington in the Ross Sea