Hilfskreuzer Schiff 44 (HSK-16) “Afrika”

[CPTLTJASON]

18.8.1940 South Atlantic 9°5’S, 6°16’W 207th day at sea

The Wolf continues her cruise of destruction. sinking 13 ships from Pernambuco to Brazil. On the 22nd of June she sank the Panamanian tanker WYOMING 10,011 grt of the Tanker Corp (Johan Rasmussen & Co), Panama loaded with 12000 t of gasoline from Aruba to Freetown the entire crew of 52 were taken aboard. The following day Oblt.z.S Soltau of the starboard bridge watch sighted 2 smoke columns off the starboard bow on approaching the 2 vessels identified as 2 Panamanian tankers, the raider disguised as a neutral Dutchman approached to within 1000m and decamouflaged ordering both tankers to stop at once and not to use wireless neither complied and soon 18 salvos from all her artillery sent both vessels to the bottom. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered 2 boats to be launched and with searchlights located 119 survivors from the tankers they were the FLORIDA 11,335 grt and VISTA 10,061 grt of the Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama the first tanker was loaded with 13000 t of aviation spirits and the second with 11,000 t of gasoline. On 26.6 the merchant raider was drifting on the South Atlantic swells when lookouts of the fore crosstrees sighted 2 ships closing to 1800m and opened fire on the two ships within minutes boarding parties under the commands of L.z.S Schmidt and L.z.S Mohr board the vessels and take them intact. The Panamanian freighter RANGOON 3,421 grt from Colombo to Aruba loaded with misc. cargo and the tanker SAMSON 4,972 grt from Aden to Liverpool loaded with 4500 t of diesel fuel and 1,000 t of gasoline. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann ordered the vessels taken prize and bring aboard all valuable goods found aboard after taking over all the Nautical charts, ships logbook, provisions, tools, a welding rig, and 20 bottles of oxygen from the freighter from the tanker the Wolf took on the 4500 t of diesel fuel the Demolition party under Oblt.z.S Wolff sinks both vessels with scuttling charges. The Wolf continued the hunt on the 29th another tanker came into view and within 20 minutes she was sent to the bottom. The Panamanian tanker was sighted and sunk in position 74°7’S, 33°8’W she was the EL MAR 3,486 grt from Aruba to Bahia Blanca loaded with 3500 t of fuel oil. 19 were taken prisoner.

On 1.7.1940 Wolf sinks the British freighter WINDWARD 6,701 grt from Freemantle to Liverpool via Durban-Cape Town-Pernambuco-Freetown loaded with 7000 t of steel plate and general cargo. the freighter was sunk with a torpedo, 22 were taken prisoner. The following day 2 more Panamanian vessels were sunk the tanker EL RIO 10,000 grt of the Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama from Aruba to Freetown loaded with 11000 t of bunker fuel she was sunk with 8 x 15cm salvos the liner DEMETRIO 6,951 grt from Bahia Blanca to Freetown then on to Sydney to be converted into a troopship was sunk with scuttling charges. 116 were taken prisoner. Later that day Mtr.II Meyer of the port bridge watch sighted another freighter closing to the target this vessel was identified as a Panamanian as well the vessel was further closed and a warning shot was fired over the bows bringing the freighter to a halt again a boarding party under L.z.S Schmidt board the ship and identify her as the CONSTANSA 5,040 grt of the Panama Transport Co (Standard Oil Co), Panama from Freemantle to Aruba loaded with 7700 t of pipe, steel plate, and machinery destined for the oil refinery on the island. Again, the vessel was taken prize all valuable documents, stores, and equipment taken aboard the raider and the ship scuttled. 2 days later while cruising south to get out of the area the Wolf came across another 2 ship convoy consisting of yet another Panamanian tanker and freighter both were stopped with warning shots over the bow, boarded, inspected, and sunk. They were the SANTIAGO 5,286 grt loaded with misc. cargo and BURMINGHAM 3,481 grt loaded with 3500 t of gasoline.

The Seekriegslietung informed Kapitan.z.S Hartmann that the Altmark was at Point Andalusia to fully resupply the raider and soon the ship headed south on the 9th she sank the Panamanian freighter SHERMAN 4,188 grt from Colombo to Aruba loaded with 4000 t of general cargo. After sinking the freighter, the raider headed south then east towards St. Helena Island sighting no shipping until this morning when lookouts sighted a large silhouette off the port bow Kapitan.z.S Hartmann identified the mysterious shadow as a light cruiser! All stop! darken the ship! crew to action stations! the Wolf came to a halt the cruiser passed at a distance of 2400m after the cruiser was out of sight the raider moved north one hour later a British freighter came into view however Hartmann decided not to sink the ship due to the proximity of the cruiser. Instead, the Dutch flag was hoisted on the mainmast and the Wolf continued north accelerating to 17.5 knots. Soon the freighter was out of sight. Kapitan.z.S Hartmann now decides to breakoff operations and head south to meet the Altmark now 200km north of Tristan da Cunha.