First raid voyage German auxiliary cruiser Komet

1 first raid voyage

1.1 breakout pacific
1.2 raiding in south pacific waters
1.3 attack on nauru
1.4 operations in atlantic ocean , galapagos islands
1.5 pacific ocean , return voyage

first raid voyage
breakout pacific

after long period of negotiations between nazi germany , soviet union, soviets agreed provide germany access northern sea route through germany access both atlantic , pacific oceans. although 2 countries had signed molotov-ribbentrop pact (with secret protocols dividing eastern europe) , undisclosed commercial agreement (extensive military , civilian aid pact), soviet union still wished maintain veneer of being neutral, , secrecy required. initially, 2 countries had agreed send 26 ships, including 4 armed merchant cruisers, because of variety of difficulties, reduced 1 vessel, komet, smallest 1 of units germany wanted use auxillary raiders.

prior being sent on northern sea route, komet equipped specially strengthened bow , propeller suitable navigating through ice. under command of kapitän zur see (later konteradmiral) robert eyssen, hsk7 departed first raiding voyage gotenhafen (now gdynia in poland), on 3 july 1940 crew of 270. ship stopped in bergen on 9 july refuel , resupply. started again route towards northern seas.

with consent of supposedly neutral soviet union, komet made way along norwegian coast disguised soviet icebreaker semyon dezhnev. while waiting in teriberka bay in july , august because of soviet security concerns, took fake name donau. assistance soviet icebreaker lenin, passed through several arctic ocean passages in august. later received joseph stalin. in september, komet crossed bering strait pacific ocean.

commerce raider komet. shown @ top disguised manyo maru , @ bottom military equipment uncovered

the passage navigation amazing achievement in have ended in disaster had not been soviet assistance, had been @ price – 950,000 reichsmarks reported payment.. many of german crew members indeed @ first experience in arctic waters).

movements of 3 german ships in december 1940 , january 1941

once in pacific, eyssen sailed down japanese island of lamutrik , met orion , kulmerland in mid-october. after conference on strategy, 3 captains decided work together, concentrating on new zealand panama passage taken of allied merchant ships. decided on japanese disguises – komet , kulmerland had names manyo maru , tokio maru painted on hulls.

raiding in south pacific waters

in november, komet resupplied , refueled in japan, disguised japanese merchantman manio maru. operated orion, disguised mayebashi maru , supply ship kulmerland, posing tokio maru.

together other 2 ships, on 25 november sunk coaster holmwood , 2 days later passenger liner rangitane, raiding precious food load. time, komet had been @ sea 140 days , eyssen admitted in war diary had become depressed , frustrated @ not having encountered enemy.

during december, komet , orion casually met , sunk in waters surrounding nauru island 5 allied merchant ships, combined tonnage of 41,000 tons, had been waiting off island load phosphate (of komet sank three). between 6 , 7 december komet sunk merchant ships triona, vinni , komata, taking more 500 prisoners, landed few days after on emirau island.

attack on nauru

at end of december eyssen planned lay mine field @ entrance of rabaul s harbor. forced abandon plan due engine failure on meteorit boat designed mission. therefore decided set course towards nauru, wanting land troops , occupy phosphate processing , loading facilities on island. bad weather though convinced eyssen change plans direct attack island infrastructures.

on 27 december 1940 komet sent warning island , announced attack begin. shelled , heavily damaged loading plants , mooring buoys of port. bombing lasted hour, , caused loss of 13.000 tons of oil. nauru phosphate estraction facilities did not resume pre-war output levels until end of conflict. action caused promotion of eyssen konteradmiral on 1 january 1941.

after nauru attack (probably major german success in pacific operational area during war) komet received order set new course towards south, crossing indian ocean , scouting presence of allied whalers. after few months no success, ship reached antarctica shores on 16 february 1941; later on 6 march had stop on french kerguelen islands , had there brief meeting other german auxiliary ship pinguin.

operations in atlantic ocean , galapagos islands

the hunt allied ships in indian ocean had no success; after months, eyssen sailed towards panama canal, hoping find more convoys in pan-american security zone, opened military actions kriegsmarine high command. 14 july 1941 until 25 july komet resupplied german freighter anneliese essberger near tuamotu archipelago. @ time, komet disguised osaka shosen kaisha line ryoku maru.

on 14 august ship met near galápagos islands british freighter australind , sunk it. 3 days later german cruiser met dutch 7,300 ton freighter kota nopan, loading more 2,000 tons of tin , manganese. due precious load, supply ship spared sinking , captured. on 19 august komet met freighter devon , sunk it. except casualties, german sailors saved crew members of enemy ships, became prisoners of war.

pacific ocean , return voyage

eyssen decided move after victorious hunt of 3 ships, fearful of reaction of allied navy. komet headed towards new zealand carrying captured kota nopan her. @ end of september had brief meeting auxiliary cruiser atlantis , gave part of prisoners , cargo load

komet received order return germany. ship set new course towards cape horn, sailing @ slowered speed in atlantic ocean disguided portuguese freighter s. thomé. captured kopa notan sent prize bordeaux, in occupied france, load , arrived destination on 17 november. komet sailed through atlantic ocean, reaching french port of cherbourg, circumnavigating globe, on 26 november, disguised freighter sperrbrecher 52. day after had short stop in le havre , sailed towards germany. british torpedo bombers spotted unit navigating in english channel not able sink it. after having landed prisoners of war @ cuxhaven, ausiliary cruiser reached hamburg on 30 november 1941 after voyage of 516 days , 100,000 nautical miles (190,000 km). ship had sunk 7 ships (two in conjunction raider orion) total of 41,568 tons.