RAIDER KORMORAN 7 SHIPS SUNK - KORMORAN SCHIFF 41

Photo (C) http://rapidttp.co.za/museum

Built: 1939

Tonnage: 5,486 / 10,010 tons

Cargo: Timber

Route: Vancouver - Durban 

Sunk 12/04/41 by Raider Kormoran on pos. 01º 54’S 22º 12’W

0 Dead

38 POW

Carrying a cargo of Oregon Pine (above and below decks) from Vancouver to Durban by way of the Panama Canal, she was sent the usual Kormoran signal "Heave to! – No Wireless!" but she did not stop. A few salvoes brought her to a halt. Although a fine ship with a quality cargo, there was no point in keeping her as a prize as too much damage had been done to her bridge and steering gear.

Explosive charges failed to sink her; gunfire also failed (even four 15 cm hits on the waterline); she was being kept afloat by her cargo of timber. As ammunition and torpedoes were considered too precious to waste, the ship was left to sink in her own time.

By Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser / Raider) - Kormoran (bismarck-class.dk)