Schiff 21 Widder in Bergen, Norway 8.5.1940.
Wetterbeobachtungs-Schiff
Schiff 21 - Widder Hilfskreuzer (HSK 3)
Schiff 21 Widder
in Bergen, Norway 8.5.1940.
|
Built |
Name |
Disguise |
Denmark Strait |
Note |
|
1930 |
Widder |
Swedish - "Narvik" |
15.-20.5.1940 |
1940: supported by weather
ship: |
|
Widder (HSK III, SCHIFF 21) was formerly Neumark, belonging to Hamburg-Amerika-Linie in Hamburg, build 1930, 7851 gt, top speed 14 knots. Captain was Hellmuth von Ruckteschell. Widder went out from Kiel on May 5-1940 and returned to Brest in France on October 31-1940. On her 180-days voyage she sunk or captured 10 ships (58.644 gross tons). From 1941 Widder was used as repair ship Neumark in Norway. |
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|
Operations 5.5. - 31.10. 1940
Support from Weather ships and Weather
flights:
2.5.1940:
Seekriegsleitung issues
following orders to Marinekommando West:
New-moon period may has to used
for the breakout of Schiff 21.
Seekriegsleitung suggest following actions: First transfer from Kiel to Bergen
to change identity. If weather is beneficial for at breakthrough into the area
200 sm northwest of Stadtlandet the ship leaves Bergen. Weather and Ship
Reconnaissance by WBS 5 Adolf Vinnen. Schiff 21 stays
under command of Marinegruppecommando West until it passed 60' north in the
Atlantic. Schiff 21 will be ready on 4th May 1940.
4.5.1940:
Bergen/Stavanger - Admiral Westküste receives order to fasten the
deployment of
WBS 5 Adolf Vinnen
which should observe the area around Iceland.
5.5.1940: Bergen
-
WBS 5 Adolf Vinnen
sets sail towards the Iceland area camouflaged as Belgian steamer. |
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"Widder" - Possible mail connections
|
Date |
Port / Ship |
Direction |
|
to 5.5.1940 |
Kiel, Germany |
In & Out |
|
8.-14.5.1940 |
Bergen and Hjeltefjord | Out (?) |
|
app. 5.6.1940 |
Meet supply ship Königsberg (from Belem, Brazil). After refuelling Köningsberg proceed to Vigo, Spain. On 16.6.40 Königsberg was scuttled by her crew as she was stopped by a french cruiser. |
Out Königsberg (lost) |
|
27.6.1940 |
Widder release the captured Norwegian tanker Krossfonn and sends her with a prize crew to a French harbour. Krossfonn arrives at Loreint on 7.7.1940. |
Out Krossfonn |
|
29.7.1940 |
Widder reports to have received supplies sailed from the tanker Rekum (Sailed from Tenerife on 17.7.1940). Rekum proceed to supply Schiff 10 Thor. |
In & Out Rekum |
|
16.9.1940 |
Meet tanker Eurofeld and receive fuel and supplies. |
In & Out Eurofeld |
|
from 31.10.1940 |
Brest, France |
In & Out |
Danzig 25.4.1940 to
Feldpost M 29834
= Schiff 21 Widder in Kiel.
Rottweil 27.11.1940 to Feldpost
M 29834 = Schiff 21 Widder.
Forwarded to
Feldpost 15930 = Marine-Arsenal Brest
in France.
3.III.1941:
M 29834 = Schiff 21 Widder.
|
Feldpost Nr. M 29834
|
|
From: "Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945" by Norbert Kannapin.
Schiff 21 Widder
disguised as the Spanish freighter "El
Neptuno"
Concealed
gun on Widder
|
War Records 5.5.40 - 31.10.40 |
||||||
| Prize Name | Type | Flag | Date | Tonnage | Fate | |
| British Petrol | Tanker | United Kingdom | 13-6-40 | 6891 | Sunk | |
| Krossfonn | Tanker | Norway | 26-6-40 | 9323 | Captured | |
| Davisian | Freighter | United Kingdom | 10-7-40 | 6433 | Sunk | |
| King John | Freighter | United Kingdom | 13-7-40 | 5228 | Sunk | |
| Beaulieu | Tanker | Norway | 4-8-40 | 6114 | Sunk | |
| Oosplein | Freighter | Netherlands | 8-8-40 | 5059 | Sunk | |
| Killoran | Barque | Finland | 10-8-40 | 1817 | Sunk | |
| Anglo Saxon | Freighter | United Kingdom | 21-8-40 | 5596 | Sunk | |
| Cymbeline | Tanker | United Kingdom | 2-9-40 | 6317 | Sunk | |
| Antonios Chandris | Freighter | Greece | 8-9-40 | 5866 | Sunk | |
| Total by Schiff 21 Widder: |
|
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Update: 27.12.2004
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