Wetterbeobachtungs-Schiff

Schiff 33 - Pinguin

Hilfskreuzer (HSK 5)

Built

Name

Disguise

Denmark Strait

Note

1936
Kandelfels

Pinguin
(Schiff 33)

Raider F

Russian - "Pechora"
Greek - "Kassos"
Norwegian - "Trafalgar"
Norwegian - "Tamerlane"

30.6.1940

June 1940: supported by
weather ships:
WBS 3 :
Fritz Homann
WBS 4 :
Hinrich Freese
WBS 5 :
Adolf Vinnen


Pinguin (HSK V SCHIFF 33) was formerly the Kandelfels, belonging to Deutschen Dampfschiffahrts Gesselschaft Hansa, built in 1936, 7766 gt, top speed of 17 knots. Captain was Ernst-Felix Krüder. Pinguin went out on June 15-1940, and by the time she was sunk by the British cruiser Cornwall on May 8-1941, 154.710 gross tons of allied shipping had been lost.

Denmark Strait


Support from Weather ships and Weather flights:

Pinguin's Meteorological officer, Lieutenant Hans Ulrich Roll, received supplementary weather reports during the 6-day waiting 70 miles south west of Jan Mayen. From a weather ship in OG 2 between Iceland and Jan Mayen and from a Luftwaffe Wekusta 5 flight. The reconnaissance plane - a He 111 ?  - was spotted at long distance. 

"Zu unser wettermäßigen Unterstützung hatte de Seekriegsleitung zwar einen Fischdampfer mit dem Auftrag, Wettermeldungen abzusetze, in das Nordmeer entsandt. Dieser funkte auch brav sein Wetter nach Hause, und das Heimat gab diese Meldungen an uns weiter, aus denen wir ersahen, dass er sich in unserer Nähe befinden musste, seine Meldungen  also nur unsere eigenen Beobachtungen bestätigten. Es hätte uns sehr geholfen, wenn dieser Fischdampfer weiter im Südwesten in der eigentlichen Dänemark-Strasse gestanden hätte, aber das erschien dem Fischdampferkapitän wohl als zu gefährlich, was man verstehen kann, musste er doch durch sein tägliches Funken der Wettermeldung dem Gegner aufgefallen sein" Hans Ulrich Roll

Schiff 33 "Pinguin" - Mail connections

Date

Port / Ship

Direction

to 15.6.1940

Gotenhafen

In & Out
19.6.-23.6.1940 Sørgulen Fjord - Norway (In & Out)
18.7.1940 Submarine "U-A", Atlantic

"Then came the time to part. The submarine took the first letters home from the men on board H.K. 33. Krüder made no attempt to censor them; he knew he could trust his men" Brennecke

Out
U-A
8.1940

"Krüder informed the men that although there had been no further opportunity of sending letters home, of course, none at all of receiving any, their dependents were not being kept in ignorance of their fate. The authorities were keeping in regular touch with them. Of course, they were short communications only; no details; just information that father, son, husband, or whatever it was, was alive and in good health, though with no immediate prospect of leave".Brennecke

 
19.9.1940

Norwegian freighter M/V Nordvard - captured on 16.9.1940 in the Indian Ocean.

"It was decided to transfer prisoners [app. 150 from other ships] to the Nordvald,  put a prize crew [17 men] on board and send her back to Germany. Lieutenant Hans Neumeier was put in command of the prize crew"

"When everything was ready they sailed for home with the good wishes of the crew of the Pinguin who lined the rails to watch them go - hoping that their own letters home would arrive safely, which, after many adventures, they actually did." Brennecke

"Mit Nordvard gelangten das bisherige Kriegstagbuch des Hilfskreuzer Pinguin und diverse Briefe von Besatzungs-angehörigen nach Deutschland." Hans Ulrich Roll

Arrived Bordeaux on 22.11.1940.

Out
Nordvard
     


Kiel: 7.5.1940  Feldpost 09450 = Schiff 33 Pinguin. From Ob. Gfr. Gregor Jung (+ 8.5.41)


Gotenhafen: 12.6.1940 -
Feldpost 09450 = Schiff 33 Pinguin. Posted shortly before departure.

Feldpost Nr.
M 09450


Briefstempel I


Briefstempel II

(1939-26.1.42)
Hilfskreuzer V
Schwere Hilfskreuzer 5
Leichte Hilfskreuzer 12
Handelsschutzkreuzer 5
Schiff No. 33

From: "Die deutsche Feldpostübersicht 1939-1945" by Norbert Kannapin.


Stm.-Mat
Josef Stoiber, welcher am 8. Mai 1941
im Indischen Ozean sein Leben im Alter von 24 Jahren opferte.


Training in the Baltic April 1940.


In convoy between Gotenhafen and Norway June 1940.


Meeting with submarine UA - 18th July 1940


Schiff 33 Pinguin as Greek ship M/S "Kassos" - 18th July 1940


War Records  15.6.40 -  8.5.41

Prize Name Type Flag Date Tonnage Fate
Domingo de Larrinaga Freighter United Kingdom 31-07-40 5.360 Sunk
Filefjell Tanker Norway 27-08-40 6.900 Sunk
British Commander Tanker United Kingdom 27-08-40 5.010 Sunk
Morviken Freighter Norway 27-08-40 7.615 Sunk
Benavon Freighter United Kingdom 12-09-40 5.870 Sunk
Nordvard Freighter Norway 16-09-40 4.110 Captured
Storstad Tanker Norway 07-10-40 9.000 Captured
Nowshera Freighter United Kingdom 19-11-40 7.920 Sunk
Maimoa Freighter United Kingdom 20-11-40 10.125 Sunk
Port Brisbane Freighter United Kingdom 21-11-40 8.740 Sunk
Port Wellington Freighter United Kingdom 30-11-40 8.305 Sunk
Ole Wegger Whale Factory-ship Norway 14-01-41 12.200 Captured
Solglimt Whaling Supply-ship Norway 14-01-41 12.245 Captured
Pol VII Whaler Norway 14-01-41 335 Captured
Pol VIII Whaler Norway 14-01-41 300 Captured
Pol IX Whaler Norway 14-01-41 355 Captured
Pol X Whaler Norway 14-01-41 355 Captured
Pelagos Whale Factory-ship Norway 14-01-41 12.085 Captured
Star XIV Whaler Norway 14-01-41 250 Captured
Star XIX Whaler Norway 14-01-41 250 Captured
Star XX Whaler Norway 14-01-41 250 Captured
Star XXI Whaler Norway 14-01-41 300 Captured
Star XXII Whaler Norway 14-01-41 305 Captured
Star XXIII Whaler Norway 14-01-41 355 Captured
Star XXIV Whaler Norway 14-01-41 360 Captured
Empire Light Freighter United Kingdom 25-04-41 6.830 Sunk
Clan Buchanan Freighter United Kingdom 28-04-41 7.265 Sunk
British Emperor Tanker United Kingdom 07-05-41 3.665 Sunk
Subtotal Pinguin Direct Prizes 136.660
Nimbin Freighter United Kingdom ??-12-40 1.050 Sunk/Mine
Herford Trawler United Kingdom ??-03-41 285 Sunk/Mine
Cambridge Freighter United Kingdom 07-11-40 10.845 Sunk/Mine
City of Rayville Freighter USA 09-11-40 5.885 Sunk/Mine
Subtotal Pinguin Mines 18.065
Total Pinguin Prizes 154.725

 

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Update: 20.11.2005
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