Wetterbeobachtungs-Schiff Schiff 33 -
Pinguin Hilfskreuzer (HSK 5)
Built |
Name |
Disguise |
Denmark Strait |
Note |
1936 |
Pinguin |
Russian - "Pechora" |
30.6.1940 |
June 1940: supported by
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
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 |
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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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