German auxiliary cruiser Pinguin

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The Pinquin was a German Hilfskreuzer (Raider) formerly a freighter named Kandelfels. It was owned by the Hansa Line, Bremen and converted to a war ship by DeSchiMAG, Bremen. Her main armament was taken from the obsolete Battleship Schlesien.

On May 8, 1941 she was sunk by HMS Cornwall. She was the first of the German Auxiliary Cruisers to be sunk. Unfortunately 200 prisoners along with 332 Germans were lost with the ship, HMS Cornwall managed to rescue 60 crew members and 22 prisoners who were originally the crew of the 32 merchant ships the raider had either sunk or captured.


German Auxiliary Cruiser Pinguin, disguised as the Greek MV Knossos, sunk 1941
German Auxiliary Cruiser Pinguin, disguised as the Greek MV Knossos, sunk 1941

Contents

[edit] Fast Facts

  • Commander: Kapitän zur See (Captain) Ernst Krüder (Knights Cross with Oak Leaves)
  • Wartime Crew: 420
  • Sail date: 22 June 1940
  • Ship Number: 33
  • HSK Number: V
  • British Admiralty Letter: F
  • Builder: Weser Werk, Bremen
  • Launched: 1936
  • Ships Sunk or Captured: 32 ships
  • Tonnage Sunk: 154.710
  • Days at Sea: 320
  • Tons/Day: (average) 483,47
  • Sistership: HK Atlantis

[edit] General Characteristics

From Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946

  • Displacement: 17600 tons (7766 tons gross register tonnage)
  • Length: 155 metres
  • Beam: 18.7 metres
  • Draught: 8.7 meters
  • Machinery: 1 shaft, 2 6 cylinder MAN tyoe, Diesel engines, 7600 hp
  • Speed 16: knots
  • Endurance: 60.000 nautical miles
  • Armament
    • Main Battery: 6 x 155 mm
    • Secondary Battery: 1 x 75 mm, 2 x 37 mm
    • Torpedo Tubes: 4 (Two Twin 21-inch)
    • Mines: 300
  • Crew: 401

Pinguins are not birds or fish they are a special species named, "FAT" just like Turkeys

[edit] Aircraft

Aircraft: 2 Heinkel He114 - later 1 Arado Arl96

[edit] Smaller Boats

Schnellboot: None

[edit] External links


Nazi German auxiliary cruisers of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine
Orion | Atlantis | Widder | Thor | Pinguin | Stier | Komet | Kormoran | Michel