Merchant raider

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Merchant raiders are ships which disguise themselves as noncombatant merchant vessels, whilst actually being armed and intending to attack enemy commerce. Germany used several merchant raiders early in World War I, and again early in World War II. During World I the Royal Navy deployed Q-ships to engage German U-boats.

Germany sent out two waves, of six surface raiders each during World War I. Many of these vessels had originally been refrigerator ships, used to transport fresh food from the tropics. These vessels were faster than regular merchant vessels - important for a warship. They were armed with 6 x 15 cm (6 inch) cannons, some smaller calibre guns, and torpedoes. Some of them were fitted for minelaying. Some of the captains were very creative about disguising their vessels to masquerade as allied or neutral merchants.

The most famous captain of a German merchant raider, Felix von Luckner, used a sailing ship SMS Seeadler for his voyage during World War I.

Most of these vessels were in the 8-10,000 ton range. British Armed Merchant Cruisers were generally adapted from passenger liners, and were larger than the German vessels.

These commerce raiders were unarmoured and not well suited for combat. Eventually most would be sunk or transferred to other duties. Italy used four "Ramb" class ships as raiders in World War II.