Hilfskreuzer
 |
| HK Komet |
| Hilfskreuzer (Auxiliary Cruiser) |
| Komet |
| Nationality |
German |
| Type |
Hilfskreuzer (Raider) |
| Ship Code |
45 |
| Raider Code |
B |
| Builder |
Deschimag, Werk Weser, Bremen, converted by How-H |
| Launched |
1937 |
| Previous Owner |
Norddeutschen Lloyd |
| Previous Name |
Ems |
| General Cruise Details (1. Cruise) |
| Commander (1. cruise) |
Kapitän zur See (Captain) Robert Eyssen (Knights Cross) |
| Sail date (1. cruise) |
3 July 1940 |
| End cruise (1. cruise) |
26 November 1941 |
| Fate (1. cruise) |
Safely returned to Germany |
| Performance (1. Cruise) |
| Prizes |
6,5 ships |
| Tonnage Sunk |
41.294 |
| Days at Sea |
511 |
| Tons/Day (average) |
80,81 |
| General Cruise Details (2. Cruise) |
| Commander (2. cruise) |
Kapitän sur See Ulrich Broksien |
| Sail date (2. cruise) |
8 October 1942 |
| End cruise (2. cruise) |
14 October 1942 |
| Fate (2. cruise) |
Sunk by british destroyers, off Cherbourg |
| Performance (2. Cruise) |
| Preys |
0 ships |
| Tonnage Sunk |
None |
| Days at Sea |
6 |
| Tons/Day (average) |
0,00 |
| Displacement |
| Tonnage |
3.287 |
| Dimensions |
| Lenght |
115 meters |
| Beam |
15,3 meters |
| Weapons |
| Main Battery |
6 x 155 mm |
| Secondary Battery |
1 x 60 mm, 2 x 37 mm |
| Torpedo Tubes |
6 |
| Mines |
30 |
| Aircraft |
| Fixed Wing |
2 |
| Small boats |
| Schnellboot |
None |
| Propulsion |
| Horsepower |
3.900 |
| Endurance |
35.100 nautical miles |
| Speed |
16 knots |
| Fuel Type |
Oil |
| Complement |
| Wartime |
274 |
| Komet - War Records from 07-04-1940 to 30-08-1941 |
| Number |
Prize Name |
Type |
Flag |
Date |
Tonnage |
Fate |
| 1 |
Australind |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
14-08-1941 |
5.020 |
Sunk |
| 2 |
Kota-Nopan |
Freighter |
The Netherlands |
17-08-1941 |
7.325 |
Captured |
| 3 |
Devon |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
19-08-1941 |
9.035 |
Sunk |
| Subtotal Komet Prizes (alone) |
21.380 |
|
| Total Komet Prizes (adjusted) |
41.293 |
|
| 4 |
Holmwood |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
25-11-1940 |
545 |
Sunk |
| 5 |
Rangitane |
Passenger |
United Kingdom |
27-11-1940 |
16.710 |
Sunk |
| 6 |
Triona |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
06-12-1940 |
4.410 |
Sunk |
| 7 |
Vinni (Komet) |
Freighter |
Norway |
07-12-1940 |
5.180 |
Sunk |
| 8 |
Komata (Komet) |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
07-12-1940 |
3.900 |
Sunk |
| 9 |
Triadic (Orion) |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
08-12-1940 |
6.380 |
Sunk |
| 10 |
Triaster (Orion) |
Freighter |
United Kingdom |
08-12-1940 |
6.030 |
Sunk |
| Subtotal Komet & Orion Prizes |
43.155 |
|
| Notes to: |
| 1 |
Sunk by gunfire. |
| 2 |
Very good ship. Strategic cargo (caucho, manganeso), very valuable. Sent to Bourdeaux (she arrives safely). |
| 3 |
3. Sunk by explosives charges. Eyssen promoved to Konter Admiral. Meeting with Munsterland and HK Atlantis. Full ‘salutation to the Admiral’ by Atlentis crew. Komet arrived safely to Hamburg. |
| 4 |
As Orion. |
| 5 |
As Orion. |
| 6 |
As Orion. |
| 7 |
As Orion. |
| 8 |
As Orion. |
| 9 |
As Orion. |
| 10 |
10. Sunk by explosive charges. Some days of rest at Emirau, near Kavieng (New Eire, Bismarck Islands). 512 prisoners landed. Shore bombardment of British Phosphate facilities at Nauru Island. End of Komet and Orion teaming. Komet meets Alstertor and HK Pinguin at Kerguelen Islands (some days of rest and ship repair). Meeting with Ole Jacob, for refuelling. Meeting with Etappendienst supply ship Annelies Assberger. |
| Credits |
| Alfonso Arenas, Spain |
The architect and creator of the Hilfskreuzer section based on his knowledge and private archive. |
| Antonio Bonomi, Italy |
Supplied a lot of Hilfskreuzer material from his private archive. |
|
