Another of our SHARKHUNTERS ETAPPANDIENST agents, KARL, has uncovered a story and we ask for additional information from any Members formerly in the 'SPOOK' business.

Two large sailing vessels were overhauled and outfitted in the Eckmann-Werft for a special mission, under orders from the SD and the ABWEHR. In charge of this project was Christian Nissen. These two ships had masts of 21 meters (approx 65 feet) in height, were 45 to 50 tons, and had 220hp engines. In the yard, they were known as KFK 203 and 204, but they also had names. One was MARY and the other name is not know.

Under code name Operation REISERNTE (RICE CROP) with orders from SD/SS Obergruppenführer Walter Schellenberg and his chief, Dr. Ernst Kaltenbrunner, the two sailing ships departed over Yew Year's eve 31 December, 1944. Their destination was the Panama Canal; their mission was to sabotage the sluice gates and cripple the canal.

In February of 1945, both ships radioed their position somewhere near the area of Trondheim Fjord but that was their last contact. They did not arrive at the Panama Canal.

Thanks to KARL we have the Naval Intelligence file, which was marked ULTRA and TOP SECRET and it gives all these details. We also have information that these two sailing ships actually arrived in South America.

But here is where we need additional information from anyone formerly in the 'SPOOK' business. What happened to MARY and her sister-ship? They were not sunk by Allied action, or there would have been a record of that - and sailingships generally moved about without interdiction at that time. They could not have been attacked in error by a German U-Boat as there would have been a record of that - and sometime in 1944, GrossAdmiral Karl Dönitz issued an order that no fishing boats and no sailing ships were to be attacked by any German U-Boat on any ocean.

KARL, many thanks for this information. Who can add more? And has anyone seen any potential connection to this story and the letter of DON ANGEL ALCAZAR de VELASCO yet? Keep reading!