Rio Grande: From KTB #111

Late in 1940, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder approved the awarding of a Blockade Runner War Badge to all officers and men who had served aboard Blockade Runners - - naval and civilian. Those wearing it - had earned it!

During the winter of 1941-42, the RIO GRANDE and eleven colleagues, which included three Italian ships, slipped past Allied patrols composed almost entirely of Royal Navy units, which were then few in number. But already the following winter, only 4 of 15 started blockade runners reached western France. And in 1943-44, only one in five - the ORSONO under Captain Hellmann - - made fast in Bordeaux. From a total of 31 ships that left Southeast Asia with cargoes for Germany during the War, only 17, with goods totaling 114,000 tons (45,000 of which was the vital natural rubber) reached their destination.

In the 1930's, Germany had organized the ETAPPANDIENST (supply service) whereby ships could be loaded in neutral ports and sent to sea as supply vessels for surface raiders and as blockade runners. One ship so designated was the RIO GRANDE. The SKL ordered her to meet an auxiliary cruiser operating in the South Atlantic before making her dash for home.

The Naval Brass had also decided she should disguise herself as a 'Brit'. Such alterations as were possible on the high seas were duly made. This facelife included, for example, the restowing of various cargo loading gear, and the repainting of masts and superstructure to profile a typical Englishman. And, since all Merchantmen flying the RED DUSTER were armed, Captain Heins ordered a wooden cannon hammered onto the poop. Thus arrayed, the RIO GRANDE rendezvoused with the raider THOR (SHIP 10) on November 9.

Although at 3,862 tons the smallest of Germany's surface raiders, this former fruit ship which had sailed as MS SANTA CRUZ, had already written naval history. On July 28, 1940 THOR, under the aggressive Otto Kähler, had defeated a much larger and heavier gunned enemy auxiliary merchant in a spirited artillery duel 600 miles off Brazil - - the first of two!

With her six 6" guns THOR had crippled the 22,209 ton, 19 knot liner ALCANTRA. A short time later, the raider would run into the even larger CARNARVON CASTLE; in peacetime, the fastest liner on the South Africa run - - knocking this huge AMC out of action as well.

The British converted a number of former passenger ships into auxiliary merchant cruisers to act as convoy escorts against German surface raiders - - like THOR. The most famous of these vessels was the gallant RAWALPINDI, sunk in action November 1939 by the battleship SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU in the North Atlantic while attempting to protect her charges.

As a result of THOR's actions - - she had already dispatched seven merchant ships - - the British had launched a keen search for her. THOR, in two cruises, was to take twelve ships, including one prize. She would meet her end rather ignominiously while docked in Yokohama, Japan. There, on November 30, 1942, a tanker lying alongside blew up, destroying the raider as well.

But now, in mid-ocean, Kähler transferred 350 'passengers' to the freighter. Captain Heins was stunned. Below decks, he barely had space for half that number of POW's; the crews of seven ships. There were 200 British seamen, 80 Norwegian, 35 Dutchmen and 35 Belgians. That made RIO GRANDE a very crowded ship a long way from home, and Captain Heins had only a few pistols to help him resist any possible takeover attempt by his 'guests'. He could be grateful his passengers were seamen instead of zealots. As it turned out, once the ship was en route to France, one man - - a Charley Frame from the steamer WENDOVER - - and some of his 'mates' hatched an imaginary escape plot. It came to nothing of course, and once discovered, Charley was let off easy by the Captain.

The ship's year-long stay in RIO GRANDE de Sul had not been beneficial to her diesels. It was for that reason the raider stayed with RIO GRANDE longer than was prudent, even in waters not yet adequately patrolled by the Allied ships and aircraft. Thanks largely to THOR's L.I., or Leitender Ingenieur (Chief Engineer) repairs were made and on November 16 RIO GRANDE turned her bows north.

On December 5, Captain Heins had set a direct course for Bordeaux, where he was expected to arrive six days hence. It was at this point the much made-of German military 'efficiency' and stupidity - - one cannot call it anything else - - came into play, and courted disaster. For 'VORSCHRIFT', those sacrosanct rules so beloved by Teutons, aided by the threat of always present British submarines in the Gironde estuary, jeopardized RIO GRANDE on her own front doorstep!

The ship was three days ahead of schedule, thanks to her revamped engines and calm seas, RIO GRANDE had been steaming at an average speed of just over ten knots; the SKL had decreed a speed of nine knots. When the ship arrived at the designated POINT "X" (as directed by SKL) her radio signals brought no response, RIO GRANDE steamed in circles for almost two days in a deadly calm sea sending out position reports. Neither SKL nor the Bordeaux Naval Station acknowledged those signals.

On December 11, a German flying boat spotted the freighter and swooped down on her. As the DORNIER roared over their heads, crewmen jumped up and down 'Waving like wildmen'. The pilot waved back and flew off. Hours later a signal finally arrived directing RIO GRANDE to POINT "Y" where escorts would meet her. Captain Heins had become increasingly anxious when, after arriving at the designated area, he saw only the same glassy smooth sea out of which at any moment he could expect to spot a periscope

After a continuous stream of radio signals again failed to raise a response, Captain Heins decided he had tempted fate long enough. That night he set course for the Gironde River - - and Bordeaux.

Thanks to foul-ups such as these, not a few valuable ships would be lost in this area in the days ahead. Most notable among them would be the Norwegian prize vessel TIRANNA which had been sent home by the raider ATLANTIS (SHIP 16). But not only British submarines were to score successes, for on at least one occasion German torpedoes accounted for a blockade runner no one had expected at the prescribed time and place!

HARRY'S NOTE - I suspect SIG refers to the ship sunk in error by U-333 under "ALI" CREMER (114-+-1985).

Finally, as the twin lighthouses of La Coubre and Cordouan popped over the horizon did two escort vessels spot and approach the RIO GRANDE - - which they then proceeded to challenge in a hostile fashion, even threatening to put a shot across her bows! Only after repeated and heated exchanges via the Morse Lamp was a possible tragedy avoided.

As if that weren't enough, the senior Skipper of the escorts refused to 'shepherd' the RIO GRANDE into Bordeaux. Their task, he informed Captain Heins, was anti-submarine patrol! Heins had to threaten the man with taking full responsibility for the consequences of his refusal before RIO GRANDE eventually proceeded - - under escort - - to the harbor. She was made fast to Pier No. 2 at 7:25pm on December 14 AS SCHEDULED! It had taken her 42 days to steam 8,374 miles from RIO GRANDE de Sul.

Not long after having brought his ship safely past ALL enemies, Captain Heins surrendered her to his trusted First Officer, von Allwörden. In the days ahead the new Captain would become better known to British Naval Intelligence than he ever would to his countrymen.

RIO GRANDE left Bordeaux on her first trip to Japan on September 21, 1941. Her cargo holds (crammed with machinery) had been renovated and most importantly, her innards vibrated to the songs of her new M.A.N. diesels. Captain von Allwörden took her down the Gironde under cover of night, surrounded by a flotilla of "M" and "R" Class minesweepers - - AND THE BRITISH KNEW ALL ABOUT IT!

As the freighter's bows began to bite into the late-summer Biscay swells, the word went out from the Admiralty - - GET THE RIO GRANDE!

More Rio Grande

Rio Grande (#111)
Rio Grande (#112)
Rio Grande (#113)
Rio Grande (#114)
Rio Grande (#115)