Late in 1940, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder approved the awarding of a BLOCKADE RUNNER War Badge to all officers and men who served on Blockade Runners - - Naval and civilian. Those wearing it - had earned it!
The Captain however, does ring down for full speed and turns away from the approaching ships. This action apparently confirms the pilot's suspicion that below him is a German blockade runner. The OMAHA and JOUETT crank on full speed as well. On the American cruiser, they can make out the freighter has begun lowering its boats.
As the boats are being lowered, the smutje (the cook) runs up with loaves of bread. He tells Allwörden that after news of WESERLAND's demise had trickled down to the crew's mess, he felt strongly RIO GRANDE would be next. As the ship loses way, the boats are lowered. Last into them are the men of the SPRENGKOMMANDO (demolition gang). There are 75 kilo charges, all cemented into place. One is located close to the hull, between bulkheads Four and Five. Another is in the engine room, and the last in the propeller shaft. They should suffice.
As OMAHA and JOUETT come on, three explosions rock the RIO GRANDE. Almost obscured by clouds of yellow-brown smoke, the premier blockade runner of the German Merchant Navy begins to sink stern first. As her bows come up, not ten feet from her bobbing boats, OMAHA suddenly opens fire - shells falling all around the shocked Germans. As the South Atlantic closes over his ship, Captain Allwörden comes to his feet and renders a final salute. the entire crew stands up with him. They had gotten the RIO GRANDE at last! The Americans cease their "fireworks" and steam off at high speed, leaving the survivors to their fate. After the war, Captain Allwörden kindly suggested the Americans might have believed they were in danger from U-Boats.
The eminent U.S. Naval historian, Admiral Samuel Elliott Morrison, gives no explanation as to why shipwrecked sailors were left bobbing on the high seas. It had been common practice from the first day of the war to warn merchant ships suspected by the British of being blockade runners not to scuttle themselves upon the approach of warships. British Skippers had routinely signaled they would not pick up crews if they scuttled their ships. On a few occasions, they had actually fired on the lifeboats, but for the most part, the crews of scuttled ships were rescued.
Fate was kind to the Germans. Thirty-six hours after the OMAHA had racked up her third blockade runner; the luckless BURGENLAND also scuttled herself. Captain Allwörden and his men were rescued by USS MARBLEHEAD and taken to an internment camp at Pernambuco. When Captain Allwörden asked one of the cruiser's officers why his boats had been fired upon, he was told that one never knew whet the Germans might be up to! In any event, the blockade runners' war was over.
More Rio Grande
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© Copyright 1999 by Harry Cooper, Sharkhunters International, Inc.
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