KOMET

also known as Schiff (ship) 45. She was the former SS EMS of 3,287 tons and she could reach 14 1/2 knots from her single shaft, six cylinder M.A.N. diesel of 3,100hp (two engines on the shaft). She was 377 1/2 feet long, 50 1/4 feet in beam and drew 20 feet. With her on board fuel she could cruise 51,000 at 10 knots. She mounted six 5.9 inch guns in single mounts, one 60mm gun, one 37mm automatic AA gun, two 20mm automatic AA guns in single mounts, six 21 inch torpedo tubes - four above the waterline and two below, 25 mines, two aircraft and one MTB which was fitted to carry 25 mines.

Her normal crew consisted of 270 men. In 1942, two additional 37mm automatic AA guns were added in single mounts, and the crew compliment was increased to 521. The Heinkel He 114 scout planes were replaced by one Arado Ar 196.

During her first war patrol, KOMET accounted for six ships (one was taken as a prize) totaling 31,005 tons plus another 2 ships of 21,125 tons total which she sank in company with the raider ORION.

Her first war patrol lasted from 3 July 1940 to 30 November 1941, a total of 515 days and she returned to Germany.

Her 2nd war patrol was short-lived, lasting from 6 to 30 October 1942 when she was sunk by HMS MTB 236 of the Royal Navy.