ELSA ESSBERGER

This ship came to the Kriegsmarine in 1940 and was initially used as a U-boat supply vessel and blockade runner. On 25 August 1944, she was scuttled at LaGrange (Gironde River) as a block ship.

GNEISENAU

Came to the Kriegsmarine in January 1940 as an accommodation ship. On 22 April 1940 she was used as a troop ship in the Norway action. On 22 December 1941 she was again made into an accommodation ship and renamed TOLLERORT. May 1942, there was a plan to convert her into a carrier named JADE but on 25 November 1942, this plan was abandoned and on 29 March 1943 she was again an accommodation ship now based at Swinemünde. 2 May 1943 she struck a mine at 54º 38’N x 12º 50’E and was grounded. She was abandoned, then capsized and on 12 July 1950 she was refloated and broken up in Denmark.

GOLDENFELS

Went to the Kriegsmarine on 19 December 1939 as Schiff 16, better known as the raider ATLANTIS. On 23 November 1941 she was intercepted by the cruiser HMS DEVONSHIRE and was scuttled at 04º 12’S x 18º 42’W to avoid capture. Eight of her crew were killed, the others were rescued by U-126.

HAMBURG

Came to the Kriegsmarine on 1 January 1940, and was a U-boat depot ship based in Kiel. On 1 October 1941 she was transferred to Danzig. In 1945 she was a refugee transport bringing Germans back from the east. 7 March 1945, she struck a mine dropped by the RAF and she sank at 54º 30’N x 13º 42’E. in 1950 she was raised and converted into a whaling ship and became the Russian YURI DOLGORUKY.

MADRID

To the Kriegsmarine in 1940 as an accommodation ship and U-boat depot ship. 9 December 1941 she was bombed and sunk by Royal Air Force bombers at Den Helder with 12 killed.

MÜNCHEN

Came to the Kriegsmarine in 1940 as a supply ship. On 1 April 1941 she broke out from Callao but was spotted 200 nautical miles to the west by the auxiliary cruiser HMCS PRINCE HENRY on 2 April 1941. She was shelled and set on fire, then finally sunk by the Peruvian cruiser ALMIRANTE GRAU.

More German Ships (KTB # 160)