Kormoran 1941
| Laid down as transport ship Steiermark. |
Contruction Data
| Laid down: |
Germaniawerft Kiel, 1938 |
| Launched: |
15.09.1938 |
| Commissioned: |
09.10.1940 as auxiliary cruiser |
| Fate: |
sunk on 20.11.1941 |
| Costs: |
|
Commanders
| FK Detmers
: |
Jun 1940 - Nov 1941 |
Technical Data
| Size: |
19900 t |
| Length: |
164 m |
| Beam: |
20,2 m |
| Draft: |
8,5 m |
| Armament: |
6 x 15 cm; 1x 7,5 cm; 2 x 3,7 cm; 5 x 2 cm;
6 x torpedo tubes, 2 x Arado Ar 196 float planes
1 x Small Fast Attack boat LS3;
360 Mines
|
| Performance: |
16000 shp, 18 kn |
History
The Kormoran
was the biggest auxiliary cruiser used by the Kriegsmarine in World War II. Besides this, it was the only one which
was able to sink a major warship in a direct battle. The ship left Germany on 03.12.1940 and entered the North Atlantic through the Denmark Street. Until April of the following year, the ship operated in the North Atlantic, after that it sailed into the Indian Ocean. On 19.11.1941, the auxiliary cruiser was detected by the Australian CL Sydney
. Unaware that the Kormoran
was armed, the Sydney close-up to the German ship which opened fire form very close range. The Sydney
was badly damaged and on fire when it was last seen by the German ship and sunk after the battle. The Kormoran
was so heavily damaged in this battle that it had to be abandoned and blown up. |
|
