Auxiliary Cruiser Pinguin (Ship 33 - HSK 5)

Part 1

6 to 21 June 1940

Translation by Jerry Mason

 

			K  r  i  e  g  s  t  a  g  e  b  u  c  h
			of
			Ship No. 33
			================================
			Kommandant:  Kapitän zur See Krüder.
			Beginning:        6. 2. 1940
			Concluding:    21. 6. 1940
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	- 1 -
		06.02.40	B r e m e n
		12.45	Free Harbor 2	Commissioning.
		06. - 09.02.40	B r e m e n	Took over outfitting, coal and fresh water.
			Free Harbor 2
		10. - 14.02.40	Bremen	Carried out remaining work by the Deutsche Ships- and Machinenbau Corporation "W e s e r" (Deschimag) Werk Bremen.
			Weserwerft Deschimag.  Ship cruise on the Weser endangered by heavy ice conditions
		15.02.40	On the Weser	After a favorable change in the ice conditions began sea trails down the Weser.  Made fast to the Columbus Pier in Bremerhaven to take over fuel oil.  Continued sea trials down the Weser to the Hohe Weg Lighthouse.
		14.32	Light SE and S Wind
		to	Light ice conditions
		16.02.40
		16.40	[calibration fire to determine muzzle velocity]	Shot in the cannons.
				Back to Bremen to Deschimag
				Kommandant
				Kapt. z. S.

	- 2 -
		27.02.40	B r e m e n	Correction of defects found on sea trials.  As main improvement, the strong exhaust noises that could be heard for several nautical miles were eliminated by installing new, larger mufflers.
		to
		19.03.40
				Loaded ammunition, provisions, fresh water and coal.
				Kommandant
				Kapt. z. S.
		20.03.40		After fuel oil supply at the Columbus Pier in Bremerhaven training cruise on the lower Weser and training of the crew in drills and combat roles as well as seamanship.
		to	W e s e r  M o u t h
		26.03.40
		27.03.40		After the arrival of favorable reports concerning ice conditions in the Baltic the ship was moved to Kiel through the Kaiser Wilhelm Canal.
		to
		28.03.40
				Kommandant
				Kapt. z. S.

	- 3 -
		29.03.40		Test cruises were carried out from Kiel following the listed sequence and, during the lay time in the port, adjustment of the torpedo tubes, compensation of the compass and radio direction finder calibration were carried out, fresh water, provisions and coal were supplied and the tanks for aircraft fuel were filled.
		to
		20.04.40
				Additionally aircraft and aircraft parts were taken on board.  This work, like the loading and delivery of torpedoes, was carried out after the onset of darkness.
		29.03.40	Eckenförder Bay	Runs with bow protection gear and cutter for mines.
		01.04.40
		to	Howachtbucht	Small and large caliber weapons shooting.
		03.04.40
		05.04.40	Kiel Bay	T.E.K. Torpedo shooting.
		09.04.40
		to
		11.04.40	Lübecker Bay	Torpedo shooting.
		11.04.40	Lübecker Bay	Anti-aircraft weapons shooting.

	- 4 -
		12.04.40	Lübecker Bay	Practiced launch and recovery the embarked aircraft.
		12.04.40	Cruise through the Danzig Bay and back	Engines - measured mile.
		to
		19.04.40	Danzig Bay, Neukrug	Mile cruise.
				During these cruises further training of the crew in boat drills and combat exercises.  Repeated launch and recovery of the embarked aircraft and trial fitting of the disguise mechanisms.
				Kommandant
				Kapt. z. S.
		20.04.40	K i e l	After completion of the training and test cruises, ship is ready for operations.
		21.04.40
		to	Eastern Baltic	No particular events.
		25.05.40
		26.05.40		Together transit with Ship 10 behind escort from Gjedser to Kiel.
		25.05.40
		to	K i e l	Outfitting, supply of provisions, fuel and water filled.  Took on board outfitting for U-boat supply.
		09.06.40
		10.06.40		Transit to Gotenhafen (up to Gjedser behind escort).
		to
		11.06.40

	- 5 -
		16.06.40	G o t e n h a f e n	Mines loaded during dark night hours.
		to
		14.06.40		On board are:
				300 EMC mines       25 G7a Torpedoes ) to give to U-boats.   80 TBM mines )
		15.06.40
		01.00	G o t e n h a f e n	Put to sea.
		15.06.40	Eastern Baltic	The ship was painted unnoticed here and prepared to depart as a German Transport under the Reich Service Flag.
		to	Süd-Mittelbank
		16.06.40		Paint and camouflage of the ship:
				1.)  Outer hull black
				2.)  On deck hatches, ventilators, winches etc. dark gray
				3.)  Superstructure light gray
				4.)  Smokestack unchanged in length
				5.)  Masts yellow-brown, without crows nest
				6.)  Pole masts put up including cargo booms
				7.)  I. and VI. cannons completely disguised painted light gray
				8.)  Boats set out
				9.)  Draft marks fitted
				10.)  German flag on the roof of the signal deck.
		17.06.40		Transit to the meeting point with the escort at Gjedser, set up by Gruppe Ost.
				Kommandant
				Kapt. z. S.

	- 6 -
		18.06.40	North of the Gjedser Barrier	NAUTILUS reports as escort for 33 to Point Rot 5.
		04.00		From there another escort will follow.
				NAUTILUS hands over outbound orders of Gruppe West for 33.
		11.00	Keldsnor	At Point Rot 5 Sperrbrecher IV takes over escort of 33 through the Great Belt on ordered courses.
		18.30	Røsnæs	in 7192 the torpedo boats "JAGUAR" and "FALKE" join to escort and take up protection on both sides.
				1 He 60 takes over aircraft escort at the Seelands Rev Barrier until 23.00 hours.
		20.30	Seelandsrev
		to
		23.00
		24.00	Anholt	Escort ended in accordance with outbound orders.  Speerbrecher IV released, Went on at 15 knots under the protection of the two torpedo boats.
		19.06. 40	Hanstholm	1 Do 18 takes over aircraft escort at Hanstholm.
		12.00		2 fighters protect.
		24.00	Skudesnes	At Skudesnes entered the archipelago.  "M 17" and "M 18" report as escort and brought a Norwegian Pilot.
		20.06.40	The Flottillenchef on "M 17", Korv.Kapt, Knuth, does not know anything about the mine situation in the archipelago, so he receives the mine situation from me, which was given to me by Group West.
			Commenced the archipelago cruise northwards following instructions from the pilot, who proved to be well informed about the mine situation at Haugesund and Bleyvik.
			The two M-Boote, as well as "JAGUAR" and "FALKE" who want to go to Bergen, hang on.
			The passage through Karmsund, past Haugesund up to Bleyvik was sometimes disrupted by fog.
			At Bleyvik went very close under land inside the mies reported there.

	- 7 -
		continued
		20.06.40
		08.00	Bergen	The Norwegian Pilot was relieved by 2 Pilot Officers.
			Although I believe that the Norwegian pilot did not get any insight into the true character of the ship (only a few people in civilian clothes on deck I would have preferred to see these Pilot Officers on board at the beginning of the archipelago voyage in Skudesnes.
		15.20		At Orageskjär [Olaskjaer] "M 17" and "M 18" proceed ahead of me with ORG [sweeping gear] up to the entrance of the Sörgulenfjord. [Sørgulen]
		16.30	Sörgulenfjord	Anchored.
				Radio Message: To Group West.  Admiral Westküste.  Admiral Nordküste.
				20 June 16.30 hours, Arrived Eldorado.
				Ship 33.
				Sent by "M 17"
				M-Boote took over patrol of the Fjord.
			Ship was disguised as the Russian merchant ship "PETSCHURA", home port Odessa.
				1.)  Russian nationality markings
				2.)  Name plates and name affixed
				3.)  Smokestack and masts lowered, smokestack insignia
				4.)  Forward bulwark lengthened
				5.)  Superstructure white
				6.)  Bridge and signal deck brown
				7.)  Russian merchant flag on the signal deck roof.
			With good preparation of camouflage and the willingness of the crew to complete the work It could be looked over on 21 June.
			In order not to lose any time, regardless of the weather conditions, I decide to report putting to sea on 22 June at 01.00 hours.
			Several farmsteads, properties and work sites will probably be passed when putting to sea at night when it is bright, but still during sleep time.

	- 8 -
		continued
		20.06.40		Radio Message:   by "M 17":
				To Gruppe West, Admiral Westküste,  Admiral Nordküste.
				Intend to depart 22 June 01.00 hours.
				Ship 33.
		21.06.40
		11.30		Radio Message:  To Ship 33
				For the time being do not put to sea.
				West.
		17.40		Radio Message:  To Ship 33
				If weather conditions are favorable, put to sea 22 June early as intended.  Advance via square AF 8153, 5366 center right edge, then course 320°.
				Group West.
		22.06.40
		01.00	Sörgulenfjord	Put to sea to advance on ordered route.