In Service: 7 September 1941 to 17 October 1943
Ordered:
Builder: Danziger
Werft, Danzig
Construction No:
Laid down: 1939
Launched: 1939
Commissioned: 7 September 1941
Type: Auxiliary cruiser
Class: Hilfskreuzer (Raider), converted freighter
Displacement: 10,900 tons
Length: 132 m
Beam: 16.8 m
Draft: 7.4 m
Propulsion: 1 × shaft, 2 MAN 8 cylinder diesel engine
Power: 6,650 hp
Propellers: 1
Speed: 16 knots
Range: 34,000 nautical miles at 10 knots
Crew: 395 men and officers
Armament: 6 × 15 cm, 1 × 105 mm 2 × 3.7 cm,
4 × 20 mm, 6 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes 1 × torpedoboat LS 4
Esua
Armour
Aircraft: 2 ×
Arado
Ar 196 seaplanes
Variants:
Other: Auxiliary
cruisers
Articles:
Downloads:
Film Clips: Kriegsmarine
Film Footage
Michel (HSK-9) was an auxiliary cruiser recognised by the
Kriegsmarine as Schiff 28, her Royal Navy identification was
Raider H that functioned as a merchant raider throughout World
War II. The auxiliary cruiser Michel sank 15 allied ships,
totalling 99,000 tons. After refit, Michel set sail from Yokohama
on 21 May 1943, this time under the command of Günther Gumprich,
who had previously commanded Thor on her secondary voyage.
Cruising the west coast of Australia, and traversing the Pacific
Ocean to the shores of South America, Michel fought and sank
3 ships in a 5 month period, before returning to Japan. On
her return to Japan, just 80 km away from port, Michel was
noticed by US submarine Tarpon, who attacked in one of the
few instances of American submarines assaulting a German vessel
during WWII, attacking her with three torpedoes. Michel sank,
with 290 of her crew, her captain included. The 116 survivors
were able to get to Japan after a three day trip in open boats.
7 September 1941
Michel is commissioned.
19 April 1942
Michel sinks the British tanker Patella (7,468 t)
22 April 1942
Michel sinks the American tanker Connecticut (8,684 t)
20 May 1942
Michel sinks the Norwegian freighter Kattegat (4,245 t)
7 June 1942
Michel sinks the American freighter George Clymer (7,176 t)
11 June 1942
Michel sinks the British freighter Lylepark (5,186 t)
15 July 1942
Michel sinks the British passenger liner Gloucester Castle
(8,006 t)
16 July 1942
Michel sinks the American tanker William F Humphrey (7,893
t)
17 July 1942
Michel sinks the Norwegian tanker Aramis (7,984 t)
14 August 1942
Michel sinks the British freighter Arabistan (5,874 t)
10 September 1942
Michel sinks the British freighter American Leader (7,241
t)
11 September 1942
Michel sinks the American freighter Empire Dawn (6,778 t)
29 November 1942
Michel sinks the American freighter Sawokla (5,882 t)
8 December 1942
Michel sinks the Greek freighter Eugenie Livanos (4,816 t)
2 January 1943
Michel sinks the British freighter Empire March (7,040 t)
15 June 1943
Michel sinks the Norwegian freighter Hoegh Silverdawn (7,715
t)
17 June 1943
Michel sinks the Norwegian tanker Ferncastle (9,940 t)
11 September 1943
Michel sinks the Norwegian freighter India (9,977 t)
17 October 1943 Michelwas sunk by US submarine
Tarpon hitting her with three torpedoes. Michel sank, with
290 of her crew, including her captain. The survivors, 116
in total
Hellmuth
von Ruckteschell
Takes command on 7 September 1941
Ends command on 17 October 1943
German Warships, 1815-1945: Major Surface Vessels.
ISBN-10: 0851775330
German Warships, 1815-1945: U-boats and Mine Warfare Vessels.
ISBN-10: 155750301X
German warships of the Second World War.
ISBN-10: 0668040378
For a complete list of
sources
