In Service: 9 October 1940 to 20 November 1941
Ordered:
Builder: F.
Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel
Construction No:
Laid down: 1938
Launched: 15 September 1938
Commissioned: 9 October 1940
Type: Auxiliary cruiser
Class: Hilfskreuzer (Raider), converted freighter
Displacement: 19,900 tons
Length: 164 m
Beam: 20.2 m
Draft: 8.5 m
Propulsion: 2 × shaft diesel electric propulsion
producing up to 16,000 hp
Propellers: 1
Speed: 19 knots
Range: 84,500 nautical miles at 10 knots, 74,000 nautical
miles at 13 knots, 50,000 nautical miles at 17 knots.
Crew: 400 men and officers
Armament: 6 × 15 cm, 2 × 3.7 cm, 5 ×
20 mm
2 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes, 390 mines
Armour
Aircraft: 2 ×
Arado
Ar 196 seaplanes
Electronics:
Operators: Kriegsmarine
Variants:
Other: Auxiliary
cruisers
Articles:
The German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran (HSK-8) was a Kriegsmarine
merchant raider of World War II. Recognised by the Kriegsmarine
as Schiff 41, to the Allied navies she was identified as Raider
G. The Kormoran sank ten merchant ships, adding up to a total
of 56,965 tons, as well as the one sent to France. Kormoran
is reknown for the sinking of the Australian light cruiser
HMAS Sydney with all hands in November 1941, in a battle off
Western Australia, in which Kormoran was also damaged beyond
repair.
9 October 1940
The Kormoran is commissioned.
6 January 1941
The Kormoran sinks the Greek freighter Antonis (3,730 t)
18 January 1941
The Kormoran sinks the British tanker British Union (7,000
t)
29 January 1941
The Kormoran sinks the British freighter Africa Star (11,900
t)
29 January 1941
The Kormoran sinks the British freighter Eurylochus (5,725
t)
22 March 1941
The Kormoran sinks the British tanker Agnita (3,552 t)
25 March 1941
The Kormoran captured the British freighter Canadolite (11,300
t)
9 April 1941
The Kormoran sinks the British freighter Craftsman (8,020
t)
12 April 1941
The Kormoran sinks the Greek freighter Nicolaos D. L. (5,485
t)
26 June 1941
The Kormoran sinks the Yugoslavian freighter Velebit (4,155
t)
26 June 1941
The Kormoran sinks the British freighter Mareeba (3,470 t)
23 September 1941
The Kormoran sinks the Greek freighter Stamatios G. Embirikos
(3,940 t)
19
November 1941
The Kormoran sinks the Australian Light Cruiser HMAS Sydney
(7,100 t) after engaging in battle the HMAS Sydney is lost
with all hands. The Kormoran had taken 4 direct hits causing
serious damage to her engine room and destroying her fire
fighting equipment. With 20 crew lost and the fire in the
engine room out of control the order to abandoned ship was
given.
20 November 1941
The Kormoran was abandoned and blown up.
Theodor
Detmers
Takes command on 9 October 1940
Ends command on 20 November 1941
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
