In Service: 25 November 1939 to 27 September 1942
Ordered:
Builder: F.
Krupp Germaniawerft AG, Kiel
Construction No:
Laid down: 1936
Launched: 7 October 1936
Commissioned: 25 November 1939 9 November 1941
Type: Auxiliary cruiser
Class: Hilfskreuzer (Raider), converted freighter
Displacement: 11,000 tons
Length: 134 m
Beam: 17.3 m
Draft: 7.2 m
Propulsion: 1 × 7 cylinder diesel engine producing
up to 3,750 hp
Propellers: 1
Speed: 14 knots
Range: 50,000 nautical miles at 12 knots
Crew: 324 men and officers
Armament: 6 × 15 cm, 1 × 2 3.7 cm, 2 ×
2 20 mm,
2 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes
Armour
Aircraft: 2 ×
Arado
231 seaplanes
Electronics:
Operators: Kriegsmarine
Variants:
Other: Auxiliary
cruisers
Articles:
The German auxiliary cruiser Stier (HSK 6) was in the Kriegsmarine
throughout World War II. Identified in the Kriegsmarine as
Schiff 23, to the Royal Navy she was called Raider J. On 10
May 1942 she departed Germany for campaigns in the Atlantic.
Moving in stages down the English Channel, following an engagement
with British shore forces on the 13th which saw the destruction
of 2 torpedo boats (German) and one MTB (British), Stier arrived
at Royan in occupied France on the 19th. From there she left
under the command of Horst Gerlach for work in the South Atlantic.
However following a cruise of only 4 � months, in which she
attacked and sank 3 ships, she had a lethal encounter on 27
September 1942 the ship was sunk whilst battling an American
cargo ship the SS Stephen Hopkins, which was also destroyed.
Throughout her operation, which was a period of four and a
half months, the Stier sank 4 ships with 29,409 tons (GRT).
25 November 1939 and 9 November 1941
The auxiliary cruiser Stier is commissioned.
13 May 1942
The torpedo boat Iltis is sunk while escorting auxiliary cruiser
Stier by British MTBs.
4 June 1942
The auxiliary cruiser Stier sinks the British freighter Gemstone
(4,985 t)
6
June 1942
The auxiliary cruiser Stier sinks the Panamanian tanker Stanvac
Calcutta (10,170 t)
9 August 1942
The auxiliary cruiser Stier sinks the British freighter Dalhousie
(7,070 t)
27 September 1942
The auxiliary cruiser Stier sinks the American freighter Stephen
Hopkins (8.500 t)
27 September 1942
The auxiliary cruiser Stier engages the American freighter
Stephen Hopkins and she puts up a valiant fight but is overwhelmed
by Steir's 15 cm guns, The Stephen Hopkins had caused severe
damage to Stier's engines and steering gear and the order
to abandon ship was given. All but 2 of Stier's crew survived;
they were rescued by the supply ship Tannenfels.
Horst
Gerlach
Takes command on 25 November 1939
Ends command on 27 September 1942
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
