Second wave of auxiliary German raiders

Second wave of auxiliary German raiders

[Diagram by types of ship][Diagram by Task Groups]

Start: Tuesday December 3, 1940

Ending: Saturday October 16, 1943

Considering the huge success of the first wave of raiders, the German sent another wave. They were less successfull againt a warned enemy. But above all the losses were much higher: of all starters, none came back !
The Thor was destroyed in an accidental explosion in Yokohama harbor (Japan) and the Michel was the victim of a US submarine, more used to sinking Japanese than German ships in those waters. The Kormoran and the Stier were both sunk after they had sunk their killer, gloriously for the Kormoran, which was attacking a much more powerful cruiser, dismally for the Stier, which fell prey to a modest US armed freighter.

Place: N/A

Type: Raider operation

	Allies	Germany
Forces	Raider-killers. Victims of the "Kormoran". Victims of the "Stier". Victims of the "Michel". She made two journeys, the second starting from Japan. Victims of the "Thor" during her second journey.	German raiders: 4 auxiliary cruisers.
Losses	1 light cruiser, 42 merchant ships, 275 314 tons lost.	4 auxiliary cruisers lost.

Webmaster's question(s) and remark(s): Two more ships should have been added to the second wave: the Coronel, which failed to break out and the Komet, which was sunk in the English Channel during her attempt to break out.

Made by LemaireSoft © August 30, 2002