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Six weeks of numbing, deadly cruising followed, nothing in sight, no ships, no smoke on the horizon. By the 8th. of May, "Komet" was off the town of Onslow, Western Australia, and the following day learned from an enemy radio broadcast, that a Raider had been sunk, Byssen knew it could only be '~inguin" and he requested SKL place "Adjutant" under his orders, as she was now on her own, they agreed.

The 2 ships met on the 21st. of May once again the ship's Navigators had prevailed, and found each other at a single speck in the vast stretches of the Indian Ocean 'Komet," to conserve oil, took "Adjutant in tow, and fitted her out with a 60mm. and 2 by 2Omm guns, a range finder, magnetic mines, caretully set to detonate in the Southern hemisphere, navigational equipment, plus a smoke laying capability.

Passing South of both Australia and New Zealand, the two ships entered the Pacific Ocean, it was planned for mines to be sown by "Adjutant" off Port Nicholson and Port Lyttelton, and 'Komet" went of to the North East towards Balbo, there to meet "Anneliese." Enroute, Byssen received a signal from "Adjutant" saying her engines were now useless, and she was going to scuttle herself, 'Komet" needed to go to her rescue.

By the 24th. of June "Adjutant" had cruised within sight of New Zealand, and was abheam of Wellington, she started to lay her mines when a searchlight pin pointed them, in her haste, the mines were laid too early, instead of in 10 fathoms ( 60 feet ) they were let go in 15 fathoms ( 90 feet) of water. Radio traffic alerted the little ship that both Aircraft and Ships were seeking her out, the engines now gave up, and Karsten, in command, set sails to keep them underway. He managed to hold out, and in 3 days time, rescue was at hand as 'Komet" came in sight, all the crew were taken on board, and the ship scuttled.

By the 5th. of July, 'Komet" had been at sea for a year, although her results had not been spectacular, Eyssen was informed that 5 Iron Crosses First Class were his to dispose of as he wished, all other crew members were to receive the Iron Cross Second Class.

The "Anneliese Essberger" was met at Balbo on the 14th. of July, she wore the disguise of a Japanese vessel, flielling was to take place, but all her oil hoses had been given to "Orion" and it was only with great difficulty they took on board 1,400 tons of oil via fire hoses.

Towards the end of July, having sent off his War Diary and the ship's mail with the Tanker, "Komet" set out for the area around the Galapagos Islands, by mid August, in this area, Pyssen, at last, sighted an enemy ship, for 227 days he had scoured the oceans, but they had remained totally empty. This turned out to be the 5,000 ton "Australind." Two warning shots did not stop her, and "Komet" fired off 7 salvoes, hitting her bridge, killing the Captain and 2 Engineering Officers. Other survivors were taken aboard, and explosive charges used to dispose of this ship.

The next day a Dutch ship was sighted, chased, and lost, as "Komet's" 12 knots was not fast enough to run down this Dutchman, who merely sailed on, quite oblivious to the threat from the Raider.

That same night, an intercepted signal from the British refrigerator ship "Lochmonar," 9,500 tons indicated she was due at Panama.


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