[ Page 7 ] Given the number of Armed Merchant Raiders that Germany put out into the Oceans, and their usual thoroughness in their planning, it is rather surprising that a comrnon polcy had not been formulated and published as to how the disposal of prisoners would be handled.
"Orion" after spending 268 days at sea, was due to refit (to be carried out by her own crew.) It was now decided that as prisoners had been released, they may well have disclosed that Raiders used the formerly secret bases ofAilinglap and Lamutrik, north and north west of the island of nauru.
Thus, Maug, 800 miles to the north, was the site chosen for "Orion" to carry out the much needed maintenance and change of appearance. The tanker "Ermland" had yet to arrive, and when she did finally show up, carrying 183 white prisoners, it was necessary to keep her out of sight so that, in the fbture, these prisoners would not be aware of "Orion's" changed identity.
"Prisoners per se" posed many problems for their captors. It must have been tempting for the Germans, at the time of taking them, and after extracting any useful intelligence, to then just cast prisoners adrift in any available boats and be done with them.
Besides bringing the sustenance of oil fuel, "Ermland" also had on board a welcome addition, a "Nakajima" 90-11 seaplane, much superior to the present "Arado" aircraft. "Ermland" now made her way back to German occupied Europe, arriving at Bordeaus on the 13th. of April.
Eight different ships had now been used to keep "Orion" operational and, by the 2nd. of February 1941, she was ready to sail for the Indian Ocean, in company with "Ole Jacob" the plan being to lay a course that would take her to the east of New Zealand, and then south of Australia.
"Ole Jacob" was sighted by a Sunderland Flying Boat and reported to Port Morisby who in turn called a ship which the Germans thought was the Australian Navy H.M.A.S. "Stuart" an old destroyer.
Not wanting to be located in the Coral Sea, the two ships separated, and when "Orion" sighted a ship, she decided that it would be prudent not to attack it, thereby bringing the Sunderland back hot on her trail.
A long, uneventiul passage took place bringing "Orion" into the Indian Ocean~ about half way between Australia and the east coast of Africa. All remained quiet, once again she luelled and set out for the area of Madagascar.
The "Arado" was flown off early in the morning of the 18th. of May. It was almost due to return to the ship when it reported a heavy British Cruiser but 45 miles away. "Orion" altered course to place distance between herself and the enemy warship. The British used their 8 by 8 inch gun County Class Cruisers to hunt down Armed German Merchant Raiders. They had a long range, if needed, they could steam at high speeds in the vicinity of 32 knots, and would be more than a match for any Merchant Ship type Raider.
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