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The :"Kota Nopan" being faster had already reached Gironde. "Komet" was ordered on to Hamburg, and was attacked on the way by Coastal Command Bombers, a bomb hit the ship, but failed to explode. On the last day of November, she finally reached the safety of Hamburg, the Raider had travelled 87,000 miles, more than 3 times round the globe, however, with a lot of effort, and little to show for it, 6.5 ships sunk, to total 42,950 tons.

Eyssen did not get another Command at sea, he filled a number of shore appointments, to retire from the Navy in April, 1945. "Komet" did attempt a second cruise.

The last voyage of "Komet."

It was a year later before "Komet" salled again, on the 7/8 th. of October, 1942, she left Flushing pretending to be a "Sperrbrecher." She was given a mine sweeping escort, 4 of whom ran into mines off Dunkirk, it had been only 4 hours earlier that this area was swept for mines by German sweepers, the British obviously topping up this field in the interim.

"komet" stopped at Dunkirk, to await for the mine sweepers to again clear the area, on the 12th. she was at Boulogne on the way to Le Havre, and then whilst being escorted to Cherbourg ran into British Naval forces off Cap de la Hague, at 0205 (2.05 AM ) on the 13th, within 12 minutes, it was all over, after 2 heavy explosions on board, "Komet" sank.

The British had been aware that an important ship was trying to break out into the Channel, and set up 2 groups, made up of 9 Hunt Class Destroyers to sit in wait. The group of 5 Hunts, caught "Komet," set her on fire, as well as 2 of her escorts, thus disposing of yet another German Armed Merchant Raider.

Michel. (Ship 28)

On the night of the 13th. of March, 1942, "Michel" started out from Flushing - with an escort of 9 Minesweepers and 5 Torpedo Boats. It was immediately evident that the British had been busy laying their mines in the German swept channel, mines were blown up by the attendant sweepers. Suddeniy there was a 4 minute action with British Motor Torpedo Boats, one was set alight. Early next morning off Le Touquet, star shell lit up British M.T.B's and 4 Destroyers at just under 2 miles, although both sets of forces closed, no effective action took place.

British M~T.B's and Motor Gun Boats, plus 4 Destroyers were all strewn across "Michel's" path, the destroyers went into action, and "Windsor" and "Fernie" suffered slight damage, but 8 crew from 'Michel" died. She was able to reach Le Havre, and then Gironde. Finally she made it out of European waters on the 20th. of March, and set out for the Azores.

We have already met Ruckteschell her Captain, when he Commanded "Widder"- he had taken half of her crew with him to this new Command.

'Michel" had been built as the 8,000 ton Polish "Biolskoi" at Copenhagen, and been captured when German forces invaded Denmark. She had yet to be launched, and was reconstructed for her role as a Raider. Her armament was also different, 4 by 5.9 inch, 3 by 4.1 inch guns, light weapons, and torpedo tubes.

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