[ Page 40 ] Gumprich took 'Michel" off to sea again, and traversed the Indian Ocean to the Western Australian coastline, here on the 14th. of June, they met up with a Norwegian freighter, "Hoegh Silverdawn,"- 7,715 tons, no warning was given, guns just opening fire, two torpedoes sent on their way, then, as star shells lit up this vessel, fire was maintained as the Norwegians tried to escape from their burning ship.
The crew believed that Gumprich was, quite deliberately, trying to destroy their lifeboats, thus but one boat survived this onslought, and that too was damaged by machine gun fire. The Ship's Captain managed to sail and navigate this boat with 13 on board, safely to shore, arriving at Calcutta, one month, and, one day later. They had been sunk some 130 miles South West of that port.
Had the Germans suddenly changed their policy about taking prisoners captive? Of course, taking them on board posed huge problems, of space, their general welfare, having to provide food often in short supply for themselves, etc.
On the 14th. of June, 'Michel' sank a second Norwegian, "Temeastle," using 4 torpedoes fired from the Torpedo Boats. These had proved their worth, and made an impact. Again, it seemed that attempts were made to destroy survivors, but one boat load was picked up after 11 days at sea, and 1,300 miles West of Fremantle.
Gumprich waited in vain for further orders, and started off for Japan once more, by the night of 17/18 of October, his ship was but 60 miles from Yokohama, it was flat calm, a bright moon illuminated the sea, the United States Submarine "Tarpon," was running on the surface, they sighted the German Raider, taking her to be a Japanese Naval Auxiliary.
Night firing of a six inch gun.
'Michel," was tracked for an hour, with "Tarpon" trying to work herself into a successful firing position, at 0156 (1.56 AM ) 4 torpedoes hissed Out of their tubes, two were seen to hit. 'Michel" stopped, listed to port, then started to move again, pointing herself straight at the Submarine - Commander Wogan, "Tarpon's" Captain, immediately took his boat deep, passing under the Raider.
When surfacing again, he found 'Michel" stopped, but firing her guns wildly in several different directions. Three more torpedoes were squirted off, 2 missed, but the 3rd. blew off the stern of 'Michel," still she floated, and it was at 0230 (2.30AM) before another torpedo caused an explosion. When the smoke and flames died away, 'Michel" had disappeared, finally sunk, she had indeed proven stubborn, not wanting to go!
It was some months later before the Allies learned from a captured blockade runner "Bergenland" that the final German Surface Raider had, at last, been sunk.
Pinguin. (Ship 23)
Formerly the 7,766 ton "Kandelfels," "')inguin" was rated at a speed of 18 knots, and was fitted with the usual Raider armament.( it had been removed from the old battleship "Schiesien.) In summary, she was second only to "Atlantis" as the most successftil, captured or sank more ships than any other Raider, her tally 28 ships, to total 136,551 tons, all achieved in less than a year, from the 22nd. of June, 1940 to the 8th. of May, 1941.
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