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Running out of coal, used to operate the fresh water manufacturing equipment Gerlach was ordered to meet in early October, the supply ship "Blake." He was also to meet "Michel" again7 plus the blockade runner, "Tannenfels," moving from Japan to a French port. Both ships were met- and off went "Michel," to oil from "Ackermark," "Tannenfels" gave "Stier" the dubious gift of a Japanese seaplane,. it did not have a radio, or bomb racks, and needed 3 to 4 weeks to prepare it for flying.

On the 27th. of September,. the ship was stopped, to allow scraping and painting of the ship's side. The wind started to rise, most men over the side at work, were recovered, but, visibility had dropped to only 2 1/4 miles~ At 0852,. ( 8.52AM) a ship was suddenly sighted on the starboard side. It seemed a large enemy steamer, it was ordered to stop, and the armament quickly closed up,. "Stier" opened fire,. the enemy soon responded.

At first, she was thought to be an Auxiliary warship, but, in fact was the American Liberty ship "Stephen Hopkins,." with a lonely 4 inch gun. The American turned hard to port, and "Stier" hard to starboard to prevent any escape, then "Stier" was hit by two shells,. the first, jammed her helm to starboard, and she started to turn in a circle; the second, passed through the main engine room, cutting off all oil supply to the engines. They stopped. Gerlach wanted to fire off his torpedoes'. but all electrics were out of action

"Stier" was able to maintain a good rate of gunfire, the Liberty ship was set on fire,. and she stopped. A rain squall now hid both ships from each other- when it cleared, further hits were made on "Stephen Hopkins,." both ships were stopped and crippled.The American sank at 1000, (10AM )- Gerlach's ship had been hit 15 times in over just 10 minutes, the engine room was on fire, all fire fighting equipment out of action,. burning oil was spreading around "Stier."

Buckets, tubs'. boats'. all filled with water, were employed in an attempt to quell the fires - still they raged out of control, they edged towards Number 2 Hold, here, 19 torpedoes were stored, the engines were again started, but the rudder was useless. In another 10 minutes,.again the engines stopped.

Gerlach consulted his Officers. All agreed the ship could soon be blown apart. "Abandon ship" was ordered, boats and rafts were lowered, "Tannenfels" came as close as practicable- with cries of:- "Sieg Heil" and with cheers for Hitler and the Fatherland, "Stier" was abandoned. As "Tannenfels" gathered up the survivors, the ship blew up.

Three men died, 33 were wounded, and from "Stephen Hopkins," 15 survived a 33 day boat voyage to the Brazilian coast, but 42 of their shipmates had died in this" fight to the death, sea battle."

Bordeaux was reached on the 8th. of November, with "Tannenfels" seeing "Stier' S" crew home.

This battle was quite unique in sea warfare, the American could only fire a 31 pound shell, whilst "Stier,." with fully trained Naval gun crews had a 400 pound broadside available to hurl at their opponents at every salvo.

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