[ Page 52 ] This ship was amongst the first 20 of 2,750 Liberty Ships that were produced in the USA for use during WW2. She had been launched by Kaiser in California, on the 14th. of April, 1942, and delivered, ready to commence her service on the 11th. of May, the next month. "Stephen Hopkins," was on the return journey of her Maiden voyage, coming from New Zealand and Australia.
The American's single 4 inch guns crew, had succeeded in sinking the last but one Raider, this incredible fight by "Stephen Hopkins" a total contrast to many very easy surrenders made by Merchant ships when coming face to face with a German Raider.
Ensign Kenneth M. Willett of the US Naval Reserve, was awarded the Navy Cross, posthumously, and later, a Destroyer Escort, was named in his honour. Both Captain Paul Buck, and Cadet Midshipman Edwin 3. O'Hara were posthumously awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal. Finally, Buck and his Chief Mate Moczkowski had Liberty ships launched, carrying their names.
The last words came from Petersen, a German:- "We could not but feel that we had gone down at the hands of a gallant foe... that Liberty Ship had ended a very successful raiding voyage. We could have sunk many more ships~" but he added: "She may have sunk us, but she saved most of our lives. We would not have lasted much longer out there those days, and there would not always have been a "Tannenfels," around to pick us up."
Togo ( Ship 14)
After 'Komet," was sunk, one more effort was made by Germany to break out a Raider. Ernst Thienemann, was the Captain, who had always been given the task of fitting Out all those:-" Marauders of the Sea."
In January of 1943, he was finally given a sea command, Captain of this last Raider. "Togo," or Ship 14, of 5,600 tons, a former Deutche Africa Line ship, capable of 17 knots, Donitz was about to take over command of the Navy from Raeder, who threw this last die, but was none too confident of its success.
"Togo," set out from the Baltic to Christiansand Norway, to complete her working up programme, to clear the shallow swept channel through the coastal minefields, a high tide was necessary. She set a Northerly course, to make it look as if she was taking a conventional route via the Denmark Strait into the Atlantic.
With the onset of nightfall, she turned 180 degrees to head South, but quickly ran into a strong Storm in Heligoland Bight, and shelter was sought at Sylt, then, on the 7th of February, with a Minesweeping escort, they tried once more. One sweeper struck a mine, and, with difficulty made it back to port, "Togo" battled on, her Captain worried by the very shallow water under her keel, twice they grounded before Dunkirk could be reached.
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