Germany used several merchant raiders early in World War I (1914–1918), and again early in World War II (1939–1945). The captain of a German merchant raider, Felix von Luckner, used the sailing ship SMS Seeadler for his voyage (1916–1917). The Germans used a sailing ship at this stage of the war because coal-fired ships had limited access to fuel outside of territories held by the Central Powers due to international regulations concerning refueling of combat ships in neutral countries.[1]
Germany sent out two waves of six surface raiders each during World War II. Most of these vessels were in the 8,000–10,000 long tons (8,100–10,200 t) range. Many of these vessels had originally been refrigerator ships, used to transport fresh food from the tropics. These vessels were faster than regular merchant vessels, which was important for a warship. They were armed with six 15 cm (5.9 inch) naval guns, some smaller guns, torpedoes, reconnaissance seaplanes and some were equipped for minelaying. Several captains demonstrated great creativity in disguising their vessels to masquerade as allied or as neutral merchants.
Italy intended to outfit four refrigerated banana boats as merchant raiders during World War II (Ramb I, Ramb II, Ramb III and Ramb IV). Only Ramb I and Ramb II served as merchant raiders and neither ship sank enemy vessels due to naval presence in the Red Sea. The New Zealand cruiser Leandersank Ramb I off the Maldives (February 1941) while it tried to make for Japan; Ramb II did reach the Far East, where the Japanese prevented her from raiding, ultimately took her over and converted her to an auxiliary transport ship. (Ramb III served as a convoy escort until torpedoed and ended up as a German minelayer, and Ramb IV was converted for the Italian Royal Navy to a hospital ship.)
These commerce raiders carried no armour because their purpose was to attack merchantmen, not to engage warships—it would also be difficult to fit armour to a civilian vessel. Eventually most were sunk or transferred to other duties.
The British deployed Armed Merchant Cruisers (AMC) in World War I and in World War II. Generally adapted from passenger liners, they were larger than the German merchant raiders, were used as convoy escorts and did not disguise themselves. The British AMC Carmania sank the German SMS Cap Trafalgar which had been altered to look more like the Carmania.
During World War I, the British Royal Navy deployed Q-ships to combat German U-boats. Q-ships were warships posing as merchant ships so as to lure U-boats to attack them; their mission of destroying enemy warships differed significantly from the raider objective of disrupting enemy trade.
^Pardoe, Blaine L. (2005). "With the Wind at Their Backs" in Prologue: The Journal of the National Archives. National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration.
External linksedit
Merchant Ships Convert Into War Raiders, Paint And False Structures Provide Disguises September 1941 article details how Merchant Raiders operate in wartime
Marauders of the Sea, German Armed Merchant Raiders During World War 1, Wolf
Marauders of the Sea, German Armed Merchant Raiders During World War 1, Möwe
Hilfskreuzer
January 01, 1970
merchant, raider, armed, commerce, raiding, ships, that, disguise, themselves, combatant, merchant, vessels, carmania, sinking, trafalgar, near, brazilian, islands, trindade, september, 1914, contents, history, also, references, external, linkshistory, editger. Merchant raiders are armed commerce raiding ships that disguise themselves as non combatant merchant vessels RMS Carmania sinking SMS Cap Trafalgar near the Brazilian islands of Trindade 14 September 1914 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editGermany used several merchant raiders early in World War I 1914 1918 and again early in World War II 1939 1945 The captain of a German merchant raider Felix von Luckner used the sailing ship SMS Seeadler for his voyage 1916 1917 The Germans used a sailing ship at this stage of the war because coal fired ships had limited access to fuel outside of territories held by the Central Powers due to international regulations concerning refueling of combat ships in neutral countries 1 Germany sent out two waves of six surface raiders each during World War II Most of these vessels were in the 8 000 10 000 long tons 8 100 10 200 t range Many of these vessels had originally been refrigerator ships used to transport fresh food from the tropics These vessels were faster than regular merchant vessels which was important for a warship They were armed with six 15 cm 5 9 inch naval guns some smaller guns torpedoes reconnaissance seaplanes and some were equipped for minelaying Several captains demonstrated great creativity in disguising their vessels to masquerade as allied or as neutral merchants The Kormoran fought the Australian light cruiser Sydney in a mutually destructive battle in November 1941 Italy intended to outfit four refrigerated banana boats as merchant raiders during World War II Ramb I Ramb II Ramb III and Ramb IV Only Ramb I and Ramb II served as merchant raiders and neither ship sank enemy vessels due to naval presence in the Red Sea The New Zealand cruiser Leander sank Ramb I off the Maldives February 1941 while it tried to make for Japan Ramb II did reach the Far East where the Japanese prevented her from raiding ultimately took her over and converted her to an auxiliary transport ship Ramb III served as a convoy escort until torpedoed and ended up as a German minelayer and Ramb IV was converted for the Italian Royal Navy to a hospital ship These commerce raiders carried no armour because their purpose was to attack merchantmen not to engage warships it would also be difficult to fit armour to a civilian vessel Eventually most were sunk or transferred to other duties The British deployed Armed Merchant Cruisers AMC in World War I and in World War II Generally adapted from passenger liners they were larger than the German merchant raiders were used as convoy escorts and did not disguise themselves The British AMC Carmania sank the German SMS Cap Trafalgar which had been altered to look more like the Carmania During World War I the British Royal Navy deployed Q ships to combat German U boats Q ships were warships posing as merchant ships so as to lure U boats to attack them their mission of destroying enemy warships differed significantly from the raider objective of disrupting enemy trade See also editArmed merchantmen Auxiliary cruiser Atlantis Auxiliary cruiser Mowe Auxiliary cruiser Wolf II List of Japanese auxiliary cruiser commerce raiders Prize law admiralty law concerning material captured Q shipReferences edit Pardoe Blaine L 2005 With the Wind at Their Backs in Prologue The Journal of the National Archives National Archives and Records Service General Services Administration External links editMerchant Ships Convert Into War Raiders Paint And False Structures Provide Disguises September 1941 article details how Merchant Raiders operate in wartime Marauders of the Sea German Armed Merchant Raiders During World War 1 Wolf Marauders of the Sea German Armed Merchant Raiders During World War 1 Mowe Hilfskreuzer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merchant raider amp oldid 1184649527, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
