MV Esso Hamburg
MV Esso Hamburg was a supply tanker ordered from Deutsche Werft Finkenwerder in 1939 for the Panama Transport Company as MV Esso Colon. Later in 1939 ownership was transferred to the Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum company and she was launched as Esso Hamburg on 9 October 1939.[1] She was subsequently used as an oiler for Bismarck and other German warships.[2]
 MV Esso Hamburg at dock, just after being renamed in December 1939 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
|
| Owner: |
1939 Panama Transport Company 1939-1941 Deutsch-Amerikanische Petroleum Gesellschaft |
| Operator: | Esso |
| Port of registry: |
 |
| Builder: | Deutsche Werft Finkenwerder |
| Yard number: | 225 |
| Way number: | 5613924 |
| Launched: | 9 October 1939 |
| Completed: | 28 December 1939 |
| Acquired: | 1939 |
| Out of service: | 4 June 1941 |
| Fate: | Scuttled 4 June 1941 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Tanker |
| Tonnage: | 9,848 |
| Length: | 155.6 m (510 ft 6 in) |
| Beam: | 20.1 m (65 ft 11 in) |
| Installed power: | 1 x diesel engine |
| Propulsion: | screw |
| Speed: | 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
Crew
The crew of the Esso Hamburg has a complement of 85 men. This was formed from
- 1 Kriegsmarine officer and 10 Merchant Marine officers.
- 7 Kriegsmarine petty officers.
- 48 men of the Kriegsmarine and 21 Merchant Marine.[3]
This was a relatively large complement of men in order to expedite the refuelling of U-Boats and surface ships.[3]
Early history
In March 1940 the new captain, Captain Braunwarth took command of the vessel.[3] In June 1940 she sailed with a cargo of fuel via the Kiel Canal to Bergen. After transferring oil to a submarine close to the Bergen shore, she ripped her hull on a reef[3] After trying to find a berth to obtain repairs, she berthed at Akers' yard in Oslo and spent two months there being repaired.[3] In November 1940 she sailed back to Kiel, then to Rotterdam to get armaments fitted. These consisted of three 75mm French guns and three 20mm German heavy artillery guns. The Esso Hamburg was also fitted with a Direction finding (DF) device.[3] In late December 1940 she sailed for Cherbourg where her gun platforms were strengthened and additional fresh water tanks were added.[3]
Atlantic sailing
Around the 10 January 1941 Esso Hamburg left Cherbourg to sail for the North Atlantic and to take a position south of Cape Farewell in Greenland.[3] Esso Hamburg was part of Operation Berlin that sailed on 22 January 1941, and was one of several ships that included the naval oilers Uckermark, Ermland and the tankers Schlettstadt, Adria and Friedrich Breme.[4] Esso Hamburg sailed north for approximately four weeks before encountering two cruisers. Following standard procedure, the ship tried to flee before the cruisers overhauled the ship and identified themselves as the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau[3] On 14 February 1941, as part of Operation Weserübung, Esso Hamburg shipped about 2,582 m3 (568,000 imp gal) of oil to the capital ship Scharnhorst.[5][3] According to prisoner statements, the ship remained in the area north of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland for over two months and the cold was considered intense as the crew lacked warm clothing.[3] The prisoners stated during this period that American patrol vessels capable of 20 knots were sighted and that Esso Hamburg was fired on, which made Captain Braunwarth think that the ship was being followed.[3] According to Captain Braunwarth, whose interrogation statements had been proven to be false or unreliable, he decided to return to port in St. Nazaire due to the rudder being damaged in a storm.[3] On the 12 April the ship returned to port, completing its first Atlantic voyage.[3]
Supplies
The following supplies were taken on in St. Nazaire.[3]
- 7,400 tons of fuel oil - this was much less that the ship could hold but was sufficient for the ship to maintain the correct speed to complete the mission.
- 1,200 tons of Diesel oil for own consumption.
- 20 torpedoes in their crates.
- 2,000-3,000 tons of fresh water
- 300 tons of special boiler water.
- 2,500 20.5 cm. shells.
- Provisions for 2,000 men.
Last cruise
On 20 May 1941 Esso Hamburg sailed from St. Nazaire with a mission to supply both Bismarck and Prinz Eugen.[3] Esso Hamburg monitored the same frequencies that both ships used, so was able to keep track of their position, using the DF device.[3] On the 24 May 1941 the Oberkommando der Marine ordered the ship to refuel Bismarck. Admiral Günther Lütjens disagreed with the order as the ship was being shadowed by two heavy cruisers.[3] On 25 or 26 May, the captain was ordered to refuel Prinz Eugen on the 27 May.[3] The prisoners statements confirm that the time of the rendezvous was 0545hours.[3] On the 27th, Prinz Eugen was sighted at the location 48°N 33°W. As per standard operating procedure, Esso Hamburg again tried to flee before Prinz Eugen overhauled her and identified herself.[3] According to the prisoners statements, Prinz Eugen appeared undamaged.
Oiling started at 0700hours with around 700 tons transferred and the operation completed at 1130hours after which the Prinz Eugen sailed eastward. [3] The Esso Hamburg remained in the area for 2 further days waiting for orders to refuel other warships, but none came. After the two days passed and having received no orders, the ship sailed south between the 30th and 32nd meridian to what the captain stated was a safer area.[3] On the 29 May 1941, the captain of the Egerland received orders from the OKH to rendezvous with the Esso Hamburg on the 4 June 1941 at 7°N 31°W.[3]
On 4 June 1941 at 1400hours, while on the move to meet tanker Egerland to transfer oil, Esso Hamburg was scuttled by her crew, after she took fire from the heavy cruiser HMS London and the destroyer HMS Brilliant at location 7°35′N 31°25′W. Eighty-seven crew members were captured and transported to HMS London.
References
- "MV Esso Hamburg". WreckSite. The Wrecksite Read. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
- Jak P. Mallmann Showell (1999). German Navy Handbook, 1939-1945. Sutton. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-7509-1556-4.
- C.B. 4051(28) Report of Interrogation of Prisoners of War from German Supply Ships. N.I.D. 2 114/41, ADMIRALTY, S.W.1: NAVAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. September 1941.CS1 maint: location (link)
- Gerard Koop; Klaus-Peter Schmolke (1991). Battleships of the Scharnhorst Class: Warships of the Kriegsmarine. Seaforth Publishing. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-84832-192-2. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- Gerard Koop; Klaus-Peter Schmolke (1991). Battleships of the Scharnhorst Class: Warships of the Kriegsmarine. Seaforth Publishing. p. 110. ISBN 978-1-84832-192-2.