An item reported that the German 9,531 tons passenger-cargo ship ss Watussi (1) which was lying at Mozambique, Portuguese East Africa since the outbreak of the Second World War, departed on 22 November 1939 and was seen by an plane patrolling 60 miles south of Cape Point on the morning of 2 December 1939. Her own crew set her on fire and scuttled her. The entire crew of 155 men and 42 passengers including 16 women and children escaped with the boats, picked up by the British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (2) and brought to Simonstown, South Africa.
Notes
1. Built by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany in 1928. Owner Deutsche Ost-Afrika Linie (DOAL). The British battle cruiser HMS Renown was a battle cruiser, sunk the Watussi by gunfire, assisted by the Sussex with picking up the people.
2. Pennant 96. Part of County-class London-sub-class preceded by Hawkins-class succeeded by York-class. Laid down by Hawthorn Leslie, Hebburn-on-Tyne, England on 1 February 1927, launched on 22 February 1928, commissioned on 19 March 1929, decommissioned on 3 January 1950 and breaking up at Dalmuir, Scotland begun on 23 February 1950.
Source
The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-1 Weekly Résumé (No. 14) of the naval, military and air situation from 12 noon 30 November to 12 noon 7 December 1939.
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