An item reported that the British cruisers HMS Sussex (1) and Shropshire (2) aptured on 9 December the 2,989 tons German steamship Adolf Leonhardt (3) off the Portuguese West African coast. Despite efforts to prevent her from being scuttled she was to be sunk by gunfire. The HMS Shropshire saved 6 officers and 91 men. The Dutch newspaper Arnhemsche courant dated 16 December wrote that officially at Cape Town was announced that her captain opened the hatches to scuttle her. She was registered at Hamburg, Germany. The Het volk dated 18 December wrote that twice the British gunfire was halted to save a dog and an ape, finally picke dup by a boat.
Notes
1. Part of County-class London sub-class heavy cruisers preceded by Hawkins-clas succeeded by York-class. Laid down by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company Limited, Hebburn-on-Tyne, England on 1 February 1927, launched on 22 February 1928, completed on 19 March 1929, decommissioned on 3 January 1950 and breaking up at Arnott Young, Dalmuir, Scotland started on 23 February 1950.
2. Part of County-class London sub-class heavy cruisers preceded by Hawkins-clas succeeded by York-class. Ordered on 17 March 1926. Laid down by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir, Scotland on 24 February 1927, launched on 5 July 1928, completed on 12 September 1929, commissioned on 24 September 1929, decommissioned on 23 December 1942, refitted at Chatham, handed over to Australia, commissioned on 20 April 1943, decommissioned on 10 November 1949 and sold to be broken up on 16 July 1954 which started at Dalmuir, Scotland on 20 January 1955/
3. Ex-Theben. Built by Nordseewerke, Emden, Germany in 1921. Owners Leonhardt&Blumberg, Hamburg, Germany, call sign DHAG. Gross tonnage 2,989 tons, under deck 2,678 tons, net tonnage 1,757 tons and as dimensions 330.0 x 47.9 x 20.9 feet.
Source
The National Archives, Kew Gardens, England CAB-66-4-13 Weekly Résumé (No. 15) of the naval, military and air situation from 0700 7 December to 0700 14 December 1939.
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