Transport Number -. Name ship Elsa Essberger. Company John T. Essberger, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure (further prescribed) 1 October 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Bomb damage of November 1942 repaired.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number -. Name ship Dresden. Company Norddeutscher Lloyd (N.D.L.), Bremen, Germany. Date departure (further prescribed) 1 September 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number -. Name ship Kurmerland. Company Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure (further prescribed) 15 September 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Hit by a bomb and sunk on 23 September 1943, salvaged and under repair.(1)
Note
1. Launched by Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 109 on 1 August 1928, completed on 16 March 1929, scuttled as block ship in the Loire by retreating German forces in 1945 salvaged in 1945 and broken up in 1950.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number Name ship Tannenfels. Company D.D.G. Hansa, Bremen, Germany. Date departure (further prescribed) 1 August 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number F 1. Name ship Fusijama. Company Lloyd Triestino/Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure (further prescribed) 15 August 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number D. Name ship Himalaya. Company Lloyd Triestino/Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure (further prescribed) 5 July 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number K. Name ship Aisterufer. Company Robert Sloman jr., Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 23 March 1943. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number N. Name ship Portland. Company Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 23 January 1943? Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Deadweight 7,729 ton. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number M. Name ship Corteliazzo. Company Lloyd Triestino/Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 23 November 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Lost on 1 December 1942. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound (1) acting as First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff informed the Committee that the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean (2) supplied sailing dates of the convoys which were to leave the Mediterranean destined for the Far East. He feared for a possible delay of the departure of the first convoy if an adequate escort was lacking. The armoured brigade was part of the convoy and the War Cabinet accepted the risks if the convoy left without escort as far as Ceylon [nowadays Sri Lanka]. However the Australian formations which were to transported with the later convoys were to have priority in the way of escorts. Pound was to inform the involved Commanders-in-Chief.
Notes
1. Alfred Dudley Pickman Rogers Pound (29 August 1877 Ventnor, Isle of Wight-21 October 1943 London, England), served between 1891-1943 in the Royal Navy. First Sea Lord 12 June 1939-15 October 1943. Between October 1940-March 1942 he was chairman of the Chiefs of Staff.
2. That must be admiral Sir Andrew Browne Cummingham 7 January 1883 Rathmines, Ireland-12 June 1963 London, England) who was in April 1942 replaced by admiral Sir Henry D. Pridham-Wippell. Cummingham served in the Royal Navy between 1897-1946 with as end rank Admiral of the Fleet. As Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean he hoisted his flag on 6 June 1939 on board of the battleship HMS Warspite after arriving the day before at Alexandria, Egypt. At that moment was his main issue to keep the convoys destined for Egypt and Malta safe.
Source
The National Archives. CAB 79-17-20. War Cabinet. Chiefs of Staff Committee. Minutes of meeting held on Monday 19 January 1942 10:30 a.m.
The Chiefs of Staff Committee considered the telegram No. D. 3/2 dated 18 January sent by general Wavell (1) in which he asked for landing craft suitable for combined operations in the Far East. The Prime Minister asked in the meantime to get a report later the same day. The Committee instructed the Joint Planning Staff to consult the adviser on Combined Operations to advice as soon as possible what to do with the telegram.
Note
1. Field marshal Archibald Percival Wavell (5 May 1883 Colchester, England-24 May 1950 Westminster, London, England). Appointed to Commander-in-Chief of ABDACOM (=American-British-Dutch-Australian Command) on 1 January 1942. The command was formed on 15 January.
Source
The National Archives. CAB 79-17-20. War Cabinet. Chiefs of Staff Committee. Minutes of meeting held on Monday 19 January 1942 10:30 a.m.
Transport Number R. Name ship Elsa Essberger. Company John T. Essberger, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 6 November 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Returned at Bordeaux with bomb damage. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number E. Name ship Anneliese Essberger. Company John T. Essberger, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 5 November 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Date lost 21 November 1942. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number T. Name ship Karin. Company Deutsche Kriegsmarine/F.L. Laeisz, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 13 October 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Date arrival December 1942. Destination Far East. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number S. Name ship Irene. Company Deutsche Kriegsmarine/F.L. Laeisz, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 8 October 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Date arrival 20 December 1942. Destination Far East. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Transport Number A. Name ship Rio Grande. Company Hamburg-Südamerikanische Dampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft, Hamburg, Germany (H.S.D.G.). Date departure 30 September 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.(1)
Note
1. Launched by Howaldtswerke, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 777 on 17 January 1939, commissionned on 29 April 1939 and sunk by American light cuiser USS Omaha and destroyer USS Jouett on the Atlantic on 3 January 1944.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number L. Name ship Pietro Orseoio. Company Italy/Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure 30 September 1942.Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
As Weserland. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com
Transport Number P. Name ship Weserland (ex-Ermland). Company Hamburg-Amerika Linie, Hamburg, Germany. Date departure voyage cancelled. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Part of 2. Action “Pfastermundkoch”.(1)
Note
1. Call sign DIRJ. Launched by Blohm&Voss, Hamburg, Germany with yard number 414 on 18 February 1922, commissioned on 92 August 1922, blockade runner since 1940, rename Weserland in 191, left Yokohama, Japan on 26 October 1943 and sunk by the American destroyer USS Somers on 2 January 1944 between Ascension and the Brazilian coast. Gross tonnage 6,528 ton, under deck 6,121 ton, net tonnage 3,802 ton, deadweight 9,475 ton and as dimensions 449.1 x 58.4 x 25.6 x 28 (loaded) feet. Diesel propulsion, 2 screws, oil bunker capacity 1,420 ton, range 20,000 nautical miles and speed 11 (normal cruising)-12.5 (maximum) knots.
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number V. Name ship Dresden. Company Norddeutscher Lloyd (N.D.L.), Bremen, Germany.
Date departure 11 April 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Part of 1. Action “Transport.”
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
Transport Number IV. Name ship Tannenfels. Company D.D.G. Hansa, Bremen, Germany. Date departure 11 April 1942. Harbour which was left Bordeaux, France. Destination Far East. Part of 1. Action “Transport.”
Source
Bundesarchiv RM 7/1419 Ausarbeitung "Wirtschaftsfahrten im Zweiten Weltkrieg" (Zusammenstellung der Fahrten von Blockadebrechern nach Ostasien, 1941-1945).
