HSK ORION

HSK Orion: The German Merchant Raider in WWII Article

The HSK Orion (Schiff 36), known to the Allies as Raider A, was a German auxiliary cruiser that operated as a commerce raider during World War II. The Orion was a converted cargo ship originally named Kurmark and was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine in late 1939 for service as a commerce raider. Armed with concealed weapons and disguised as a civilian merchant vessel, the Orion sailed on a 512-day cruise from 1940 to 1941, one of the longest and most successful of any German raider, and sank or captured 16 ships, totalling over 98,000 gross register tons (GRT) during its deployment in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The Orion often worked in conjunction with other German raiders, most notably the Komet, to conduct coordinated attacks on Allied shipping. This article will explore the design and unique features of the HSK Orion, as well as its role in World War II, focusing on its operational history and major actions.

Design and Conversion

Origins as a Merchant Vessel

The Orion was built as the cargo ship Kurmark in 1930 by Blohm+Voss in Hamburg for the Hamburg America Line (HAPAG). It was designed for commercial service, with a gross register tonnage (GRT) of 7,021, a length of 148.3 metres (486 ft 1 in), a beam of 18.3 metres (60 ft 0 in), and a draught of 8.2 metres (26 ft 11 in). The ship was powered by two steam turbines with a single reduction gear driving two propellers, which gave the ship a maximum speed of 14 knots (26 km/h; 16 mph). The mechanical systems of the ship, particularly the steam turbines, were known to be mechanically unreliable, which was a common issue with many steam-powered merchant vessels of the time. The ship had a crew of about 350. The Kurmark was originally equipped for cargo transport, with large holds for carrying goods over long distances.

Conversion to a Merchant Raider

In late 1939, the Kriegsmarine requisitioned the Kurmark and converted her into the auxiliary cruiser Orion at the Deutsche Werft in Hamburg. The conversion included the installation of a powerful array of hidden weapons, while the ship’s civilian appearance was maintained as much as possible. The primary armament of the Orion consisted of six 15-centimetre (5.9 in) guns, with three on either broadside, and two more at the stern for stern chases. The guns, all sourced from obsolete warships, had been removed from their mounts, bored out, and re-installed on the Orion. Secondary weapons included one 7.5-centimetre (3.0 in) gun, one 3.7-centimetre (1.5 in) anti-tank gun, and six 2-centimetre (0.79 in) anti-aircraft guns, all hidden behind false bulkheads or panels. The ship was also equipped with six torpedo tubes, four mounted above the waterline and two below, as well as 228 sea mines that the Orion would use to lay minefields as part of its commerce-raiding mission. The ship was given an Arado Ar 196 seaplane for reconnaissance, which could be lowered into the sea by davits and retrieved using an electric winch.

The Orion was commissioned on 9 December 1939. The ship’s steam turbines, while sufficient for a merchant service, would not be able to stand the strain of combat duty for long, and she would frequently require maintenance to keep her systems operational during her cruise. The crew of about 350 was trained to operate the ship’s complex systems and maintain its disguises as a neutral or Allied merchantman, such as the Norwegian Tomsk or the Japanese Maebashi Maru. The ship’s camouflage would be altered during the cruise to help it blend in with maritime traffic. The ship was then armed as an auxiliary cruiser and was assigned the command of Korvettenkapitän Kurt Weyher.

What Made the Orion Special

Strategic Role in Commerce Raiding

The Orion was the first of a series of nine German merchant raiders, ordered to disrupt Allied supply lines as part of Germany’s strategy of countering Allied naval superiority through asymmetric means. Operating under the Kriegsmarine, these ships targeted Allied merchant shipping, forcing the Allies to divert warships and aircraft to protect their supply lines and convoys. The Orion, sailing for over 500 days in various oceans and seas, managed to sink or capture 16 ships, totalling more than 98,000 GRT. Unlike submarines, which could strike stealthily but had limited endurance, or conventional warships, which engaged in direct combat, the Orion used a combination of disguise, surprise, and firepower to attack vulnerable cargo ships and cutters, contributing to Germany’s efforts in the Battle of the Atlantic and other naval campaigns.

Disguise and Deception

The Orion was a disguised auxiliary cruiser, specifically designed to masquerade as an ordinary cargo ship or neutral merchantman, which was its defining feature. By presenting itself as a non-threatening commercial vessel, the Orion could approach its targets without arousing suspicion. It achieved this through a combination of physical disguises, such as altering its appearance and using neutral or Allied flags, and operational deception, such as delayed or fake responses to signals from potential targets. Its hidden weapons, only revealed at the last moment, gave it a powerful edge in surprise attacks, allowing it to disable or destroy its targets before they could effectively defend themselves or call for help. A notable example of this tactic was its coordinated operations with the Komet, another German raider, where the ships would often target the same convoys and shares intelligence to ensure both could attack with the element of surprise intact. The Orion’s Arado Ar 196 seaplane extended its operational range, allowing it to spot potential targets and Allied warships from a distance and choose its engagements carefully. This aerial reconnaissance was a crucial part of its deception strategy, as it could also mislead enemy ships about its intentions. While the seaplane was not always available due to weather conditions or mechanical issues, it was an effective tool in the Orion’s deceptive tactics.

Endurance and Collaborative Operations

The Orion’s steam turbines, while less powerful than those of modern warships, were efficient and reliable enough to allow it to operate independently for long periods, covering over 112,000 miles during its cruise. The ship was designed for long-range operations with a large storage capacity for supplies and fuel, allowing it to refuel from captured supply ships and extend its operations without returning to German ports. This endurance enabled the Orion to operate in the open oceans, far from friendly bases, and to lay mines, capture prizes, and seek out enemy shipping with relative impunity. The Orion was not only able to operate independently, but it could also coordinate with other raiders to conduct joint operations. The ship often worked in conjunction with the German Komet, a sister ship, sharing information and targeting the same convoys to increase their overall impact on Allied shipping. This collaboration between the Orion and Komet maximized their operational effectiveness and allowed them to cover more ocean area than they could have individually.

Key Roles in Battles and Operations

Atlantic Operations (April–October 1940)

The Orion departed Kiel as the world’s first commerce raider of the Second World War under Kurt Weyher on April 6, 1940, after extensive trials and a stopover in Bergen, Norway on April 9 to re-fuel, headed north through Arctic waters and passed through the Denmark Strait into the Atlantic Ocean on April 13 under neutral cover. It headed to the Australian coast to lay mines and on April 24, 1940, the Orion sank her first target, the British freighter Haxby (5,207 tons) in the Atlantic. She was sunk with gunfire after the crew was captured and sent a wireless distress signal that enabled the Orion to out-sail British ships sent to her rescue, including HMS Glorious.

On June 13, the Orion sank the Norwegian steamer Tropic Sea (8,750 tons) that was bound for Britain with a wheat and vehicle cargo. The steamer was captured and sailed to Bordeaux with a German crew. On August 20, after re-supplying from the tanker Winnetou, the Orion sank the British steamer Turakina (8,706 tons) that was a refrigerated cargo vessel. The Turakina, equipped with one gun, returned the Orion’s fire. This is the first instance of a German raider engaging an armed merchant ship, though Orion’s superior firepower easily overmatched the lone gun.

Pacific Operations with Komet (October 1940–January 1941)

In October 1940, the Orion rendezvoused at Lamutrik, an uninhabited Japanese island in the Caroline group, with the raider Komet and the supply ship Kulmerland. All three ships exchanged disguises, the Orion becoming the Japanese ship Maebashi Maru, the Komet the Manyo Maru and the supply ship the Tokio Maru. Operating in tandem with the other ships, the Orion targeted the route between New Zealand and Panama. On November 25, 1940, Orion and Komet sank the coaster Holmwood (546 tons), and on November 27 they sank the passenger liner Rangitane (16,712 tons) 300 miles east of New Zealand, looting the food supplies. Orion’s seaplane proved instrumental in spotting the Rangitane and letting the other raider know its position for the pincer attack.

In December 1940, the three ships moved on to Nauru Island, a strategically important target that was a hub for the shipment of phosphate. Between December 6 and 8, the Orion and Komet sank five Allied merchant ships: Triona (4,414 tons), Vinni (5,181 tons), Komata (3,900 tons), Triadic (6,378 tons), and Triaster (6,032 tons), totalling about 25,905 tons. Three ships were sunk by the Orion, with over 500 prisoners taken, who would later be landed on Emirau Island. These raids destroyed Nauru’s phosphate exports, crucial to Allied agricultural production, and forced the Allies to step up patrols in the South Pacific. On December 21, the Orion rendezvoused with the supply ship Ermland to transfer its prisoners and take on supplies. The resupply would let the Orion continue on for a longer period than it might otherwise have otherwise.

Indian and Southern Ocean Operations (January–August 1941)

The Orion began operations in the Indian Ocean after parting company with the Komet. On January 31, 1941, it sank the British steamer Chaucer (5,792 tons). It then sailed south, around Cape Horn, into the South Atlantic. The ship was beginning to show the wear of its extended cruise and mechanical problems and the crew was becoming fatigued from the cruise. On April 17, the Orion sank the British freighter Ole Jacob (8,306 tons) and on June 14, it captured the Norwegian tanker Ferncastle (9,940 tons) that it then sent to France as a prize. Orion’s seaplane was critical to its success in locating targets, though its steam turbines, now worn out after many months of hard use, limited the ship’s speed.

In July 1941, Orion laid a series of mines off New Zealand, targeting approaches to both Auckland and Wellington. These proved to be a long-term threat, though their actual short-term effect on shipping was limited. On August 4, it sank the British steamer Tabaristan (6,251 tons) in the Southern Ocean. By this point, the Orion was ready to return to Germany and Weyher decided to head home, despite the threat of Allied patrols in the Atlantic. After re-supplying from the supply ship Anneliese Essberger, Orion passed through the Atlantic, once more evading Allied patrols and arrived in Gironde, France, on August 23, 1941, after 512 days and 112,000 miles at sea. Her cruise had resulted in ten ships sunk and six captured, totalling 98,951 tons.

Second Cruise and Post-Raiding Role (1942–1945)

After a period of repairs in Germany, Orion was considered to be unsuitable for a second cruise because its turbines had become worn out and it was unlikely to make it back from another extended cruise. Instead, it was renamed Hektor and was used as a training ship for U-boat crews in the Baltic Sea from 1942 to 1944. In late 1944, the ship was converted to an auxiliary anti-aircraft ship and later a repair ship. In May 1945, it was scuttled by its crew in the River Weser to try to block the river to the Allies, but it was raised in 1946. It was then returned to commercial service as the Kurmark and was scrapped in Valencia, Spain in 1955.

Aftermath and Legacy

The Orion’s 512-day cruise was among the longest and most successful of any German raider in World War II. Operating across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, it sank or captured 16 ships totalling over 98,000 tons, primarily through deceptive practices and surprise attacks. Her collaborative operations with the Komet in the Pacific, most notably the attacks on Nauru, forced the Allies to divert resources to strengthen their defenses in the South Pacific, which strained their ability to respond to Axis actions in other areas of the world. The mine-laying activities of the Orion in the Indian Ocean also posed a long-term threat to Allied shipping, even if the mines had less impact in the short term. By capturing prize ships and taking on additional supplies, Orion was able to increase its endurance at sea and cover greater oceanic areas during its cruise. The limitations in her engines, while causing frequent maintenance delays, also forced the Orion to operate in a way that reduced its own mechanical stresses and further enhanced its range. Orion’s long cruise and operations across multiple oceans and seas highlight the capabilities and versatility of German merchant raiders in World War II, as well as the level of resources devoted to commerce-raiding by the Kriegsmarine.

final thoughts

The HSK Orion was a key component of Germany’s commerce-raiding strategy during World War II, combining speed, firepower, and stealth to hunt and sink Allied shipping. Its design as a converted merchant ship with a powerful array of concealed weapons and a reconnaissance seaplane enabled it to strike at Allied targets with devastating effect, while its 512-day cruise demonstrated its endurance and the strategic value of such raiders. The Orion’s successful operations across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, resulting in 16 ships sunk or captured, highlighted the threat posed by Germany’s merchant raiders to Allied shipping and the impact they could have on the war at sea.