Commerce warfare

Auxiliary Cruisers

Disguised merchant ships carried guns, torpedoes, mines and reconnaissance aircraft into distant oceans to attack Allied trade far beyond Europe.

9 merchant raiders

War under disguise

Raiders on the trade routes

The Kriegsmarine converted nine merchant vessels into heavily armed auxiliary cruisers. Concealed weapons and frequently changing identities allowed them to approach unsuspecting ships during long independent cruises across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.

Profile of Orion

HSK 1 · Merchant raider

Orion

1930–1945
The former freighter Kurmark became Germany’s first wartime merchant raider, operating for 510 days before returning safely to occupied France.Explore ship →
Profile of Atlantis

HSK 2 · Merchant raider

Atlantis

1937–1941
Atlantis conducted the longest German raider cruise of the war before HMS Devonshire sank her in the South Atlantic in November 1941.Explore ship →
Profile of Widder

HSK 3 · Merchant raider

Widder

1929–1955
Widder raided Atlantic shipping during a six-month cruise, survived the war and later returned to merchant service under several names.Explore ship →
Profile of Thor

HSK 4 · Merchant raider

Thor

1938–1942
Thor completed two raiding cruises and fought three British armed merchant cruisers before a supply-ship explosion destroyed her at Yokohama.Explore ship →
Profile of Pinguin

HSK 5 · Merchant raider

Pinguin

1936–1941
Pinguin captured or sank extensive Allied shipping before HMS Cornwall found and sank her in the Indian Ocean in May 1941.Explore ship →
Profile of Stier

HSK 6 · Merchant raider

Stier

1939–1942
Stier operated in the Atlantic until a fierce engagement with the Liberty ship Stephen Hopkins forced her crew to abandon the burning raider.Explore ship →
Profile of Komet

HSK 7 · Merchant raider

Komet

1937–1942
Komet entered the Pacific through the Arctic route, completed a long first cruise and was sunk during her second breakout into the Atlantic.Explore ship →
Profile of Kormoran

HSK 8 · Merchant raider

Kormoran

1938–1941
Kormoran destroyed the Australian cruiser Sydney in a close-range battle, but damage from the encounter also forced the raider’s abandonment.Explore ship →
Profile of Michel

HSK 9 · Merchant raider

Michel

1939–1943
Michel completed one Atlantic cruise and operated from Japan before the American submarine Tarpon torpedoed and sank her in October 1943.Explore ship →