Thor 1940
| Laid down as transport ship Santa Cruz. |
Contruction Data
| Laid down: |
Deutsche Werft Hamburg 1938 |
| Launched: |
16.03.1938 |
| Commissioned: |
15.03.1940 (as auxiliary cruiser) |
| Fate: |
destroyed after explosion on 30.11.1942 |
| Costs: |
|
Technical Data
| Size: |
9200 t |
| Length: |
122 m |
| Beam: |
16,7 m |
| Draft: |
7,1 m |
| Armament: |
6 x 15 cm; 1x 6 cm; 2 x 3,7 cm; 4x 2 cm;
4 x torpedo tubes, 1 x Arado Ar 196 float planes
|
| Performance: |
6500 shp, 18 kn |
History
The Thor
was one of the few German auxiliary cruisers that did two operations. The first one lasted 329 days and 57532 miles, it
ended in Hamburg on 30.04.1941 In this operation, the Thor
engaged three British auxiliary cruisers, destroying one of them
(Voltaire
) , the other two (Carnarvon Castle
and Alcantara
) were badly damaged. Half a year later, on 30.11.1914 the second
operation stated. It too until 14.01.1942 until the Thor
finally broke through the British lines into the Atlantic. In difference to the first operation, the operation area was the Indian Ocean, on its way there, it was planned to capture allied whale hunters in the Antarctic.
After 321 days the second operation ended in Yokohama, Japan on 09.10.1942. On 30.11.1942 the supply ship Uckermark
exploded, the resulting fires spread on the Thor
as well and destroyed the ship. |
|
