Auxiliary Cruisers

Fast passenger liners were the prewar choice for conversion, but their distinctive silhouettes and heavy fuel consumption made them vulnerable. Captured Allied ships provided a second, improvised group of raiders at overseas bases.

Slow, inconspicuous freighters proved the most successful solution. Their concealed weapons, endurance and ability to change appearance allowed Möwe, Wolf and their contemporaries to attack commerce across the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.