Michel

The incomplete Polnish transport Bielsko was taken over by the Germans after the invasion of Poland. It was first completed as hospital ship Bonn, but it was then decided to modify it to an auxiliary cruiser. The complete armament was taken over from the decommissioned auxiliary cruiser Widder. The first operation started in March 1942 and after a forced breakthrough the British Channel, the ship operated in the Atlantic and Indian Ocean. In this operation, the Michel was able to sink 14 ships. After almost one year, the ship arrived in Japan and after two months of refits and repairs, it started its second operation. This time, the ship was not very successful and on 17.10.1943 it was torpedoed and sunk by the US submarine Tarpon east of Yokohama.