Profile drawing of Thor
HSK 4Raider designation
122 mOverall length
9200 tDisplacement
18 knMaximum speed

Design and service

The story of Thor

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.

At a glance

Technical profile

Dimensions, armament and performance.

Dimensions

Size
9200 t
Length
122 m
Beam
16,7 m
Draft
7,1 m

Armament

15 cm guns
6
6 cm guns
1
3,7 cm guns
2
2 cm guns
4
Torpedo tubes
4
Aircraft
1 × Arado Ar 196 float planes

Performance

Machinery and speed
6500 shp, 18 kn

The archive

Models

Ship models in 1/1250 scale.

Atlantis
Atlantis

Construction record

Thor

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