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Ship 16: The Story of a German Surface Raider During World War I

Bruce Snyder

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Ship 16: The Story of a German Surface Raider

by George Swimmer

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Language	:	English
File size	:	5548 KB
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Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	284 pages
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Ship 16 was a German auxiliary cruiser that operated during World War I. The ship was originally a merchant vessel, but it was converted into a warship in 1916. Ship 16 was armed with six 15 cm guns, two 8.8 cm guns, and four torpedo tubes. The ship was also equipped with a seaplane.

Ship 16 was commanded by Count Felix von Luckner, a German naval officer who was known for his daring and skill. Under Luckner's command, Ship 16 sank or captured dozens of Allied ships. The ship's most famous victory was the sinking of the British armed merchant cruiser HMS Glasgow in 1917.

Ship 16's success was due in part to its ability to disguise itself as a neutral ship. The ship's crew would often paint over the ship's name and markings and fly false flags. Ship 16 would also use captured ships as decoys to lure Allied ships into traps.

In 1918, Ship 16 was scuttled by its crew after it was damaged by a British warship. The ship's crew was taken prisoner, but Luckner managed to escape and return to Germany.

Operation Sea Eagle

In 1917, Ship 16 was involved in a daring operation known as Operation Sea Eagle. The goal of the operation was to attack Allied shipping in the Pacific Ocean. Ship 16 was disguised as a Norwegian merchant ship and sailed from Kiel, Germany, in December 1917.

Ship 16 crossed the Atlantic Ocean and entered the Pacific Ocean in March 1918. The ship then sailed to the west coast of South America, where it attacked Allied shipping. Ship 16 sank or captured several Allied ships, including the American merchant ship SS Charlemagne.

In August 1918, Ship 16 was intercepted by the British warship HMS Glasgow. The two ships engaged in a fierce battle, and Ship 16 was eventually damaged and scuttled by its crew.

The Legacy of Ship 16

Ship 16 was one of the most successful German surface raiders of World War I. The ship's crew sank or captured dozens of Allied ships, and its commander, Count Felix von Luckner, became a legend. Ship 16's story is a testament to the daring and skill of the German navy during World War I.