german auxiliary cruiser komet

The Nazi German Kriegsmarine auxilary cruiser Komet (HSK7) was a commerce raider of the Second World War. Launched on 16 January 1937 as the merchant ship Ems, at the start of the Second World War in 1939 she was requisitioned and converted into an auxiliary cruiser and commissioned into the Kriegsmarine on 2 June 1940. With the help of the then neutral Soviet Union who was appeasing Germany to buy time before the anticipated Great Patriotic War, Komet passed north of Russia and entered the Pacific Ocean. Between 7 December and 8 December Komet, with fellow auxiliary cruiser Orion sunk four merchant ships off the island of Nauru which were waiting to load phosphate. On 27 December Komet shelled Nauru which was of importance because of its phosphate resources. Then she sailed the West Pacific, East Pacific, round and up the Atlantic Ocean. She then returned to Cherbourg, thus circumnavigating the Globe. On 14 October 1942 Komet was attacked by British motor torpedo boats near the Cap de la Hague. Komet sank with no survivors after she was hit by a torpedo from MTB 236.

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