German Navy

Schiff 53, Doggerbank

http://uboat.net/allies/merchants/2707.html

Former British Speybank. Captured by the raider Atlantis (Kpt.z.S. Bernhard Rogge) and brought back to occupied France. Taken over by the Kriegsmarine and converted to the auxiliary minelayer Doggerbank (Schiff 53) (KptLt Paul Schneidewind, the original price officer from Atlantis). In January 1942 the ship left France, laid mines off South Africa in March/April 1942 and then proceeded to Japan. Sunk in error by U-43 (Hans-Joachim Schwantke) while on route to France on 3 March. Spanish motor tanker Campoamor found a boat on 29 March with a single survivor, Fritz Kürt. At the time of the sinking Doggerbank had on-board many members of the German supply tanker Uckermark and the raider Thor which had been destroyed in an accident in Yokohama, Japan on 30 Nov, 1942.