MS Rangitane (1929)

[1] On her final voyage, which had been delayed by labour disputes, she carried 14,000 tons of cargo, including foodstuffs and silver bullion, valued at over £2 million at 1940 prices.She was intercepted early on the morning of 27 November 300 miles east of New Zealand by the German surface raiders Komet and Orion and their support ship Kulmerland.Following standard Admiralty instructions, however, Captain Upton ordered "QQQ" ('suspicious vessel') to be broadcast, which prompted signals jamming and shelling by the Germans.Despite the surrender, shelling continued and the furious Upton ordered full speed and return fire from the ship's guns, but this was prevented by destruction of telephones.[5] Elizabeth Plumb, a 59-year-old stewardess, ship's cook William Francis and deck mechanic John Walker were awarded British Empire Medals for their selflessness in rescuing and caring for survivors.The Short Empire class flying boat Aotearoa, civil registration ZK-AMA, was the first Allied aircraft on the scene at about 2:30 pm, but found only an oil slick and debris.
Released prisoners on Emirau
United KingdomNew Zealand Shipping CompanyJohn Brown & Companypassenger linersister shipsRangitataRangitikiAll-Red Routegross register tonsSulzerdiesel enginesdefensive armamentDistinguished Service CrossScapa FlowAuckland harbourBritainPanama CanalNew ZealandKulmerlandAdmiraltycruiserDoris Anne BeestonBritish Empire MedalsShort Empireflying boatEmirauNew GuineaBordeauxprisoner-of-warWorld War IINew Zealand Electronic Text CentreVictoria University of WellingtonShipwrecksEmpire BisonLaurenticPatroclusBeaverfordHMS Jervis BayComandante Faà di BrunoCambridgePonceletHMS SwordfishCity of RayvilleFridtjof NansenBougainvilleAnna C. MinchAutomedonDuilioConte di CavourLittorioNovadocWilliam B. DavockTrebarthaHinrich FreeseHMAS GoorangaiHMT AmethystPatriadisasterHMS Port NapierSt. ElwynQuartoBremseSan DemetrioEmpire DoradoMaasdamHMS JavelinOctober 1940December 1940