German auxiliary cruiser Michel

History
Germany
NameBielsko
OperatorGdynia-America-Line
BuilderDanziger Werft, Danzig
LaunchedApril 1939
FateRequisitioned by Kriegsmarine, 1939
Nazi Germany
NameMichel
NamesakeDeutscher Michel
OperatorKriegsmarine
Commissioned7 September 1941
Renamed
  • Bonn (1939)
  • Michel (1941)
Reclassified
Nickname(s)
  • HSK-9
  • Schiff-28
  • Raider H
FateSunk on 17 October 1943 by U.S submarine USS Tarpon east of Yokohama
General characteristics
Tonnage4,740 GRT
Displacement10,900 tons
Length132 m (433 ft)
Beam16.8 m (55 ft)
Draught7.4 m (24 ft)
Propulsion2 MAN 8-cyl. Diesel, one shaft, 6,650 shp (4.889 MW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range34,000 nautical miles (63,000 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement395 (incl. 18 officers), 5 prize-officers
Armament
Aircraft carried2 Arado Ar 196 A-2

Michel (HSK-9) was an auxiliary cruiser of Nazi Germany's Kriegsmarine that operated as a merchant raider during World War II. Built by Danziger Werft in Danzig 1938/39 as the freighter Bielsko for the Polish Gdynia-America-Line (GAL), she was requisitioned by the Kriegsmarine at the outbreak of World War II and converted into the hospital ship Bonn. In the summer of 1941, she was converted into the auxiliary cruiser Michel, and was commissioned on 7 September 1941. Known as Schiff 28, her Royal Navy designation was Raider H. She was the last operative German raider of World War II.