Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Kriegsmarine — Auxiliary cruiser

German auxiliary cruiser Michel

Displacement
10,900 long tons (11,075 t)
Length
132 m (433.1 ft)
Beam
16.8 m (55.1 ft)
Speed
16 knots (29.6 km/h, 18.4 mph)
Complement
395
Main gun
150 mm (5.9 in)

Service

  1. Kriegsmarine as Bielsko? — 1939118 days of the war
  2. Kriegsmarine as Michel7 September 1941 — 17 October 1943770 days of the war
German auxiliary cruiser Michel Particulars
Name
German auxiliary cruiser Michel
Builder
Danziger Werft, Danzig
Launched
April 1939
Commissioned
7 September 1941
Fate
Sunk on 17 October 1943 east of Yokohama (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
10,900 long tons (11,075 t)
Length
132 m (433.1 ft)
Beam
16.8 m (55.1 ft)
Draught
7.4 m (24.3 ft)
Speed
16 knots (29.6 km/h, 18.4 mph)
Range
34,000 nmi (62,968 km)
Complement
395
Main gun
150 mm (5.9 in)

German auxiliary cruiser Michel was a auxiliary cruiser, operated by the Kriegsmarine. She was built by Danziger Werft, Danzig. Launched in April 1939, she entered service on 7 September 1941.

She displaced 10,900 long tons. She measured 132 m (433 ft) long with a beam of 16.8 m (55 ft). Her designed speed was 16 knots, and she carried a complement of 395.

Her main battery was six 150 mm (5.9 in) guns. She carried two aircraft.

She served with the Kriegsmarine as Bielsko until 1939. She then passed to the Kriegsmarine, serving as Michel from 7 September 1941. She was in commission for 888 days of the Second World War.

She was sunk on 17 October 1943, at 22°05′S 172°46′W. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 MAN 8 cyl. diesel, one shaft, 6650 shp
Armament
  • 6 × 15 cm SK L/45 guns
  • 1 × 10.5 cm SK L/45 guns
  • 2 × twin 3.7 cm SK C/30 guns
  • 4 × twin 2 cm FlaK 30 guns
  • 6 × 53.3 cm torpedo tubes (2 twins overwater, 2 mounted singles underwater)
  • 1 x torpedo boat LS 4 Esau
Aircraft
  • 2 Arado Ar 196 A-2

Sources