The Raider Kormoran, by Theodor Detmers

Title: The Raider Kormoran
Author: Theodor Detmers
Length: 208 pages

Captain Detmers gives us the true story of his war patrol on the German raider Kormoran in WWII. His breakout into the Atlantic, six months before the Bismarck would take the same route, followed by the tedium and terror of hunting and being hunted in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, is rivetingly told by Detmers.
The tension is highest when he has his fateful encounter with the Australian cruiser Sydney. His description would make a great movie. Then comes the aftermath of his victory over the cruiser and having to abandon his mortally wounded ship, followed by the time in lifeboats, and his internment in Australia. I don't hesitate to recommend this book.

 

Thank you for the review. I have always wanted to read a good account of this strange matchup sop I will look for it. I always assumed if the Sydney had been more cautious or perhaps alert is a better term it would have been a one sided battle presuming the Sydney stayed out of range until planning an attack.

Gaines

 

I find it interesting that the only two gun engagements I'm aware of where the both sides managed to sink their opponent both involved German raiders. The high firepower to protection ratio of the raiders may be the primary cause.

 

Please refresh my memory. What is the other one you're thinking of?

 

Stier vs Stephen Hopkins

 

Well now, that's a good one. But I think the Kormoran was a better one since she took down a cruiser.

 

Stephen Hopkins took down a raider and damaged her consort. Pretty good for a merchant ship.

*** edit for ***
Both were rather unequal contests. Kormoran only succeeded due to surprise and being able to get those torpedo hits in. Stephen Hopkins was also caught by surprise at close range and substantially out gunned.

See:
Gallant Liberty Ship SS Stephen Hopkins

SS Stephen Hopkins – MARAD

SS Stephen Hopkins Duel to the Death

The Last Raider - July '97 World War II Feature | HistoryNet
and starting on page 75 of
The Forgotten Heroes