Auxiliary Ermland

Ermland

Country	Germany
Ship Class	Dithmarschen-class Auxiliary
Builder	F. Schichau Danzig
Ordered	18 Feb 1937
Laid Down	17 Dec 1937
Commissioned	2 Sep 1940
Displacement	22,850 tons standard
Length	587 feet
Beam	72 feet
Draft	33 feet
Machinery	Four MAN 9cyl diesel engines, two Wagner geared turbines, two shafts
Power Output	24,000 shaft horsepower
Speed	21 knots
Range	12,500nm at 15 knots
Crew	208
Armament	3x15cm/L48 C36 guns, 2x3.7cm anti-aircraft guns, 4x2cm anti-aircraft guns, 8 machine guns

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseCommissioned in Sep 1940, Ermland was one of the Dithmarschen-class auxiliary ships that provided fueling, repairing, and medical services for ocean-going warships of the German Navy. Early in the European War, she supported battleships Scharhorst and Gneisenau. In 1943, she was spotted and attacked by Allied aircraft off Nantes, France, suffering fatal damage as she was broken into two. She was towed closer to shore and was sunk as a blockship at Nantes in Aug 1944.

ww2dbaseSource: german-navy.de

Last Major Revision: Feb 2022

Auxiliary Ermland Interactive Map

Photographs

Ermland Operational Timeline

18 Feb 1937	The order for the construction of Ermland was issued.
17 Dec 1937	The keel of Ermland was laid down by F. Schichau in Danzig.
2 Sep 1940	Ermland was commissioned into service.
25 Oct 1940	Ermland was ordered to set sail on a supply mission for battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisneau.
28 Oct 1940	Ermland broke through the Denmark Strait into the North Atlantic Ocean, but since battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisneau could not do the same, Ermland was ordered to sail to Brest, France.
25 Jan 1941	Ermland was ordered to set sail on a supporting mission for battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisneau, as a part of Operation Berlin.
23 Mar 1941	Ermland officially completed its supporting mission for battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisneau as a part of Operation Berlin, as the two battlecruisers had arrived in Brest, France on the previous day.
27 May 1941	Ermland departed La Pallice, La Rochelle, France to support damaged battleship Bismarck, but the battleship's sinking led to Ermland's return before the end of the day.
8 Aug 1942	German 3rd Torpedo Boat Flotilla (T10, T13, and T14) began escorting oiler Ermland in an attempt to break out into the Atlantic Ocean.
11 Aug 1942	German oiler Ermland successfully broke out into the Atlantic Ocean via the Bay of Biscay, arriving at Royan, France; she was escorted by torpedo boats T10, T13, and T14 of German 3rd Torpedo Boat Flotilla.
15 Aug 1942	Uckermarck and Ermland departed Royan, France, escorted by torpedo boats T4 and T10, in an attempt to pass through the English Channel for coast of the Bay of Biscay.
16 Aug 1942	Uckermarck and Ermland arrived at La Pallice, La Rochelle, France; they were escorted by torpedo boats T4 and T10.
10 Sep 1942	Ermland struck a mine and suffered some damage.
23 Sep 1943	Ermland was discovered and bombed by Allied aircraft, breaking in two, off Nantes, France.
11 Aug 1944	The wreck of Ermland was towed to Nantes, France and sunk as a block ship.

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Ermland