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HMS Alcantara and SMS Greif dueling at close range during the .
Armed merchantman is a term that has come to mean a
equipped with guns, usually for defensive purposes, either by design or after the fact. In the days of sail,
and , many merchantmen would be routinely armed, especially those engaging in long distance and high value trade. The most famous of this type were the
able to defeat regular
in battle (see ).
In more modern times, auxiliary cruisers were used offensively to disrupt trade chiefly during both World War I and World War II, particularly by Germany.
Main article:
East Indiamen of various European countries were heavily armed for their long journeys to the . In particularly dangerous times, such as when the home countries were at war, a
system would be used whereby the ships were escorted by a . However, many East Indiamen also travelled on their own, and therefore were heavily armed in order to defend themselves against
and . They also defended themselves against warships, scoring signal victories at the
and the . The British
purchased several that it converted to .
In 1856, privateering (or seizure of a belligerent country's merchant ships as a private enterprise) lost international sanction under the . From 1861-65 European countries built high speed ships to run the
during the . Some of these were armed and served as
purchased three ships in 1877 of 6,000
(6,100 ) armed with 6-inch (150 mm) guns for use as auxiliary cruisers for a .
responded to the precedent by asking their shipping companies to design fast steamers with provision for mounting guns in time of war.
1890 - German and British shipyards built new civilian ships designed for wartime conversion, and , , , , and the
made similar agreements with their shipyards.
Russia built two more auxiliary cruisers in 1892.
In 1895 the
mobilized the provisional auxiliary cruiser Normannia for a 15-day trial armed with eight 6-inch guns, two 3.5-inch (89 mm) guns, six 37-millimetre (1.46 in) guns, and two torpedo boats.
In both World Wars both
used auxiliary cruisers. Whilst the British used armed passenger liners defensively for protecting their shipping, the German approach was to use them offensively to attack enemy shipping.
near the Brazilian islands of , 14 September 1914.
The Armed Merchant Cruisers (AMC) of the British
were employed for convoy protection against enemy warships. They ultimately proved to have limited value and many (particularly ) were later converted into troopships, a role for which they were more suited. Documentary evidence quoted by the
researched from the early stages of the First World War suggests that the express liners had greater speed than most warships- few warships of the period could exceed 21 knots -which made them suitable as AMC's. The downside proved to be their high fuel consumption, and that using them in a purely AMC role would have burned through the Admiralty reserve supplies of
in less than three months. The ships were vulnerable to enemy fire because they lacked warship armour and they used local control of guns rather than director , which reduced their effective fire power.
One famous AMC of World War I was the British
which, after a heated battle that caused heavy damage on both sides, succeeded in sinking the German auxiliary cruiser
near the Brazilian island of
in 1914. By coincidence, Cap Trafalgar was disguised as Carmania.
In World War II, —the sole escort for
in November 1940— stood off the
, when the German ship attacked the convoy. Though she was sunk, this enabled the convoy to escape. Her master, Acting Captain
was awarded the
(posthumous) for his actions. Another famous action involving an armed merchant cruiser was the November 1939 battle between
and the German
and . Fighting against hopeless odds, the Rawalpindi was quickly sunk.
Main article:
which served the U.S. during World War I and fought the small .
used auxiliary cruisers during the
of 1898. In , too, American auxiliary cruisers fought several engagements with German U-boats.
The German practice was to arm merchantmen with hidden weapons and use them as . An auxiliary cruiser—Hilfskreuzer or Handels-St?r-Kreuzer (HSK)—usually approached her target under a false flag with guns concealed, and sometimes with her appearance altered with fake funnels and masts and often a fake paint job. The victim was thus engaged at point-blank range and had no chance to escape. In World War I, the
initially used fast passenger ships (such as past holders of the
for fastest North Atlantic crossings), but they made obvious and easy targets because of their very familiar silhouettes. The Germans therefore soon moved on to using captured and refitted
vessels, but principally only modified transport ships. These were slower, but less recognizable. In both world wars, these ships were vulnerable to attack, and were withdrawn before the war ended. Many were sunk after being caught by regular warships—an unequal battle since auxiliary cruisers had poor fire control and no armor. There were, however, a few success stories.
was a former passenger liner that sank two freighters in 1914 before being caught by . Her sister ship, , had a legendary journey, sinking or capturing a total of 15 ships in 1914 and 1915, before finally running out of supplies and having to put into port in , where the Americans interned her and eventually converted her into the
troop transport USS Von Steuben. The most famous German commerce raider of World War I probably was , a sailing ship under the command of the legendary Count . However, both
were each much more successful than Seeadler.
In World War II, Nazi Germany's
operated ten very successful auxiliary cruisers which ranged in tonnage from 3,860-9,400; typically these vessels were equipped with:
6 in (15 cm) guns
Smaller armaments (typically hidden away behind specially designed and hinged bulwarks, or beneath fake deckhouses and/or skylights)
To preserve their cover, these ships flew the flags of neutral or occasionally Allied nations. They re-fuelled and provisioned themselves from special supply ships, from Japanese island bases, or simply from
they had taken.
To counter the effectiveness of these disguises, the Allies introduced the
in 1942 to identify individual ships on a one-by-one basis with the
in London.
In one incident, the German
(ex-merchantman Steiermark) managed to surprise and sink the Australian
, which approached too close, though Kormoran herself was also sunk in the engagement. This was the only occasion in history when an armed merchantman manag in most cases, auxiliary cruiser raiders tried to avoid confrontation with warships. It should be noted that Kormoran 's attack upon Sydney was motivated by desperation.[] However, she was not the most successful German raider of World War II (both
scored higher kill tonnages). Another, , was also sunk in a mutually destructive engagement with the American
The only encounters between Allied and Axis auxiliary cruisers in World War II were all with the raider . This small vessel, which captured or sank 22 merchantmen, encountered three British AMCs in her career, defeating HMS Alcantara and
and later sinking HMS Voltaire.
During World War II, German auxiliary cruisers are believed to have either sunk or captured some 800,000 long tons (810,000 t) of Allied shipping.
Compare to the , which was a disguised merchantman for anti-submarine operations.
(from catapult armed merchantman) was a British merchantman fitted with a catapult that could launch, but not recover, a single fighter aircraft.
or MAC was a British or Dutch cargo ship with a flight deck that could carry a small number of aircraft.
CAM and MAC ships remained as civilian ships operated by civilian crews, with
"air parties".
Despite a rise in , it is very unusual for modern merchant ships to be armed, save for maybe a number of
and the use of the ship's
to repel boarders. One exception to this are the ships of , which are used to transport
on behalf of . Transporting enough
material between them to produce 50-60 nuclear weapons, these ships—beginning with the Pacific Pintail and Pacific Teal—became armed in 1999 to avoid the cost of a Royal Navy escort. Travelling together in convoy during these ships' intermittent voyages, they have an onboard escort of armed police from the
and its successors and are equipped with two or three 30 mm (1.18 in) .
In April 2010, it was reported that a Russian company is offering a version of the
missile that can be disguised and launched from a shipping container, in theory enabling any cargo ship to be armed with an anti-ship missile. This type of missile is allegedly capable of disabling or even sinking an aircraft carrier, but "it's not known how many of them would have to hit a carrier to knock it out of action, much less sink it."
During the , forces loyal to Gaddafi armed several merchant vessels and attempted to use them to blockade the port of Misrata.
In October 2011, British Prime Minister , announced that British merchant shipping passing through areas known for , could carry firearms.
Main article:
Since late 19th century various navies have used armed merchant ships in the role of auxiliary cruisers, also called armed merchant cruisers. Significant use of this type of ship was made by Britain and Germany in both World Wars.
Some of the ships used in this role include:
- Spanish-American War (United States)
- Russo-Japanese War (Japan)
- Russo-Japanese War (Russia)
– World War I (Australia)
– World War I (Germany)
– World War I (Great Britain)
– Spanish Civil War (Nationalist Spain)
- World War II (Germany)
- World War II (Germany)
- World War II (Great Britain)
- World War II (Great Britain)
- World War II (Italy)
- World War II (Japan)
Schmalenbach, Paul (1977). German Raiders. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.  .
. . 27 September 1999.
Brown, Paul (20 January 1999). . .
. . 8 July 1999.
Duffy, James P., Hitler's Secret Pirate Fleet, 2001, Praeger, Westport (Connecticut) and London,
The Oxford Companion to World War II (2005)
, The Cruise of the Kronprinz Wilhelm, 1928, published by Doubleday
: Hidden categories:World War II US Navy Armed Guard and World War II US Merchant Marine
World War II U.S. Navy Armed Guardand
World War II U.S. Merchant Marine
In Memory of Tom Bowerman
Merchant Marine seal courtesy of American Merchant Marine at
War, www.usmm.org
Photograph at top of page
Dale E. Carlson
U.S. Navy Armed Guard and U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II - A Little-Known Story
was a service branch of the United States Navy that was responsible for defending U.S. and Allied merchant ships from attack by enemy aircraft, submarines and surface ships during World War II. The men of the Armed Guard served primarily as gunners, signal men and radio operators on cargo ships, tankers, troop ships and other merchant vessels. Disbanded following the end of the war, the Armed Guard is today little known or remembered by the general public, or even within the Navy. But without the courage and sacrifice of the men of the Armed Guard, victory in World War II would have been much more difficult
and taken much longer.
is collectively those non-naval ships that carry cargo or passengers or provide maritime services, and the civilian crewmen and officers who sail those ships. During World War II the ships and men of the United States merchant marine transported across the oceans of the world the vast quantities of war materiel, supplies, equipment, and troops needed to fight and win that war. The men of the U.S. merchant marine were civilian volunteers who nonetheless died proportionally in numbers that rivaled or exceeded any branch of the uniformed military. Like the Armed Guard with whom they sailed, the men of the merchant marine made possible the Allied victory in World War II.
The Armed Guard and the merchant marine were uniquely depend they were literally in the same boat. One cannot tell the story of one without telling the story of the other.
This website pays tribute to the men of the Armed Guard and the merchant marine of World War II who bravely sailed together into harm's way, and in particular honors those who never returned.
is the official organization of Armed Guard veterans. Armed Guard veterans are invited to join the Association and veterans and their families are encouraged to contact the Association for other information and publications about the Armed Guard. The U.S.N. Armed Guard World War II Veterans Association endorses, encourages and contributes to the Armed Guard website but does not own, control, fund or maintain this website.
Be sure to see
on this website.
This website was founded and for many years was maintained by
of Anniston, Alabama. An Armed Guard veteran, his goal was to honor the men of the Armed Guard and the merchant marine by finding, collecting and bringing together their stories on this website. In that effort he succeeded magnificently. Tom Bowerman died in December 2007. The World War II U.S. Navy Armed Guard and World War II Merchant Marine website is dedicated to his memory. This website is now owned and maintained by
of Baltimore, Maryland.
Project Liberty Ship
Contact theMerchant Marine Records and Contact Information
American Merchant Marine
at War Records and Contact Information
www.usmm.org is NOT a government
agency. We do not have your father's records. Read below how to get records
for mariners and ships. We do have an extensive library with ship histories,
information about sinkings, casualties, government documents and much, much,
Marine Service Records including Voyage Discharges from U.S. Coast Guard:
Include Name, Date of Birth,
copy of Death Certificate if deceased, Social Security number, Address,
and Z or Service number.
Commanding Officer
USCG-National Maritime Center (NMC-421)
ATTN: Correspondence Section
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
Service Records of mariner
killed during World War II:
Old Navy/Maritime Reference
Archives I -Textual Services Branch
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington DC 20408
Service Records for U.S.
Maritime Service, Military Sea Transportation Service,
Military Sealift Command:
National Personnel Records
Center-Civilian Records Facility has personnel and medical records of
former Federal civilian employees from approximately 1900 to the present.
Your letter should include:
Full name used during Federal
employment
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Name(s) of Federal employing agency(s)
Approximate dates of Federal employment, especially separation
Please state in your letter
the information you are seeking. Your request must contain the
individual's or authorized representative's signature.
National Personnel Record
111 Winnebago Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63118
Service Records for
Army Transport Service
U.S. Army Human Resources
ATTN: AHRC-PDR-V
1600 Spearhead Division Ave.
Fort Knox, KY 40122
Application
for Merchant Marine Veteran Status DD214
Mariners in “ocean-going
service” during World War II have Veteran Status. They may be entitled
to a gravestone, flag for their coffin, and burial in a National Cemetery.
Check with the Veterans Administration for medical and other benefits.
Mariner or survivor should complete the following steps and mail to the
proper address:
Complete Form DD2168. Supply
as much information as possible. You can download Application DD Form 2168 here. The Coast Guard address on the
back of the form is not valid. Correct address is below.
Include photocopies of discharges,
identification, and other supporting documents.
You will need the mariner’s
signature or a certified death certificate. The Coast Guard will issue
documents for a person listed as an official casualty without a death
certificate.
No fee required if service
was between December 7, 1941 and August 14, 1945.
Include check or money order
for $30 payable to US Treasury if seeking veteran status for the period
from August 15, 1945 through December 31, 1946.
To receive a
More information:
Where to Mail Application:
U.S. Merchant Marine
Veteran Status
(service Dec. 7, 1941 - Aug. 15, 1945)
U.S. Merchant Marine
Veteran Status
(service Aug. 15, 1945 - Dec. 31, 1946)
USCG-National Maritime
Center (NMC-421)
ATTN: WWII
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
USCG WWII Merchant Mariner
P.O. Box 530238
Atlanta, GA
U.S. Army Transport Service
Veteran Status:
U.S. Army Human Resources
ATTN: AHRC-PDR-V
1600 Spearhead Division Ave.
Fort Knox, KY 40122
Application for Records of Medals and Decorations
Written request identifying the mariner and your relationship to:
Deveeda E. Midgette
Maritime Administration
Mar-630, W25 -313
1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.
Washington, DC 20590
Records of
U.S. Navy Armed Guard or other Military
To order military documents
from World War I and later, complete Standard Form 180, Request Pertaining
to Military Records. You can find instructions and download the form at:
Service after 1950:
Service before 1950:
This form can be obtained from
the National Personnel Records Center, 9700 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO
63132, any National Archives Regional Archives, and veterans organizations
or military installations.
The veteran or his
immediate next-of-kin may be able to receive a .
can I order a headstone or marker for a deceased veteran?
You can find information about
VA's headstone and marker program on
or call 1-800-697-6947 To apply for a headstone or marker for an eligible
veteran or service member, use VA Form 1330 available for download at
the VA page. Many funeral homes also have blank forms.
do I research the history of a World War II era ship?
American Merchant Marine
at War, www.usmm.org, has histories of most World War
II era merchant and Army Transport ships. The histories vary
from 2 lines to 20 pages. We cannot tell you in advance how much we have
about a particular ship. We ask for a donation (minimum $25 to support
our research and Web Site) made payable to:
T. Horodysky
27 Westbrook Way
Eugene, OR 97405
Information
about convoys:
Ship Movement Report Cards,
These records consist of file cards for Merchant Marine ships having
Navy Armed Guard on board, and some Army Troop Transports. Movement report
cards detail the travel information of ships throughout WWII. They list
ports of arrival, due dates, dates of arrival and departure, and convoy
designations. Information you must provide: name of ship, dates
of interest. Helpful Information: Convoy designation.
Records of Individual Convoys,
Operations of convoys and independent ships including detailed records
of each convoy and activities of individual merchant ships. Information
you must provide: Convoy designation or name of ship(s) participating
and dates of convoy. Helpful information: places of
departure and/or arrival of convoy and dates.
Armed Guard Reports
Reports usually include U.S. Navy Armed Guard crew lists, voyage reports,
data relating to armaments and supplies provided by U.S. Navy, correspondence
relating to recommendations for medals for members of the Armed Guard
crew, orders, etc. Information you must provide: name of ship,
dates of interest (spring 1942 to winter 1945). Helpful information.
ship's former name, if any.
Modern Military Records
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD
They will respond with an estimate
of the cost of the research. Include in your letter the full name, address,
and telephone number of the individual making the request. Please note:
When making a request, do not send payment until you receive
a price estimate/order form.
National Archives ask
that you limit your requests to 5 items per letter. Upon receipt
of your request, they will survey the records and send you a price estimate/invoice
for obtaining copies. Once you return the invoice with your payment, they
will then send you the reproductions. You should allow at least 10-12
weeks for this process - from the date you send your initial request to
the final receipt of reproductions.
Ship Log Books for ship voyages
are kept at a National Archives Regional Center closest to the
port at which the ship ended its voyage.
http://www.archives.gov/locations/regional-archives.html
Initial Inquiry: Reference
Services Branch, National Archives, Washington, DC 20408
Crew list information
Commanding Officer
USCG-National Maritime Center (NMC-421)
ATTN: Correspondence Section
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
Where can I buy a
listed in Immigration Records
Both pasengers and crew were
listed in Immigration Records now in the National Archives.
You can search for a mariner at
(paid subscription, but 14 day free trial available).The following lists
are not complete) are available:
New York Passenger Lists,
Baltimore Passenger Lists,
Boston Passenger Lists,
California Passenger and Crew Lists,
New Orleans Passenger Lists,
Philadelphia Passenger Lists,
I'm working on my family tree
and am not sure if the person is living...
To search for names of people
who might have died in between the 1930's and early 1990's visit . You can search by first
the database lists Social Security number, date of birth,
date and state of death, last zip code.
To look for a living person,
especially with an uncommon name, check a &White Pages& search
engine such as
U.S. Government publication
on how to obtain birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
Commercial enterprise to request
birth, death, marriage certificates
or 800-255-2414
question is not answered above, please write to:
@ comcast.net. Please be certain that we can reply to you by
adding us to any address book. We will not fill out forms nor
copy letters from a box! Please put something descriptive as the subject,
so it doesn't look like spam!
