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
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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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Winston Churchill, 1935
