Did HMS Acacia capture a tanker with Germans onboard?

[Felix C]

p.347 of the IWM book of the War at Sea indicates. Never found another reference.

error?

[seaJane]

Nothing in her logbook 11 May 1915-31 July 1916   https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-18-HMS_Acacia.htm

What date does War at Sea say?

sJ

[KizmeRD]

The IWM book of the ‘War at Sea’ says ‘The Germans pioneered the technique of refuelling their submarines at sea. The Acacia captured a large oil tanker with a German crew used by U-boats for refuelling’.  - It would have had huge implications for the naval war in the Mediterranean if HMS Acacia had in indeed intercepted a German supply tanker, and this particular episode surely merits greater elaboration in the book than just one brief yet perplexing reference.

The only thing I could find in Acacia’s logbook was an entry dated 31 March 1916 where it is stated that SS Javonina (Hamburg) was observed alongside in the neutral port of Almeria - that in itself (one thinks) would have been quite alarming, and follow-up action of some sort would surely have been required.

MB 

Edited 30 July , 2023 by KizmeRD

[MerchantOldSalt]

8 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

The only thing I could find in Acacia’s logbook was an entry dated 31 March 1916 where it is stated that SS Javonina (Hamburg) was observed alongside in the neutral port of Almeria - that in itself (one thinks) would have been quite alarming, and follow-up action of some sort would surely have been required.

I don't think it will help resolve the original question at all, but just in case, the ship in Almeria, mentioned in the ACACIA's Logbook, is incorrectly transcribed and is actually the SS JAVORINA of 1908 built by Chantiers Navals Anversois Hoboken, Antwerp in 1908 for Rhederei-Vereinigung Gmbh of Hamburg.  Lloyds describe her as a steel single screw steamer, 3387 Gross, 346 feet length overall with one deck no mention of being a tanker.  The Company had two other ships at the time OEHRINGEN, a sister ship, and SAUSENBERG both being taken over in 1919 by the British Shipping Controller and registered in London. All three ships survived the war.

The attached photo of Oehringen in a later life as the Greek owned Vassilios A Polemis, as a sister ship JAVORINA would have probably looked much the same.

Tony

[Felix C]

Appreciate all the responses. Probably an error.