Technical
light cruiser�-�Class "D"
steam 2-shafts SHP 40,000
4,850 tons
472.5' x 46.5' x 16.5'
Service speed 29 knots

The British had learned from Enigma decrypts that the German supply ship Python was to meet U-124 and dispatched the cruiser to intercept.� On the afternoon, however, a lookout of U-124 reported a ship to starboard.� The distant masthead was almost invisible, but the ship approached quickly and a few minutes later it became clear this was a warship.� Mohr altered course and picked up speed to close the distance.� Forty minutes later U-124 was close enough to make a submerged approach.

By then it was already known that the enemy was following a steady zigzag course at 17 knots.�Through the periscope the identity of the ship was established as a British cruiser of the Dragon class : Delhi, Despatch, Dunedin or Durban.� While manoeuvring into attack position U-124 suffered defects on the forward trimtank and the bowplanes and it became difficult to keep the periscope just above the surface.� Due to this problem Mohr missed a sudden course change of his target (Dunedin's lookouts had spotted the periscope).

When Mohr was able to take another look the cruiser was far away, about three miles to port.� Since it would be impossible for the� U-124 to come closer, Mohr decided to� launch three torpedoes from this extreme range of 6,000 yards.� Chances were slim to obtain any results but it was the best he could do.� Surprisingly, after a run of 5 minutes and 23 seconds two torpedoes struck target.� The cruiser first rolled to port and then to starboard before sinking 17 minutes later, stern first.� The first torpedo struck amidships and wrecked the main wireless station. The second torpedo struck further aft, probably near the quarters of the officers; dismounting the after 6 inch gun and blowing away the starboard screw. About 250 survivors managed to leave the ship by jumping overboard. They rescued themselves onto seven Carley floats and floating debris.

U-124 surfaced and circled the survivors for about ten minutes but then left.� Only 72 survivors were still alive on the six floats found by the American steam merchant Nishmaha, en route from Takoradi to Philadelphia, three days after the sinking. Many survivors drowned, some died of their injuries, others died of exhaustion and some were bitten and killed by sharks. Five of the rescued men died before the merchant ship reached Trinidad, thus only four officers and 63 ratings survived the sinking.

It was not until the survivors had been rescued that the Admiralty announced the sinking.�The Germans announced they had sunk HMS Dragon.

Thanks to Walter Janssens for the extra information on this page.

Unless otherwise stated, all dates and times are from the German perspective and are given in CET.
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