KMS Michel Technical Information
Name: KMS Michel, Schiff 28, Hilfskreuzer IX.
Type: heavy auxiliary cruiser.
Ex-name: Bielsko-Bonn, freighter.
Owner: Gdynia-American Shipping Line, seized at Danzig.
Builder: Deutsche Werft AG.
Date of construction: 1939.
Converted by: Danziger Werft.
Date of conversion: 1940.
Date of commission: 17 September 1942.
Tonnage: 4,740.
Displacement: 10,900 tons.
Length: 132m (Lloyds Register).
Beam: 16.8m.
Draught: 7.4m.
Fuel type: oil.
Fuel capacity: 2,500 tons.
Speed: 16 knots.
Range: 34,000 nautical miles at 10 knots.
Cruising endurance: 141 days at 10 knots.
Maximum horse power: 6,650, turbines.
Propulsion: two 8-cylinder-Diesel.
Propellers: 1.
Number of decks: 2.
Number of holds: 5.
Number of compartments: 8.
Crew: 400.
Aircraft carried: two Ar 196A-3s.
Motor launch carried: one LS 4 (Esau).
Mines carried: 0.
Armament: six 5.9in (6x1), one 4.1in, four 37mm (2x2),
four 20mm (4x1), six 21-inch torpedo tubes (2x2, 2x1).
Length of cruise: 358 days, 9 March 1942 to 1 March 1943;
170 days, 1 May 1943 to 17 October 1943.
Ships sunk or taken:
| Nationality | Type | Name | Tonnage | Date | Result |
| First Cruise | |||||
| Great Britain | Tanker | Patella | 7,468 | 19 April 1942 | Sunk |
| United States | Tanker | Connecticut | 8,684 | 22 April 1942 | Sunk |
| Norway | Freighter | Kattegat | 4,245 | 20 May 1942 | Sunk |
| United States | Freighter | George Clymer | 7,176 | 7 June 1942 | Sunk |
| Great Britain | Freighter | Lylepark | 5,186 | 11 June 1942 | Sunk |
| Great Britain | Passenger | Gloucester Castle | 8,006 | 15 July 1942 | Sunk |
| United States | Tanker | William F. Humphrey | 7,893 | 16 July 1942 | Sunk |
| Norway | Tanker | Aramis | 7,984 | 17 July 1942 | Sunk |
| Great Britain | Freighter | Arabistan | 5,874 | 14 August 1942 | Sunk |
| Great Britain | Freighter | Empire Dawn | 7,241 | 10 September 1942 | Sunk |
| United States | Freighter | American Leader | 6,778 | 11 September 1942 | Sunk |
| Great Britain | Freighter | Reynolds | 5,113 | 2 November 1942 | Sunk |
| United States | Freighter | Sawokla | 5,882 | 29 November 1942 | Sunk |
| Greece | Freighter | Eugenie Livanos | 4,816 | 8 December 1942 | Sunk |
| Great Britain | Freighter | Empire March | 7,040 | 2 January 1943 | Sunk |
| Total 15 ships | 99,386 | ||||
| Second Cruise | |||||
| Norway | Freighter | Hoegh Silberdawn | 7,715 | 15 June 1943 | Sunk |
| Norway | Tanker | Ferncastle | 9,940 | 17 June 1943 | Sunk |
| Norway | Tanker | India | 9,977 | 11 September 1943 | Sunk |
| Total 3 ships | 27,632 | ||||
| Grand total 18 ships | 127,018 | ||||