Ship 16 sank twenty-two British and Allied ships during its 110,000
miles and 602 days continuously - at sea until she was sunk by HMS Devonshire.
Her exploits in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans over almost two years created huge
problems for the Allies as they tried to find the mystery ship with twenty-six
disguises. Sinking ship after ship, Atlantis also searched them for documents.
Finding secret files on the Automedon regarding British troop dispositions in
the Far East, this document hastened Japan’s entry into the
war.
Eventually sunk in November 1941, the 350 crew of Atlantis, as Ship
16 had been named, were rescued by U-boat which towed them to the safety of the
supply ship Python. Sunk again, four U-boats eventually took the survivors of
both Atlantis and Python to safety in France.
The story is told by the ship’s First Officer and was recounted from
his diaries kept aboard the Atlantis.
