Backstory:
Commissioned in 1936 as AIS Abby II, the ship was built for Alpha Star Line of Hamburg as a bunker-burning tramp steamer intended for long, economical freight runs. Her design followed the well-proven Danish tramp steamer standard of the interwar years: conservative lines, a strong hull, and simple machinery optimized for coal fuel and endurance rather than speed. With a gross register tonnage of 3,307, Abby II was neither large nor conspicuous, but she was reliable, seaworthy, and capable of operating independently for extended periods—qualities that made her valuable as Europe edged closer to war.
Beneath her unassuming exterior, however, Abby II possessed an unusual trait. Her builders had over-engineered her propulsion system, fitting boilers and a triple-expansion steam plant rated well above contractual requirements. Originally intended to ensure longevity under continuous heavy loads, this reserve capacity would later prove remarkable. During post-commissioning trials and again under wartime conditions, engineers discovered that when her bunkers were fully stoked, her machinery pushed to the edge of safe limits, and her hull running light, Abby II could achieve speeds previously considered impossible for a coal-fired tramp steamer. She could run about the same speed as other convoys at ten and a half knots.
After the outbreak of hostilities in 1939, Alpha Star Line was absorbed into Germany’s wartime logistics network, though many of its vessels, including Abby II, remained officially civilian. Throughout the early war years she continued operating under commercial registry, hauling coal, general cargo, and military-adjacent supplies across the Baltic and North Sea. Her bunker-burning machinery, while outdated by newer oil-fired ships, allowed her to use widely available fuel and operate from less-developed ports. By maintaining a low profile and avoiding heavily contested waters, Abby II survived a period when many similar freighters were lost, quietly proving her durability and adaptability.
In 1943, with the Kriegsmarine seeking additional auxiliary vessels as Allied control of the seas tightened, Abby II was requisitioned and recommissioned as a Hilfskreuzer (HSK) while retaining much of her merchant appearance. She was armed with four artillery guns, two concealed in the forecastle and two integrated into the aftercastle, allowing her to fight or deter smaller opponents while still masquerading as a harmless freighter. Crewed by a mix of Alpha Star Line veterans and naval personnel, Abby II operated as a secondary raider and auxiliary escort, relying on deception, endurance, and surprise rather than brute force. Though her legendary speed was rarely invoked—and never without risk—it lingered as an unspoken contingency, a hidden ace possessed by an otherwise unassuming tramp steamer turned quiet instrument of Germany’s maritime war.
Notes:
Un-intentionally capable of 36 Knots
Has four artillery cannons for raiding
Dazzle does work against submarines with manual sights
Double-hull setup makes her capable of sustaining immense amounts of burning without sinking
Multiplayer-Friendly when tested
Requires to All-Stop for turning due to her bow jet setup for turning
Requirements:
Infinite Electric
Infinite Fuel
Recommendations:
Weapons DLC for Merchant Raiding
Dimensions:
Length: 112 meters
Beam: 14 meters
Credits:
AlphaEco5: Boiler Decor, Dazzle, Driveshaft, Gunnery Systems, Lifeboats, Main Ship Building, Troubleshooting
TheRedFoxDev: Bridge Floor, Casino, Interior Cabins, Lounge Floor, Telegraph Room
Rynzori: Boiler systems, Jet-Turning Systems, Turbine
Ironclad4808: Bridge Range Finders, Lounge Furniture, Cheese, Horsesause, and Lifebuoys
Additional Credits:
Shipyard Used in Picture: Epic Star Line Shipyard by Lighmire
Started: July 18, 2024 9:05 PM EST
Ended: January 23, 2026 6:03 PM EST
Please Upvote This Two-Year Creation!
PS: It Spawns at the Custom Oil Rig
Patch Notes:
#1: Clutch troubleshooted from 0.5 to 0.9 for making her go from 36 knots to only ten knots for realism.
