194
the parcel’ with this extraordinary naval commando expedition that was
the last known covert special operation to be mounted by the Germans
against the Persian Gulf before the end of the war. On or around 13
February 1945—laden with a year’s provisions, skippered by a senior
Hamburg-America Line captain, and crewed by 12 naval frogmen—the
purpose-built Seekampfkutter (Naval Combat Cutter [SKK]) 203 , camou-
flaged as the Norwegian auxiliary yacht Mary, set sail from the port of
Harstad in northern Norway, destined for the Persian Gulf by way of the
Cape of Good Hope and the Indian Ocean. The mission—certainly not
designed to be suicidal—was to disrupt and destroy Allied shipping on the
Shatt al-Arab by means of hydromechanically controlled, delayed-action
explosives. This unique operational concept—originated by Hans-Otto
Wagner of Abw II OR and intended as a Brandenburger initiative—might
have made some sense (though not much) before Stalingrad, but had no
basis in the reality of 1945. After years of postponements, wrangling over
competences, the availability of vessels, and personnel changes, responsi-
bility was finally passed to the Seekriegsleitung (Maritime Warfare
Command [SKL]) of the Reichsmarine (German Navy). There had also
been significant obstructive interference from the Near East specialists at
RSHA VI/Mil D. Though totally incapable of mounting such an opera-
tion, the SS nevertheless viewed themselves after the dissolution of the
Abwehr as solely responsible for any such covert Ferneinsätze (long-range
operations). Some weeks after the departure from Norway and shortly
before the war’s end, a prearranged signal was received in Germany indi-
cating that the cutter was off the coast of West Africa, sailing due south.
And that is the last that was ever heard of the SKK 203 , its captain, and its
crew. Had they been intercepted and sunk by an Allied warship, there
would presumably be documentary evidence, but there appears to be
none. One can only conclude that the rugged little vessel succumbed to
the forces of nature, its mission having proved not just far-fetched but
ultimately suicidal.^43
(Narrative 7 [Mil Amt]) Operation KINO. Unfortunately we know
hardly anything about this planned Mil D expedition to sabotage on a
large-scale Allied fuel dumps in the Middle East, most likely those in the
Basra and Abadan area, as late in the war as April 1945. Of course, it never
actually came off. However, Fred Koch, a Brandenburger sapper NCO, oil
expert, and designated member of the expedition he helped to plan,
defected to the Allies and apparently gave them details of Operation
KINO, which are regrettably not to be found in the archival records. We