The sinking of the Rangitane

The SS Rangitane left Auckland on November 24, 1940 with 14,000 tonnes of cargo worth millions of dollars and 111 passengers.
A Royal Main ship, she was heading to Britain via the Panama Canal through seas made doubly dangerous by the prospect of encountering German ships and submarines.
On board were servicemen and radar technicians - tactically important to the war effort. She also carried butter, pork, mutton and cheese, along with 45 bars of silver bullion valued at over £2 million.
The SS Holmwood had been sunk by German raiders only a couple of days before but the crew of the Rangitane knew nothing about that and as they approached the 300 mile mark three days later, the ship was confronted by the German ships Komet and Orion. With them was a support boat Kulmerland.
It was 3.30am when Captain H L Upton was called to the bridge - in his pyjamas.
The Rangitane was ordered to stop and not make radio contact with anyone. But Upton ordered QQQ to be sent - basically code for a suspicious ship to be broadcast.
The Germans reacted by jamming the signals and began firing on the Rangitane.
For several moments there was chaos and neither side knew what was going on, but when Upton realised his message had been received he ordered the surrender of the Rangitane.
He quickly ordered documents like code books and key engine parts to be destroyed, determined to limit the German’s prize.
Another code was sent on an emergency transmitter - RRR - raider attack.
In the confusion the Rangitane had its steering damaged by the shelling.
Despite his surrender, the Germans continued firing and Upton wanted to fire upon them but was unable. So he had to order everyone abandon ship.
Sixteen people, eight passengers and eight crew died. The survivors were put on to the German ships.
By this time the Rangitane was on fire and sinking, but the Komet fired again on the failing ship, sending it to the bottom. The German ships couldn’t hang around however, the cool head of Captain Upton meant his radio messages had got through and allied aircraft would be on their way.
The Rangitane was one of the largest passenger ships sunk during World War II.
The crowded conditions of the captured prisoners meant the civilians were to be offloaded, which ended up being on the tiny island of Emirau off New Guinea.
The military prisoners were taken back to prisoner of wars camps in Germany.
Upton was later released and returned to England.
Many of the prisoners felt the humane way they were treated was due to Upton’s calming civilising influence and impeccable behaviour.
Among the 111 passengers and a crew of 201 were 22 men and women who had acted as escorts for British children sent to Australia, 14 stewards and 13 stewardesses from a Polish ship, and 20 members of the crew of another British ship who were returning to Britain.
The bodies of those killed during the sinking have not been recovered and share Rangitane’s watery grave.​