soc.history.war.world-war-ii

Stephen Graham wrote:
>
> Scott M. Kozel wrote:
>
> > The Sydney officers suspected that a German commerce raider disguised as
> > a merchant vessel, was in the area. A vessel the size of Kormoran
> > (about 9,000 tons) could carry as much firepower in guns and torpedoes
> > as a light cruiser, albeit without the gun fire controllers to fight
> > effectively at more than several miles distance.
>
> As Phil has correctly pointed out, any light cruiser in service would be
> expected to engage such a merchant cruiser. Such service is one of the
> reasons for the existence of the cruiser class.

Engage in what precise manner? Pull up broadside and stopped (or almost
stopped) a mile (about 1,500 meters) from the unidentified vessel, and
send a cutter and boarding party to the unidentified vessel, to inspect
the registry papers of the unidentified vessel, and seize the vessel if
it proved to be German?? Do this alone without help from any other of
your warships?

You don't want to fire guns and torpedoes at it if you aren't yet sure
of its identity, because if the vessel was not enemy, destroying it
would have major direct and indirect negative impacts on the maritime
commerce that serves your country.

Subsequent to this battle, what kind of major changes happened with
respect to the rules of engagement for confronting an unidentified
vessel that was suspected of being a German commerce raider disguised as
a merchant vessel? I'll bet that the method was not like as in my first
paragraph ...