Tempel (boat)

The Tempel was a German auxiliary cruiser (Hilfskreuzer) used during World War II. Disguised as a neutral merchant vessel, its primary mission was to disrupt Allied shipping by sinking or capturing merchant ships.

The Tempel was originally the cargo ship Tempi, built in 1928. In 1940, it was converted into an auxiliary cruiser, equipped with concealed weaponry including cannons, torpedo tubes, and mines.

Under the command of various captains, the Tempel operated in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, successfully raiding enemy shipping lanes. It sank or captured a number of Allied vessels before being sunk by the British cruiser HMS Albatross in November 1941. The sinking occurred after a battle in the Indian Ocean. A significant portion of the Tempel's crew was rescued by the British, while others perished.

The Tempel's actions, like those of other German auxiliary cruisers, significantly hampered Allied shipping efforts and tied up considerable Allied naval resources in the search for and destruction of these raiders. Its story is a part of the broader narrative of German commerce raiding during World War II.