Prize command
Prisenkommando referred to an enter command in naval warfare that was used as early as the 16th century . Seafarers have been specially trained for this task . Your task was to control the papers and the cargo of angry (enemy and neutral) ships.
Merchant ships or blockade breakers were stopped if they were sailing under an enemy flag or if there was reason to believe that they were carrying prohibited goods (i.e. enemy port of destination / departure).
The boarding a freighter in World War I and World War II was as follows:
- The ship (mostly freighter) was stopped; by sparks, Morse code with a lamp or by fire (the famous “ shot across the bow ”).
- The prize squad then crossed over by barge or rowing boat .
- As soon as it got on board, the ship was examined and the papers / cargo checked.
If it was determined that the ship could be taken as a prize, a decision was made as to what should be done with the ship. In most cases it was sunk quickly. If the cargo seemed useful, prize ships often drove on for a while accompanied by the warships , for example to serve as a supply ship for auxiliary cruisers or to take prisoners. In this case, or when the cargo was of great value, an attempt was made to use the cargo ship to enter its own port. The prize squad stayed on board permanently. It filled all important positions on board and took command. The original crew stayed on board and were hired.