Action of 8 May 1941

Location map of the Seychelles

Date	8 May 1941
Location	off the Seychelles, Indian Ocean 3°30′N 57°48′E / 3.5°N 57.8°E / 3.5; 57.8Coordinates: 3°30′N 57°48′E / 3.5°N 57.8°E / 3.5; 57.8
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

Nazi Germany

Commanders and leaders

Strength

Casualties and losses

1 killed
1 heavy cruiser damaged

332 killed
60 captured
1 auxiliary cruiser sunk

Civilian Casualties: c. 200 imprisoned sailors killed

The action of 8 May 1941 was a single ship action fought during the Second World War by the British heavy cruiser HMS Cornwall and the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) auxiliary cruiser Pinguin (Raider F to the Admiralty and Schiff 33 to the Kriegsmarine). The engagement took place in the Indian Ocean off the Seychelles archipelago, north of Madagascar. Pinguin slightly damaged Cornwall, before return-fire caused an explosion and Pinguin sank. One British sailor was killed and of 222 British and Indian Merchant Navy prisoners, captured from over thirty merchant vessels on Pinguin, 200 were killed in the explosion. Of the crew of 401 men, 332 were killed and 60 were rescued along with 22 of the Merchant Navy prisoners. Cornwall returned to Durban for repairs until 10 June.

Cornwall (Captain P. C. W. Manwaring) was a County-class heavy cruiser of the Kent subclass, built in the mid-1920s. It had a displacement of 10,000 long tons (10,000 t), carried eight 8 in (200 mm) guns in four twin turrets, four 4 in (100 mm) anti-aircraft guns in two twin turrets, two four-barrel 2-pounder pom-pom guns and two .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns. Cornwall had an aircraft catapult, three Supermarine Walrus amphibious aircraft and had a maximum speed of 31.5 kn (36.2 mph; 58.3 km/h).

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