ONE  OF  THE  MOST  REMARKABLE  SURFACE  BATTLES  OF  WWII

The SS STEPHEN HOPKINS, a U.S. Merchant Marine Liberty ship, was launched in May 1942.  Her maiden voyage took her from San Francisco to Bora Bora, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and then into the Atlantic Ocean bound for British Guiana, where on the morning of September 27, 1942, she met her fate off Surinam.  While proceeding through haze she spotted two ships coming out of the fog not far away.  The ships were the German surface raider STIER and its supply ship TANNENFELS.  The STIER was a former merchant ship disguised as a neutral-flag cargo ship, but her profile had been changed with the addition of fake masts and stacks, and she now carried six 5.9-inch guns hidden behind false deck panels. 

A scant three minutes after the two ships were sighted and they neared to about 1,000-yards, shots suddenly pierced the STEPHEN HOPKINS superstructure.  As Navy Armed Guard gunners and mariners assigned as loaders raced to their guns, they saw a ship off the starboard bow about their same size firing at them.  Thus, began one of the most remarkable surface battles of World War II.  Explosions rocked the ship and machine gun fire was raking the decks.  One of the first shells killed two mariners as they stepped on deck.  The order was given to steer STEPHEN HOPKINS so the stern with its single World War One era 4-inch gun would point at the enemy and at the same time present the smallest target.  Although severely wounded by shrapnel, the commander of the Armed Guard expertly directed the 4-inch gun at the waterline of the German raider, getting a shot off about every 45-seconds.  They made every shot count as they hit the STIER’s rudder and then damaged its forward guns.

STEPHEN HOPKINS also took damaging shots as one pierced the hull hitting directly into the engine room as the ship went almost dead in the water.  The STIER continued putting shell after shell into the upper works of STEPHEN HOPKINS.  A large caliber shell hit near the 4-inch stern gun killing all the men nearby.  A Merchant Marine cadet saw the 4-inch gun was deserted, so although untrained, he manned the gun alone and fired all five shells left in the ready box, scoring hits with all five.  Very shortly thereafter the cadet was killed by a shell which exploded nearby.  The firefight lasted about half an hour and a total of 35 shells hit STIER, leaving her in shambles as was the STEPHEN HOPKINS.  Both ships were on fire and sinking.  After an hour or so she sank as did the STIER.

Richard Moczkowski was the Chief Mate aboard STEPHEN HOPKINS.  He may have been aboard the bridge when the battle with STIER began as Moczkowski is credited with being the officer who ordered the stern to be pointed toward the STIER.  It is known that Moczkowski received serious wounds early in the battle, but he continued to discharge his duties until the battle ended and he refused to leave the sinking ship.  When news of the battle was released the STEPHEN HOPKINS was hailed as a “Hero Ship” and the ship and its crew was awarded the U.S. Maritime Commission’s Gallant Ship Unit Citation.  During World War II it was the only U.S. merchant ship to sink a German surface warship. 

For his actions during the battle, Chief Mate Moczkowski was awarded the Merchant Marine Distinguished Service Medal, the highest award which can be bestowed upon members of that service.   In addition, the Liberty ship SS RICHARD MOCZKOWSKI was named in his honor when it was launched during 1943.

          MERCHANT MARINE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL CITATION

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Merchant Martine Distinguished Service Medal to Richard Moczkowski, Chief Mate on SS STEPHEN HOPKINS on September 27, 1942, for extraordinary heroism beyond the call of duty.  Two enemy surface raiders suddenly appeared out of the mist to attack the merchantman in which he was serving.  Heavy guns of one raider pounded his ship, and machine gun fire from the other sprayed her decks until she was a complete wreck and afire fore and aft.  The merchantman exchanged shot for shot with the enemy raiders until the crew of one raider was forced to abandon their sinking ship, and the other was forced to withdraw.  The mate, shot in the chest and in the left forearm early in the action, continued at his exposed post abaft the wheelhouse rallying his men and directing orders to the bridge to enable his ship to keep her guns bearing on the enemy ships.  Weakened by rapid loss of blood from a severed artery, he collapsed to the deck, but refused to stay down, and ordered a seaman to assist him to his feet and prop him in a doorway that he might better discharge his duties.  With her boilers blown up, engines destroyed, masts shot away, and ablaze from stem to stern, orders were finally given to abandon the gallant merchantman.  Moczkowski was carried to the boat deck and propped against the housing while the only usable lifeboat was lowered away.  His shipmates carried the mortally wounded man to the side, but seeing the crowded boat already released and clear of the ship, the mate commanded his men to leave him rather than further jeopardize their own safety.  His fearless determination to fight his ship, and his perseverance in engaging the enemy to the utmost until his ship was rendered helpless and sinking, constitute a degree of heroism which will be an enduring inspiration to seamen of the United States Merchant Marine.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)