German Raider Orion sinks steamer Turakina near Cape Egmont.

During World War II, the German raider Orion carried out operations in the South Pacific. On the morning of August 20, the Orion encountered the New Zealand merchant ship Turakina off Cape Egmont. The Orion, disguised as a neutral merchant ship, quickly revealed its true identity and demanded the Turakina to stop. When the Turakina attempted to escape, the Orion opened fire, hitting the vessel's bridge and fatally injuring the captain. Despite the fierce resistance by the Turakina's crew, the German raider managed to disable the ship's engines and eventually sink the vessel. The survivors were picked up by the Orion and given supplies before being released in a lifeboat. However, tragedy struck again when a British merchant vessel, unaware of the situation, mistook the lifeboat for an enemy craft and opened fire, resulting in further casualties among the Turakina's crew. The sinking of the Turakina off Cape Egmont had a lasting impact on New Zealand, highlighting the vulnerability of its merchant fleet in the face of enemy threats during the war. The loss of the Turakina and the lives of its crew served as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by seafarers in wartime. The incident also underscored the global reach of the conflict, with German raiders operating far from European waters to disrupt Allied shipping lanes. The sinking of the Turakina off Cape Egmont remains a somber chapter in New Zealand's wartime history, commemorating the bravery and sacrifice of those who served on the merchant vessel. It stands as a reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience of those who faced adversity on the high seas. #WWII #NewZealandHistory #GermanRaider #Turakina #CapeEgmont