Tirpitz (pig)

Tirpitz was aboard SMS Dresden, when she was ordered into the South Atlantic to join with the forces of Vice Admiral Maximilian von Spee to raid Allied merchants.

She struck out for the nearby Royal Navy ships and was spotted an hour later by a petty officer aboard HMS Glasgow.

The animal was adopted by the crew of HMS Glasgow, who made her their mascot, and named her 'Tirpitz', after Alfred von Tirpitz, the German Admiral, and Secretary of State of the Imperial Naval Office.

Tirpitz remained with the Glasgow for a year and was then placed in quarantine until she was allowed to be adopted by the Petty Officer who had first seen her, who transferred her to Whale Island Gunnery School, Portsmouth for the rest of her career.

[1] The Times newspaper reported: The animal, which is known as 'Tirpitz', was once owned by the German light cruiser Dresden, and when, during the action with Glasgow, Kent, and Orama, the Germans escaped to the shore after causing an explosion which sank the Dresden, and 'Tirpitz' was left to its fate, the pig struck out boldly, and was seen swimming near the Glasgow.