 As of 1901 , Bussard was assigned to the East Africa Station in German East Africa , along with the unprotected cruiser Schwalbe . The only other German warships in Africa at the time were the gunboats Habicht and the elderly Wolf ; these two ships were stationed in German West Africa . Bussard remained on the East Africa station in 1904 , and Schwalbe was replaced by her sister Sperber . During this period , Hans Paasche served as the ship 's navigation officer ; he held this position for two years . 
