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[Translated from German by Google Translate.] Fleet
Command |
On board, April 22, 1941 |
Top priority only by officer
Top secret!
Fleet
Commander's operational order for the Atlantic operation with Bismarck and
Prinz Eugen
(deck designation: "Rhine exercise")
I.) Enemy intelligence: see Operations Order Group North B.No. 237/41
Aop. Gkdos. Chiefs. of 22 April 1941, Operations Order Group West Gkdos.
1803/41 Aop. Chiefs. of 14 April 1941 and Annexes 2 and 3.
Enemy intelligence gathered through decryption during the operation is continuously relayed directly by radio message to the B.-Leitstelle (B.-Control Center). These radio messages bear the signature "B.-Leitstelle" (B.-Control Center). Radio messages containing B.-Dienst (B.-Service) documents for a B.-Dienst group embarked on board also bear the additional notation "för B.-Dienst" (for B.-Service) at the beginning.
II.) Own armed forces:
A.)
Participants:
"Bismarck"
"Prinz Eugen"
On the North-South route: The submarines operating there.
On the HX route from the end of May: 4 submarines.
Reconnaissance vessel "Gonzenheim"
Reconnaissance vessel "Kota Penang"
2 support vessels
5 escort tankers
B.)
Securing:
Mine protection on the forced route from Green 03 (Arkona) to Red 20 for
"Bismarck" by barrier breaker 13, for "Prinz Eugen" by
barrier breaker 31.
Destroyers attach themselves to "Prinz Eugen". Mine escort through the Skagen barrier from Schwarz 21 to 21a by the 5th MS Flotilla. After passing this barrier, submarine escort by "Z 23", "Z 24", "Lody" and "Fr. Eckholdt".
C.) Own separately operating armed
forces,
aerial reconnaissance,
fighter escort,
close security,
provision of air combat units and briefing of those eligible to the air units.
(see Operational Order Group North and Group West .)
III.) Task:
A.) Sailing through the Belt and North Sea into the North Atlantic.
B.) Attack on the supply line running through the North Atlantic. The area of operations is bounded to the south by the equator, to the west (northeast) 20°N by the American neutral zone, which runs along the 60th meridian to the latitude of Halifax and from there to the coast. To the south 20°N, only a 300 nautical mile wide strip along the coast is to be considered neutral.
C.) After completing task B.), put into ports in western France to replenish ammunition and supplies. If longer repairs or a planned overhaul are necessary, return to home if possible.
IV.) Intention:
A.) Unnoticed breakthrough through the Denmark Strait into the North Atlantic.
B.) Attack on the HX route. Further decisions depending on the situation.
V.) Implementation:
A.)
Command structure:
Operational command see Operational Order Group West .
Leadership: Fleet commander on "Bismarck".
B.) Timeline of the operation:
1.) On the afternoon of April 28th, departure in formation from Gotenhafen so that Point Green 03 is reached at 10:00 AM on April 29th. From there, march behind the breakers, "Bismarck" behind [breaker] 13, "Prinz Eugen" behind 31, on a forced course so that the formation is at Point Red 05 by 9:30 PM. From there, march through the Belt according to the order of BSO Gkdos. 33/41 Commanders of April 22nd . At Point Red 20, the breakers are released, and the march continues in the buoyed channel, previously searched by breakers, at a distance of 17 nautical miles via Black 18, so that Point Black 21 is reached at 12:30 PM. (Barrier breakers follow at maximum speed.) From there escort through the barrier gap (5th MS Flotilla) to Schwarz 21 a.
2.) Continue the march through the Skagerrak under submarine escort by the destroyers, so that the flotilla reaches Point Black 26 (Kristiansand-South) by 7:00 PM. Continue the march according to Operational Order Group North . BSO is requested to keep the blockade breakers ready until 12:00 PM on April 30th.
3.) BSO [Commander of Baltic Sea Security] initiates the SB measures in the Belt.
4.) Ships and barrier breakers switch to UK [Ultra Shortwave] channel 17.
5.) The following transit times are expected:
|
a.) Green 03 |
April 29th, 10:00 AM |
|
b.) Red 05 Trip 10 sm |
"9:30 PM |
|
c.) Red 20 |
30.4. 00:30 |
|
d.) Zealand Revenue Lock |
" 0530 am |
|
e.) Black 21 |
"12:30 pm |
|
f.) Black 21 a |
" 1400 |
|
g.) Black 26 (Kristiansand-South) |
" 7:00 PM |
|
h.) Skagerrak Dam Kristiansand South, outer barrier gap. |
"8:30 PM |
|
i.) Stavanger Broad |
1.5. 0230 Uhr |
|
j.) Korsfjord (Marstein) |
" 0630 am |
|
k.) Hjelte Fjord from |
" 10:00 PM |
|
l.) Breite Drontheim |
2.5. 0600 Uhr |
6.) While anchored off Bergen, fuel was replenished by the "Prinz Eugen" and the destroyers. Before breaking out into the Atlantic, fuel was expected to be replenished by the tanker Weißenburg at 70°N, 1°W.
C.) Readiness levels:
1.) April 29, 10:00 AM until darkness: Eased anti-aircraft watch.
2.) April 30th: From daylight, anti-aircraft watch; after passing the Skagen barrier, additional military watch. After passing the Kristiansand-South barrier: all-arms watch.
3.) 1.5. 0400: Ship must be ready for service until full daytime visibility is achieved. Orders will follow thereafter.
4.) From 29.4. 1000 am, war march closure status.
D.) War march conditions, war march stages:
1.) Gotenhafen to Grün 03: War march condition 3, War march speed level: 20 nm.
2.) From Green 03: War march condition 2, War march speed level: 18 nautical miles.
3.) From Red 20: War march speed level: 20 nautical miles.
4.) From Schwarz 21 a: War march condition 1, War march speed level: 25 nautical miles.
5.) After passing Skagen barrier: War march speed level: 27 nautical miles.
E.)
Communications orders:
see Operational Order Group North and West and Fleet Gkdos 90/41 A4 Chiefs. of
21.4.41 .
F.) Special provisions:
1.) When encountering mines or in fog, follow orders.
2.) In the event of submarine and aircraft attacks, the affected ship will independently carry out the necessary defensive and evasive maneuvers without receiving a signal order. Likewise, the destroyers deployed for escort must conduct anti-submarine warfare without delay and using all available means.
3.) Distribution of tankers to the individual sea areas a. Operational orders of the groups. Details regarding the tankers' loading will follow.
4.) In addition to the ammunition loaded on the tankers, the following is also stored:
a.)
In Drontheim:
1200 rounds 15 cm C28
, 120 rounds 15 cm Lg
, 8235 rounds 10.5 cm,
170 rounds 10.5 Lg.
Storage of 20.3 cm and 38 cm ammunition has been requested.
b.) In
Brest:
1 full set of equipment for a heavy cruiser
2400 rounds 15 cm C 28
8000 rounds 10.5 cm
c.) A request has been made to store 38 cm ammunition in St. Nazaire.
The following are enclosed:
1.) Appendix 1: General Order for the Atlantic
Operation .
2.) Appendix 2: Special Enemy Situation of Group West dated April 19,
1941.
3.) Appendix 3: Strength and Distribution of the British Submarine
Fleet.
4.) Appendix 4: Overview of Berths for Battleships and Cruisers in West
French Ports and in Trondheim.
Signed: L � tjen s.
For the accuracy
[signed]
First Lieutenant (V) and 1st Fl. Adj.
Distribution list:
|
Naval Command |
Price No. |
1 - 3 |
|
Mar. Group Command West |
" |
4 - 5 |
|
Mar. Group Command North |
" |
6 - 7 |
|
Fleet Command, 2nd Adm. d. Fl. |
" |
8 |
|
Command of the cruisers |
" |
9 |
|
Battleship "Bismarck" |
" |
10 - 11 |
|
Cruiser "Prince Eugene" |
" |
12 - 13 |
|
Battleship "Scharnhorst" |
" |
14 - 15 |
|
Fleet Staff |
" |
16 - 20 |
|
reserve |
" |
21 - 25 |