[Translated from the German by Google Translate.] Marine Group Command North |
Command post Kiel, April 22, 1941. |
"Top priority!", "Officer only!"
TOP SECRET COMMAND MATTERS!
TOP PRISON!
OFFICERS ONLY!
Operational Order No. 16
: Deployment of the "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen" into the Atlantic.
(Operation: "Rhine Exercise" ["Rheinübung"].)
The battleship "Bismarck" and the cruiser "Prinz Eugen," under the command of the fleet commander, are to carry out the deployment from the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic Ocean in order to conduct commerce warfare there according to the instructions of the Naval Warfare Command or the Western Group Command.
2.) Enemy situation:
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a) The presumed distribution of the English armed forces as of
19.4., up to and including the Kreuzer, is attached as Annex 1.
b) Reference is made to the ongoing reports of the 2nd/Skl B and 3rd/Skl FH and the enemy intelligence in Group West 1803/41 Aop Chefs.
c)
a.) Our own aerial reconnaissance reported the following on April 18th:
West of Mainland (Orkneys) 1 battleship (King George class), heading
north.
Square 1389 AN 1 battleship, 2 light cruisers, 8 destroyers, heading north.
c) b.) Scapa occupancy 18.4.:
1 battleship (Barham class?)
1 heavy cruiser (Cumberland class), Suffolk?
1 heavy cruiser (York class?)
1 light cruiser (Southampton class?)
1 light cruiser, class not evaluable
Training ship "Iron Duke."
d) The appearance of enemy forces groups both in the Denmark Strait and in the Iceland Passage, and surprising short advances by surface forces as far as the Norwegian coast, must be expected.
e) No new information is available regarding the use of British submarines. Enemy submarines have been reported since March 1, 1941.
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14.3. Square 3652 AN 2 submarines (?) Report questionable
31.3. Square 4547 AO 1 submarine (?) Report questionable
19.4. Square 3138 AN 1 submarine
f)
a) Enemy armed aerial reconnaissance is regularly flown as morning and
evening reconnaissance flights when weather conditions are favorable. In
the northern North Sea, it is very often conducted as far as the
Norwegian coast. The morning reconnaissance usually takes place between
10:00 and 12:30, and the generally more intense evening reconnaissance
between 15:00 and 16:00, at the eastern edge of its reconnaissance area.
On favorable nights, night reconnaissance is also flown in the same area.
f) b) Two squadrons of Sunderland flying boats are stationed in Lerwik Harbour and Sollum Voe (Shetland). Their reconnaissance area is assumed to be approximately north of the Shetland-Drontheim line.
f)
c) In the west-southwest part of Iceland, 50 km southeast of Reykjavik,
aerial reconnaissance detected 12 Lockheed Hudson aircraft and a tent
camp. The reconnaissance area of these aircraft appears to be
Iceland-Faroe.
Aerial reconnaissance over the Denmark Strait is considered reliable.
g) From the time of departure onwards, Group North will continuously transmit further information, in particular also:
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a) Important observations from radio reconnaissance.
b) Bearings taken by enemy forces in the relevant sea area.
In the Baltic Sea, its approaches, the Skagerrak, and along the Norwegian coast, the presence of our own patrol boats, minesweepers, and anti-submarine vessels, as well as our own aircraft, must be expected everywhere.
In the Arctic Ocean, in addition to the tanker designated for the operation, two of our own weather observation vessels (armed fishing trawlers) are stationed at positions Qu. 39 AE and 72 A B. Furthermore, Vessel 31 (a British-type fishing trawler) is en route from Tromsø to its operational area near Jan Mayen.
Our own submarines in the North Sea are being controlled in such a way as to avoid encounters. Mutual information exchange is ensured by Group North. Regarding our own submarines in the Atlantic, see Operational Directive of Group West B, No. G.Kds. 1803/41 Aop Chefs.
4.) Neutral Navigation:
Since April 16th, neutral navigation has been required to follow the following course through the blockade area:
from 64° 50' N, 2° 15' W
via 59° 10' N, 23° 40' W
to 54° 00' N, 30° 50' W
Furthermore, within the blockade area, all armed forces are authorized to use weapons without restriction against all warships and merchant ships, including neutral ones (Ordinance 1.Skl. J 7646/41 G.Kdos.).
5.) Implementation:
- a)
Command: Until crossing the line southern tip of Greenland - northern
tip of the Hebrides, the operation is directed by the Commander-in-Chief
of Group North at the command post in Kiel; thereafter by the
Commander-in-Chief of Group West.
Command of the task force: The Fleet Commander on the battleship "Bismarck".
b) The flotilla will depart Gotenhafen on April 28th in sufficient time to reach Point Green 03 Otto (off Arkona) at approximately 10:30 a.m. on April 29th. From 10:00 a.m. onwards, the barrage breaker 18 and the destroyers approaching from the east will be ready to take on board. The destroyers approaching from the west will join up at Point Red 05 Otto. (According to the current readiness status, the destroyers "Z 24", "H. Lody", and "Fr. Eckhold" are operational, as well as "Z 23" up to Kristiansand-South, with a speed restriction of 25 nautical miles.)
From green 03 Otto, the march will proceed under escort to red point 05 Otto, which is to be reached at 21:30.
If "Prinz Eugen" is still in Kiel from the beginning of the operation, he will join the destroyers coming from the west at 9:30 pm on April 29th at point red 05 Otto on the association.
From here, march through the Great Belt to Kristiansand-South as ordered by the BSO [Commander of the Baltic Sea Security]. Barrage Breaker 18 remains at Otto's disposal up to point red 20. Mine escort and advance are to be arranged so that point black O2 Otto is reached at daybreak.
BSO is establishing stationary anti-submarine protection along the advance route of the squadron between the Skagen barrier and Kristiansand-South.
At the outer Kristiansand-South barrier, which is said to have been passed at 8:30 pm on April 30th, the Norwegian Admiralty is providing a barrier pilot boat.
Details concerning searched routes, marker boats, route designation, radio repeaters, minesweeping escort, anti-submarine warfare and the ordering of the SB in his area are communicated directly by BSO to the fleet, ships and destroyers, for information to the group.
c) BSN [Commander of North Sea Security] orders submarine hunting off Hanstholm-Sperrlücke on 30.4. and clarifies the use of the barrier pilot boat as an alternative route.
d) After passing the outer Kristiansand-South barrier, the flotilla will proceed at high speed through the deep channel along the Norwegian coast and enter Korsfjord on the morning of May 1st. There, it will anchor at an anchorage to be assigned by Admiral West Coast. Admiral Norway will place four large steamers at the anchorage, which can be taken alongside the ships for torpedo protection. Furthermore, the tanker "Wollin" will be made available for refueling "Prinz Eugen" and destroyers.
Admiral West Coast is preparing to enter Stavanger as an alternative.
The flotilla weighs anchor again with the destroyers so early that it leaves Hjeltefjord at dusk. It proceeds at high speed towards Qu. 8787 AF and from there continues on a northerly course at its own discretion. Admiral Nordküste prepares for entry into Trondheim as an alternative starting on May 1st.
e) The destroyers are to be released at the discretion of the fleet commander. They will initially proceed to Trondheim and be available there on a six-hour standby basis. They will proceed to Trondheim according to the instructions of Admiral North Coast. Recall for the return march will be carried out by Group North.
f) In suitable weather conditions, a breakthrough through the Iceland-Fare Islands strait immediately following the departure and far from the Icelandic coast is recommended.
g) If an immediate breakthrough is not feasible, the flotilla will initially withdraw to the North Sea and await suitable weather conditions. To attempt the breakthrough with the highest possible fuel reserves, refueling at sea from the tanker "Weissenburg," which is on standby at point Hans (70° N, 1° W), is a possibility. After refueling, which is to be reported by short signal, the northern group "Weissenburg" will be relieved by the "Heide," which is on standby in the skerries near Trönen. This ensures that a tanker with a full fuel supply is available should the breakthrough attempt fail on the first attempt.
- 29.4. Enlightenment. K.Fl.Gr. 906 Evening reconnaissance Skagerrak.
30.4. Fighter escort and close security:
From 1300 onwards, from point "Schwarz 27" until darkness, the
following is to be provided: Fighter escort and close security.
Execution:
Fighter escort German Bight is requested to provide fighter
escort from 1300 onwards, point "Schwarz 21" to Qu. 4415 loE. Air Fleet 5
is requested to assume fighter escort from Qu. 4415 loE until darkness
(the formation will be at approximately 2030 at the altitude of
Kristiansand-South).
BOO will ensure timely notification of the formation's location
to the commander of Fighter Air Wing Aalborg-West and Air Fleet 5.
Fighter escort German Bight is requested to communicate the
operational port and formation commander to BSO in a timely manner.
K.Fl.Gr. 906 establishes close cover from "Black 21" until darkness.
Reconnaissance:
Airborne evening reconnaissance of the sea area west of the
Skagen barrier between 56° and 58° North to the English east coast. Scan
the west side of the area as soon as possible at dusk.
Report reconnaissance frequency in a timely manner.
Airborne guide north: continuous evening reconnaissance as
possible between 58° and 61° North to the English east coast and
islands.
K. Air Force Group. 906 Evening reconnaissance of the Skagerrak with remaining available resources.
1.5. Fighter Escort:
Air Fleet 5 is requested to provide fighter escort from dawn
until dusk upon entering Korsfjord and at its berth (pursuant to item 5,
the Admiral West Coast is requested to grant Air Fleet 5 access to its
berth).
The Admiral West Coast will ensure timely notification of the
commanding officer of the fighter squadron and Air Fleet 5. Air Fleet 5
is requested to inform the Admiral West Coast of its operational port
and fighter commanding officer.
Enlightenment:
Fl. Leader North as complete as possible evening reconnaissance of sea areas.
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a) Between 59° and 60°, 50' northwest to the connecting line Shetland-Orkneys-Pentland Firth.
b) Square 2410 AN - 2210 AN - 6880 AE - 3820 AE - 3820 AF. Leave the west side if possible at dusk.
General:
- 1.) Do not report
friendly forces with FT.
2.) Keep in contact with enemy cruisers heading upwind.
3.) Strictly observe regulations regarding approaching friendly warships.
Anti-submarine warfare:
The Air Force will deploy one Ar 196 aircraft chain to Stavanger
for anti-submarine warfare in a timely manner. Anti-submarine warfare is
planned for April 28, 29, and 30 along the southwestern Norwegian coast
between Kristiansand-South and Skudesnes. The Arado chain remains under
the command of the Air Force. Operational plans are to be communicated
to the Air Force Commander North.
Reconnaissance of English harbor:
Inspection and occupancy assessment of Skapa by Fl. F�. North
on April 26th or 27th and on April 30th and May 1st is urgently
required.
Further notification.
Air Fleet 5 is requested to inform the General of the Air Force
Northern Norway in general about the unit's presence at sea.
An FW 200 for ice reconnaissance of the Danish Crossing has been requested by Air Force Commander Atlantik. Whether timely ice reconnaissance can be carried out is still uncertain, given the limited number of FW 200 aircraft and the unpredictable weather conditions for the flight and operation. The results will be transmitted by FT (Flight Report) if necessary.
Experience has shown that May is the least favorable month for crossing the Danish Crossing.
8.) Message orders will be transmitted by separate letter.
9.) Reports.
Crossing the group boundary is to be reported by short signal
unless there are compelling reasons to the contrary. From then on,
command is provided by Group West.
If the planned march-out cannot be followed up to and including
departure from Bergen, significant deviations are to be reported by
radio message, if necessary transmitted by a detached radio repeater.
Probable deployment locations of the English naval forces as of 19.4.41.
1.) Scapa area and West Coast:
Lightships "Prince of Wales", "Nelson", "Rodney", (see also under West Coast Africa).
Black Sea Crossing "Suffolk", Crossing "Frobisher", "Najade",
"Mauritius", "Fiji", "Phoebe", "Dido", "Nigeria", "Aurora", "Penelope"
Minesweeper "Adventure".
2.) Northern route:
liners "King George five"; (see also Canada), "Ramillies", "R. Sovereign" (see also Canada).
3.) East coast:
Short. "Edinburgh", "Galatea", "Cardiff", "Curacoa".
4.) Channel:
Black Short. "Berwick", short. "Uganda", "Hermione", "Birmingham" (?), "Euryalus" (number of destroyers not known).
5.) Eastern Mediterranean and Suez Canal area:
Battleships "Warspite", "Valiant", "Barham", aircraft carriers
"Formidable", "Illustrious" (?) "Eagle", heavy cruisers "York", "Kent",
"Sussex", "Exeter", "London", cruisers "Gloucester", "Glasgow",
"Liverpool", "Orion", "Neptune", "Perth", "Ajax", "Calcutta",
"Coventry", "Carlisle", "Cairo", approximately 25 destroyers and 10
submarines.
6.) Gibraltar Territory or West Africa:
USS Renown, USS Repulse, USS Queen Elizabeth, aircraft carrier USS
Ark Royal, USS Furious, USS Argus, USS Sheffield, USS Kenya, USS
Belfast class, 16 destroyers and a number of submarines.
7.) West Coast Africa:
Navy Cruiser "Hood" (possibly also Home).
Lightship "R."-class from the northern route?, aircraft carrier
"Victorious" (?), air force carrier "Albatross", Navy Cruiser
"Dorsetshire", Cruisers "Vindictive", "Dragon", "Arethusa", "Dunedin"
and 4 destroyers as well as some auxiliary cruisers.
8.) Canada:
(Deployed on the northern route).
Ship "King George Five", "Revenge", "Despatch", "Diomede", "Caradoc", 9 destroyers and 2 submarines.
9.) New York:
Malaya and Delhi (Rep.).
10.) South Atlantic - East Coast of South America:
Schw. "Cumberland", short. "Newcastle", auxiliary code. "Asturias", "Queen of Bermuda".
11.) East India and Aden area:
Aircraft carrier "Hermes", Black Cross "Devonshire", "Cornwall",
"Canberra", Cross "Shropshire", "Manchester", "Leander" (?), "Hawkings",
"Achilles", "Enterprise", "Emerald" (?), "Ceres", "Capetown",
"Caledon", "Colombo", 9 destroyers.
12.) East Asia:
Krz. "Dauntless", "Danae", "Durban", 4 destroyers.
13.) Australia:
Swabian abbreviation "Australia", abbreviation "Sydney", "Adelaide", "Hobart".