[Translated from the German by Google Translate.] Naval Group Command North |
Command post, April 22, 1941 |
"Top priority!", "Officer only!"
Operational order no. 17 for the tanker "Weissenburg".
I. Task:Tanker "Weissenburg" is positioned in the North Sea at Point Hans, ready to reinforce the battleship "Bismarck" and the cruiser "Prinz Eugen."
Upon departure from Trondheim, the ship will be directly under the command of the Fleet Command.
II. Command Structure:
Overall Command: Commander-in-Chief of Group North at the Kiel Command Post.
III. Participating Forces:
Fleet Commander with "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen.
" Tanker "Weissenburg" at Point Hans, tanker "Heide" on standby at Schärne Höhe Tränen.
IV. Enemy Intelligence:
See Appendix 1.
V. Own Forces in the Area of Operations:
1.) One WBS each in square AB 72 and in square AE 39 at position.
2.) Ship 31 (English fishing trawler type) en route from Tromsø to the operational area north of Jan Mayen.
VI. Individual orders:
a) Tanker "Weisenburg" will depart Tromsø on the evening of April 29th, following orders from Admiral North Coast, and will proceed to the sea area around Point Hans, where it will move back and forth in a circle with a 15 nautical mile radius, returning to the center of the circle at least every 6 hours, starting at 00:00 MGZ.
The first oil delivery to the naval forces is expected from early morning on May 3rd.
b) After the initial oil transfer to the naval forces has been completed, the intention is to replace the tanker "Weissenburg" with the tanker "Heide," which is on standby near Trönen.
The order to begin the return voyage to Trönen or Trondheim and the order to put to sea for the tanker "Heide" will be issued by Group North via FT.
c) It is of particular importance that the tanker "Weissenburg" remains unseen by the enemy. Therefore, a particularly strong lookout must be maintained, and all vessels must be avoided in good time.
In the event of unavoidable enemy contact that cannot be avoided, the ship must be scuttled in good time if necessary, after prior FT reporting the location, number, and type of enemy forces.
VII. Communications orders:
To follow separately.
VIII. Mine situation in Norway:
Inquire with Naval Commander Trondheim.
IX. Tanker deployment at rendezvous points:
See Appendix 2.
X. List of cover names:
See Appendix 3.
Operations Order No. 17 Tanker Weißenburg.
Operations Order No. 18 Tanker Heide.
Enemy intelligence
a) In the sea area of the English east coast, Scapa area, west coast and northern route, the following English forces up to and including cruisers are presumably to be expected:
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1.) Scapa area and West Coast:
Battleships "Prince of Wales", "Nelson", "Rodney", Heavy Cruiser "Suffolk", Cruisers "Frobisher", "Najade", "Mauritius", "Fiji", "Phoebe", "Dido", "Nigeria", "Aurora", "Penelope", Minesweeper "Adventure".
2.) Northern Route:
Battleships "King George Five", "Ramillies", "R. Sovereign".
3. East Coast:
Cruisers "Edinburgh", "Galatea", "Cardiff", "Curacoa".
c) The
14.3. AN 3652 two submarines (report questionable)
19.4. AN 3138 one submarine.
d) Aerial reconnaissance is conducted daily as part of the morning reconnaissance, weather permitting. and afternoon reconnaissance, and on favorable nights also night reconnaissance, flown and extended in the northern North Sea as far as the coast of Norway.
North of the Shetlands-Drontheim line, Sunderland flying boats are deployed for reconnaissance from Lerfick Harbour or Sollum-Voe (Shetlands).
The sea area Iceland-Faroe is apparently being reconnaissanced from Iceland.
e) Further reports, in particular bearings of enemy units, are being continuously transmitted by the group.
Operations Order No. 17 Tanker Weißenburg and Operations Order No. 18 Tanker Heide.
Meeting point for the tankers.
| Point: Hans Fritz Karl Max |
Latitude: 70� North 71� North 72� 20' North 73� 40' North |
Longitude: 1� West 1� 20' West 0� 30' East 0� 0' |
Operations Order No. 17 Tanker Weißenburg and Operations Order No. 18 Tanker Heide.
List of code names.
The following code names are used in correspondence and written communication, but not for signatures and affidavits:
| "Bismarck" "Prince Eugene" "Heide" "Weissenburg" "Group North" |
Oak wreath, sea god, powder box, resting pillow, bantam chicken. |
to Group North B. No. 238/41 Gkds. Chiefs and B. No. 239/41 Gkds. Chiefs. of 22.4.41.
(Operations Order No. 17 for tanker "Weissenburg"
Operations Order No. 18 for tanker "Heide".)
| Naval Fleet "Bismarck" "Priz Eugen" Admiral Norway Admiral West Coast Admiral North Coast Tanker "Weissenburg" Tanker "Heide" Reserve (of which 3 war diaries) |
Test no. 1 test no. 2-3 test no. 4 test no. 5 test no. 6 test no. 7 test no. 8 test no. 9 (B.No.238) test no. 10 (B.No.239) test no. 10-15 |