[Translation from the German by Google Translate.] Commander of Baltic Sea Security. |
April 22, 1941. |
Top secret!
Top priority! Only by officer!
Short letter
| Fleet News Group North |
Test no. 1-7 test no. 8 |
Subject: March through the Great Belt, the Kattegat and the Skagerrak on April 29 and 30, 1941.
(May 19 and 20, 1941)
1.) On 29.4.41
(19.5.41), Sperrbrecher 13 and Sperrbrecher 31 escorted Eichenkranz
[Bismarck] and Meeresgott [Prinz Eugen] from green 03 to red 20
according to BSO Gkdos 32/41 Chiefs. of 22.4.41 (Annex 1).
2.) From red 20 to black 01, the fleet formation marches without a base mine escort along the route checked again on April 29 (May 19) by KFRG vehicles, so that black 01 is reached on April 30 (May 20) at 5:30 a.m.
In the Great Belt, buoy boats are deployed in accordance with BSO Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs (Annex 2). The buoy line is illuminated in accordance with BSO Gkdos 35/41 Chiefs (Annex 3).
3.) From black 01, the fleet formation follows this route:
From black 01, via black 03, via black 09, via black 10, via black 14, via black 18, via black 21, via black 21 A, via black 24, via Qu. 4415 upper left corner to black 26, from there to Kristiansand-Süd barrier gap.
4.) From point black 21, which will be reached on 30.4.
(20.5.) at approximately 13:00, to black 21 A, the fleet formation will
proceed behind a minesweeping escort of the 5th Ms.Fl. according to BSO
Gkdos 34/41 Chiefs. (Annex 4).
5.) On April 29/30
(May 19/20), the BSO will conduct anti-submarine warfare and close air
cover in the Skagerrak in accordance with BSO Gkdos 31/41 Chief's order
of April 22, 1941 (Annex 5).
6.) Measures for the night march through the Great Belt have been requested from the Marbef. Denmark according to BSO Gkdos 37/41 Chiefs. of 22.4.41. (Annex 6).
7.) Regarding Annex 5, Item 5: Please transmit the marching order to the boat on black 09 upon passing.
1. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 dated 22.4.1941
| Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 32/41 Chiefs. |
April 22, 1941. |
| Barrage Breaker 13 Barrage Breaker 31 next Fleet next Group North next Station East next Kobef West |
Test no. 1 test no. 2 test no. 3-9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12 |
At 0830
1.) Sperrbrecher 13 and Speerbrecher 31 are positioned on 29.4 .41 (19.5.41) ( time to be ordered
) at point green 03 to escort a formation consisting of two large and
several small units, from green 03 via green 02, green 01, red 13, red
07, red 06, red 05A, red 05, red 15, red 16, red 17, red 18, red 19 to
red 20.
Red 05 will be passed at 9:30 PM.
2.) Order of ships on the march from green 03 to red 20:
-
a.) Barrier breaker 13
b.) First large unit.
Distance between a) and b) as small as possible (about 500 m).
c.) Barrier breaker 31.
Distance between b) and c) = 1500 m.
d.) Second large unit.
Distance between c) and d) as small as possible (about 500 m).
e.) Attached in line behind d) the small units.
4.) At red 20, barrier bridges 13 and 31 veer to starboard (east) out of the formation after the entire formation has completed the course change at red 20, reduce speed and allow the formation to pass.
5.) After passing the convoy, Sperrbr. 13 and 31 follow the convoy ship by ship at full speed along the point route to red 27 and anchor there.
6.) Sperrbr. 13 reports escort take-off at green 03 and passage of red 20 by FT
7.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).
8.) On the night of April 29th (19th) to April 30th (May 20th):
-
a) The buoys in the Great Belt according to BSO Gkdos 35/41 Chief's of 22.4. (see Annex) are illuminated.
b) Market boats laid out according to BSO Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs. of 22.4. (see Annex).
2. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941
| Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 36/41 Chiefs. |
April 22, 1941. |
| Bewa East message. Fleet message. Group North message. Marbef. Denmark message. Barrage Breaker 13 message. Barrage Breaker 31 |
Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12 |
Re: Night march across the Great Belt.
1.) On the night of April 29th to 30th
, 1941 (May 19th to 20th), two large and several small vessels passed
through the Great Belt. The barrage breakers 13 and 31 followed the
group at greater intervals.
2.) The following is ordered:
Bewa Ost will deploy market boats at the following positions on April 29th (May 19th) from 2 PM onwards:
-
a) At 55 degrees 11.5 min. North, 11 degrees 3.7 min. East = 200 m west of red 21.
Identification: Two black balls by day, two red lanterns by night.
b) At 55 degrees 12.3 min. North, 11 degrees 6.8 min. East = 100 m south of the Agers South anti-aircraft buoy.
Identification: A black ball or two white lanterns.
c) At 55 degrees 19.6 min. North, 11 degrees 1.8 min. East = 200 m west of red 22 B.
Identification: Two black balls or one white one, below which is a red lantern.
d) At 55 degrees 33.6 min. North, 10 degrees 49.7 min. East (eastern edge of Roms�-Tue)
Identification: A black ball or a red lantern, below which is a white lantern.
e) At 55 degrees 52.9 min North, 10 degrees 50 min East (Hatter-Barn)
Identification: Two black balls or two red lanterns.
f) At 55 degrees 54.1 min. North, 10 degrees 51.2 min. East (Hatter-Rev)
Identification: A black ball or two white lanterns.
Regarding points 2 a) to 2 f): The bells and lanterns are to be placed one above the other.
The lanterns are to be placed on the night of April 29th to 30th (May 19th to 20th) from dusk until dawn. Mark boats that are not in the ordered position will not display bells or lanterns.
-
Position according to para. 2a) = Sirius
position according to point. 2b) = Saturn
position according to number 2c) = Venus
position according to number 2d) = Orion
position according to number 2e) = Uranus
position according to number 2f) = Mercury
5.) Boats of the 10th Vpfl. are to be designated as market boats. Bewa Ost reports the boat numbers and positions to BSO according to item 3).
6.) Radio communication of the market boats: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).
3. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941
| Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 35/41 Chiefs. |
April 22, 1941. |
| 2nd Group 5th R.-Fl narr. Fleet narr. Group North narr. Marbef. Denmark Bewa East narr. Sperrbrecher 13 narr. Sperrbrecher 31 |
Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12 test no. 13 |
Subject: Lighting Point Path Great Belt
1.) 2nd Group 5th Reserve Flotilla (R61, R53, R60, R64) takes over from the Mine Warfare Command on the afternoon of April 27th (May 17th) in Aarhus.
-
a) 90 fairway buoys with red lantern and connecting pedestals.
b) 25 fairway buoys with green lantern and anchoring.
c) 220 replacement elements for the electric lanterns according to item 1a) and 1b).
-
a) Lay out one fairway buoy with a green lantern and anchor 20 m
east of each of the red spar buoys (or yellow net buoys with attached
fishing buoy) located at the following course change points: red point
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 22A, 22B, 23, 23A, 24, 24A, 24B, 25, 26,
26A and 27.
b) Each of the red and white net buoys, which are located at intervals of 1 - 1.5 nm between the course change points according to point 2a), is to be lashed to a fairway buoy with a red lantern by means of a connecting mooring post (grabber buoy mooring post).
Regarding points 2a) and 2b):
The fairway buoys must be in place by nightfall on April 28th (May 18th). A FT report must be sent to BSO on the evening of April 28th (May 18th).
4.) After completing the task according to point 3.) R-boats enter Korsï¿¿r.
5.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).
6.) Pick up the fairway buoys only on special order.
4. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941
| Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 34/41 Chiefs. |
April 22, 1941. |
| 5th Ms. Flotilla, forward fleet, forward group North |
Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 |
Re: Minesweeping escort
1.) After conducting the anti-submarine warfare according to BSO Gkdos 31/41 Chief's order of 22.4.41, the 5th Ms.Fl. marches to point black 21.
2.) On 30.4.
(20.5.) at 1200 am, 5.Ms.Fl. with deployed equipment is stationed at
black 21 for minesweeping escort through the Skagen-Mitte blocking gap
to black 21 A for a formation advancing from black 18, consisting of two
large and several small units.
3.) ORG setting: 14 m.
No bow protection device.
Highest search and rescue operation to be reported to the escorted convoy. Do not buoy.
4.) Mine alarm only if the equipment is destroyed. Otherwise, hold out if you encounter mines. It must be expected that your own deep-lying mines (depth setting: 15 m) of the Skagen barrier will be cleared. The mines (UMA) have been thrown with "KE on". However, it is not certain that cleared mines will detonate. The following formation must avoid surface mines if necessary.
5.) After conducting a minesweeping escort, the 5th Ms. Fl. anchors in Skagen Roads.
6.) Radio communication: Baltic Sea longwave (nanni).
5. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941
| Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 31/41 Chiefs. |
April 22, 1941. |
| 9th Outpost Flotilla BSO Training Flotilla 16th Outpost Flotilla Submarine Chaser 119 5th Ms. Flotilla Coastal Aviation Group 906 Naval Fleet Naval Group North |
Test no. 1 test no. 2 test no. 2 test no. 4 test no. 5 test no. 6 test no. 7-13 test no. 14 |
1.) Situation On 30.4.41
(20.5.41) a special convoy, consisting of two heavy and several light
units, marched from black 21 A via black 24 to Qu. 4415 upper left
corner to black 26.
The convoy is on black 21 at approximately 1:00 PM on April 30th (May 20th).
Marching from black 21 to black 21 A approximately 10 nautical miles, then 20 nautical miles.
2.) To secure this convoy during its march across the Skagerrak, the following anti-submarine warfare will be ordered from 29.4 (19.5.) at 22:00:
- a.) 5th Ms.-Fl. with 4-5 boats in Qu. 4462, 4463, 4461, 4437 AO until
b.) BSO school flotilla with 5 boats in Qu. 4428, 4429, 4427, 4424 AO.
c.) 16. Vpfl. with 3 boats in the Qu. 4411, 4414, 4415, 4412 AO.
d.) 9 Vpfl. with 7 boats in the Qu. 3625, 3626, 3634, 3635 AN.
e.) U-J�ger 119, 111, 118 (114, 111) in the quarters 3616, 3619 upper half, 3624, 3627 upper half.
4.) Coastal Air Group 906 provides close air cover for convoy from black 21 to Kristiansand-South barrier gap.
5.) The BSO training flotilla will detach a boat well-equipped with FT (Field Telegraph) devices. This boat will anchor on 29.4
. (19.5.) at 2000 on black 09 and report via FT (SSD) the time of
passage and speed of the special convoy, which will pass black 09 on the
morning of 30.4 . (20.5.). Speed will be transmitted by the lead vessel of the special convoy upon passage.
Entry is only permitted upon special order.
6.) Flotillas report the distribution of boats.
7.) Radio transmission: Baltic Sea coastal longwave (nanni).
6. Annex to BSOBNr.Gkdos 33/41 of 22.4.1941
| Commander of Baltic Sea Security. Gkdos 37/41 Chiefs. |
April 22, 1941. |
| Marbef. Denmark message. Fleet message. Group North message. Barrage Breaker 13 message. Barrage Breaker 31 East Guard |
Test no. 1 test no. 2-8 test no. 9 test no. 10 test no. 11 Test no. 12 |
1.) For the night march of a unit through the Great Belt on the night of April 29th to 30th , 1941 (May 19th to 20th, 1941), the following measures are requested:
-
a.) Measure DS (Dora Sophie) on
b.) Measure DR (Dora Richard) on 29.4 . (19.5.) at 23:30 until 30.4 . (20.5.) at 04:00.
c.) Measure DQ (Dora Quatsch) on April 30th (May 20th) from 0:00 until dawn.
d.) Measure DO (Dora Otto) on 30.4 . (20.5.) from 02:30 am until dawn.