World War 2 In Review

News Order for Rheinübung Exercise

[Translated from the German by Google Translate.]

Marine Group Command North
B.No. G.Kdos. 240/41 bosses.

Command post, April 22, 1941

"Top priority!", "Officer only!"

According to distribution list.

News order for Rhine exercise.

I. The messaging order applies to the battleship "Bismarck," the cruiser "Prinz Eugen" until they cross the line from the southern tip of Greenland to the northern tip of the Hebrides, to all tankers deployed in the operational area of Group North, and to the destroyers and torpedo boats deployed for escort.

II. Radio communication.

A. For the battleship "Bismarck" and the cruiser "Prinz Eugen."

1.) From departure to 59° North according to NBN, radio circuit diagram C (page 9).

a) Fleet shortwave

b) Wave for repeating reconnaissance reports, air reconnaissance, also communication wave Group North-Air Commander North,
day wave: 0j 5835 kHz (51.41 m)
night wave: kx 4645 kHz (64.60 m).

On this wave, all important reconnaissance reports of Air Commander North or Air Commander North are repeated.

c) Wave for fighter escort and close cover, as well as call signs and code names for this traffic, are communicated in a timely manner by Group North.

d) UK Channel 17

e) Radio station "Anton" according to NBN page 8.
Manning the "Anton" radio station is permitted only for the purpose of training radio crews.
Commands for Group North until the station change according to II B are issued exclusively on the fleet shortwave band.

f) Coastal shortwave bands in the relevant sea area according to NBN page 5, item 2 d to g and page 7 (Radio Station Group North).
Use of the coastal shortwave bands for transmitting purposes is permitted for reasons of concealment.
The Baltic Sea coastal shortwave network also serves for communication with forces of the BSO.

2.) In operational area 59 North:

a) Radio circuit "Anton" according to NBN page 8 and NBN circuit diagram part II, Appendix 5, page 27 a and b)

b) Longwave near zone: according to Fleet order (for tankers, attached as Appendix 1).

3.) The transition from one circuit to the other is ordered by Group North.

B. For security forces.

1.) Security forces activate the fleet shortwave radio.

This remains active until the ship returns to port after the operation is completed (at least by a patrol boat).

2.) Activation of corresponding coastal frequencies as instructed by the flotilla commander or senior commander.

3.) UK Channel 17.

C. For tankers.

1.) Tankers shall continuously man the "Anton" radio channel in accordance with Section II A 2 a) during deployment and while in the operational area. This order also applies to tankers on standby in the skerries.

2.) Upon approaching the Norwegian coast, the corresponding coastal frequency for Norway, in accordance with NBN page 5, section 2 e to g and page 7, Radio Channel Group North, shall be activated on the receiving end.

1.) In the event of a failure of the Kootwijk transmitters, or in the case of insufficient operational reliability of the "Anton" radio network, or for reasons of concealment, the "Extended Local and Long-Distance Service Norddeich Radio" (according to NBN pages 26 and 27, with a continuous reception range of 2290 m), the Atlantic long-distance communication wave, and the submarine long-distance communication wave can be used to transmit messages to home.

2.) In the event of a prolonged failure of the Kootwijk transmitters, Group North will issue orders via the "Extended Local and Long-Distance Service Norddeich Radio".

III. Key equipment.
Key documents for domestic waters on all shafts.

IV. Short signal service according to the Fleet Short Signal Booklet.
For operational acknowledgment and confirmation of the short signals, see NBN page 18, item 10. V.

Weather service.
In addition to the weather station broadcasts by Norddeich Radio on 2400 m, a weather forecast for the relevant sea area is issued daily by the Group Command.

VI. ES service according to ES regulations.
On OKM 2./Skl. Na 676/41 g.Kdos. dated 1.4.41. (Reference is made to Annex No. 2 to the General Order of Group North No. 8 of April 9, 1941).

VII. Radio beacons on the Norwegian coast according to NBN page 61, II a). The radio beacons are to be ordered by the naval forces themselves before departure or requested via Group North.

VIII. Time indications.
According to German legal time.

IX. After the transfer of command to Group West according to the Group West communications order.

Annex 1 to Group North 240/41 Gkds. Chiefs.

Radio service of the support vessels and escort tankers.

I. Radio communications with the home front:
according to the communication orders of the group commands.

II. Radio communications with naval forces:
With partial modification of the orders originally issued by the group commands, the following is commanded:

a) Direction finding for rendezvous:
Troopers and escort tankers occupy the long-wave shortwave band for 30 minutes at the times they are scheduled to be at the rendezvous point according to operational orders.

The ship to be rendezvous, or the lead ship in a convoy, initiates radio communication on this wave, if necessary, by transmitting "ww w" followed by its five-digit number group, the digital root of which is specified in section IV, beginning with the lowest transmission power. The call lasts one minute. The following minute is reserved for the responding station. Battleships use only the odd-numbered minutes until contact is established ; troopers and escort tankers use the even-numbered minutes, regardless of the time the radio communication begins. If no answer is received in the second minute, the call is to be repeated in the third minute with a slightly higher transmission power. As soon as the called radio station has received the call, it answers in the following even minute with "ww w" and an interspersed five-digit number group, the digital root of which corresponds to the vessel in question according to section IV). The answer is also to begin with the lowest transmission power, which is to be increased to 50% of the transmission power in the next minute until the answer is received. The calling radio station responds with its five-digit code and, using the traffic abbreviation, indicates the volume at which it is receiving the trooper, enabling the trooper to adjust its transmission power accordingly. The connection is considered established when both radio stations can hear each other at volume 2. Skilled petty officers should be assigned to this radio communication, and the best receivers should be used with the volume turned all the way up. Silence in the radio room! A direction-finding radio message from the trooper or escort tanker is requested by the receiving vessel using the traffic abbreviation "Qobs". At this moment, the minute allocation is complete. The requested radio station transmits a direction-finding message consisting of approximately 10 to 12 five-digit number groups, the first and last of which must equal the cross sum assigned to the transmitting troop vessel or escort tanker. No acknowledgment of receipt is given for this direction-finding message; a new request is made by transmitting the traffic abbreviation "qobs" again. Until the vessel is sighted and the radio contact is thus concluded, the settings on the transmitters and receivers with which the radio contact was established must not be changed in order to ensure that radio communication can be resumed at any time without a new calling procedure.

b) Radio message exchange:
Establishing radio contact is done as described in II, a), unless already established. The transmission of a radio message is to be announced by the traffic abbreviation "qtc", confirmed by the receiving station with "k". Transmission of the radio message after transmission of the radio procedure. Keying according to M-General for domestic waters. Radio names according to GFL

c) Frequency change is ordered with the traffic abbreviation "qlns"......" "Switch to the longwave near zone ..... kHz"

III. Waves for local traffic:
Lucie Emil 133 kHz (2256 m)
Alternate wave: Lucie Max 186 kHz (1613 m)

IV. Digital root of the five-digit call sign groups.
"Bismarck": 21
"Prinz Eugen": 22
"Weissenburg": 34
"Heide": 33

Operational Order No. 18 for the Tanker "Heide", April 22, 1941

[Translated from the German by Google Translate.]

Naval Group Command North
B.No. 239/41 Gkdos. Chiefs.

Command Post North, April 22, 1941.

"Top priority!", "Officer only!"

Operational Order No. 18 for the tanker "Heide".

I. Task:
The tanker "Heide" is positioned off the coast of Tränen in the archipelago, ready to reinforce the battleship "Bismarck" and the cruiser "Prinz Eugen."
Until it leaves the archipelago, as ordered by Group North, the ship is under the command of Group North; after departure, it is directly under the command of 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,"
tanker "Heide."

IV. Enemy News:
See Annex 1.

V. Own Forces in the Operational Area:
1.) Tanker "Weissenburg" at point H.
2.) 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 "Heide" will depart Kiel as soon as clear, under escort according to the instructions of the BSO, for the voyage via Kristiansand, then through Skudesnesfjord through archipelagos to Trondheim, from there to the anchorage in Kvalnesgogen in Vefsen Fjord at 65° 58.5' North, 12° 46' East.
March from Kristiansand-South to ~~Hanst~~ City Landing as directed by the Admiral West Coast, from there via Trondheim to the anchorage as directed by the Admiral North Coast.
The ordered waiting position must be reached no later than the evening of May 2nd.

b) The ship will remain there on 3-hour standby and, if necessary, relieve the tanker "Weissenburg," which is on standby in the North Sea to supply the naval forces at Point Hans (see Annex).
The order to leave the archipelago and rendezvous with the naval forces will be issued by the Naval Staff of Group North.

c) The order to return from the operational area will also be issued by the Naval Staff of Group North or the Fleet.

VII. Conduct in the operational area:
The ship will be positioned within a 15 nautical mile radius of the designated rendezvous point, at least every 6 hours at the center of this circle, beginning at 00:00 MGZ. It
is of particular importance that the tanker "Heide" remains unseen by the enemy. Therefore, a particularly strong lookout must be maintained, and all vessels must be avoided in a timely manner.
In the event of unavoidable enemy contact that cannot be avoided, the ship must, if necessary, be scuttled in a timely manner after prior FT reporting of the location, number, and type of enemy forces.

VIII.
Message orders: Follow separately.

IX. Mine situation in Norway:
Available for inspection from the Naval Commander Kristiansand-South.

X. Tanker deployment at rendezvous points:
See Appendix 2.

XI. List of code names:
See Appendix 3.

Annex 1 to Group North 238/41 Gkds. Chiefs. and 239/41 Gkds. Chiefs.

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:

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".

b) The appearance of enemy forces, both in the Denmark Strait and the Iceland Passage, and surprise short incursions as far as the Norwegian coast, must be expected.

c) The ~~following~~ reports of British submarines are available:
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, especially bearings of enemy units, are continuously being relayed by the group.

Annex 2 to Group North 238/41 and 239/41 Gkds. Chiefs.

Operations Order No. 17 Tanker Weißenburg and Operations Order No. 18 Tanker Heide.

Meeting point for the tankers.

Point:
Hans
Fritz
Karl
Max

Latitude:
70ï¿½ North
71ï¿½ North
72ï¿½ 20' North
73ï¿½ 40' North

Longitude:
1ï¿½ West
1ï¿½ 20' West
0ï¿½ 30' East
0ï¿½ 0'

Annex 3 to Group North 238/41 and 239/41 Gkds. Chiefs.

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.

Distribution

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

Operational Order No. 17 for the Tanker "Weissenburg" April 22, 1941

[Translated from the German by Google Translate.]

Naval Group Command North
B.No. 238/41 Gkdos. Chiefs.

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.

1.) Scapa area and West Coast:

b) The appearance of enemy forces, both in the Denmark Strait and the Iceland Passage, and surprise short incursions as far as the Norwegian coast, must be expected.

c) The ~~following~~ reports of British submarines are available:
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.

Annex 2 to Group North 238/41 and 239/41 Gkds. Chiefs.

Operations Order No. 17 Tanker Weißenburg and Operations Order No. 18 Tanker Heide.

Meeting point for the tankers.

Point:
Hans
Fritz
Karl
Max

Latitude:
70ï¿½ North
71ï¿½ North
72ï¿½ 20' North
73ï¿½ 40' North

Longitude:
1ï¿½ West
1ï¿½ 20' West
0ï¿½ 30' East
0ï¿½ 0'

"Bismarck"
"Prince Eugene"
"Heide"
"Weissenburg"
"Group North"

Oak wreath,
sea god,
powder box,
resting pillow,
bantam chicken.

Distribution

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

Operational Order No. 16: Deployment of the "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen" into the Atlantic, Operation Rheinübung

[Translated from the German by Google Translate.]

Marine Group Command North
B.No. 237/41 Aop. G.Kdos. Bosses.

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"].)

1.) Task:
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:

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.

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:

a) Important observations from radio reconnaissance.

b) Bearings taken by enemy forces in the relevant sea area.

3.) Own Forces:
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.

6.) Aerial reconnaissance, tight security, game protection.

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.

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. Fï¿½. 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.

7.) Ice reconnaissance of the Danish Crossing.
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.

Annex 1 to Group North 237/41 G. Kdos. Chefs.

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".

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News Order for Rheinübung Exercise

Operational Order No. 18 for the Tanker "Heide", April 22, 1941

Operational Order No. 17 for the Tanker "Weissenburg" April 22, 1941

Operational Order No. 16: Deployment of the "Bismarck" and "Prinz Eugen" into the Atlantic, Operation Rheinübung