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Norwegian Campaign
Operations April to June 1940
Area of Operations, only some
locations in text are shown
AIR 15/205
SECRET
CYPHER MESSAGE
Serial No. 59
To: H.Q.C.C.
Date
1/4/40
From: Admiralty
Time
of Receipt 2115.
Despatch 2240
1/4/40.
Following message is passed to you for information. C.
in C. Home Fleet repeated C. in C. Rosyth,
F.O.C.O.S., F.O. Greenock, C. in C. Western Approaches.
C.S.I. from Admiralty. Admiralty 0008/29 to C. in C. Home Fleet only
The laying of mines in Norwegian waters may lead to German
reaction in Scandinavia.
(2). It has therefore been decided to hold troops ready to
occupy the Ports of Stavanger, Bergen, and Trondheim and ready to land at
Narvik. The operation will be know
as Plan R.4.
(3). The landing of troops at the three Southern ports will
be carried out on similar lines to O.S.O. contained in your No. H.F. 001360/297
of 6th March. It is anticipated that the Troops for Stavanger and
Bergen will be ready to embark in cruisers at Rosyth
on 5th April and the Troops for Trondheim ready to embark in a liner
on the Clyde on the same day. The stores for the three Ports should arrive at
Rosyth and Clyde on 4th April. 3 cruisers of 1st
Cruiser Squadron and 1 of 18th C.S. should, therefore, arrive at
Rosyth early on Thursday 4th April.
(4). It is intended that the initial 2 Battalions of the
Narvik Force should be ready to sail from the Clyde in a
liner about 7th April, accompanied by 2 Cruisers of the Arethusa
Class under the Command of Admiral Sir Edward Evans. It is probable that some
200 Men will be embarked in the Cruiser Flying the Flag of Admiral Evans.
(5). Request you will arrange for cruisers and the necessary
Destroyer escorts to be available at the Clyde and for a Home Fleet Oiler to be
embarked to proceed to Narvik, the name of this oiler
being signalled in order that arrangements for her to
embark certain stores can be made.
(6). 2 Store ships for the Narvik
Force should be ready to sail from Bristol Channel Ports about 9th
April escort to Clyde being arranged by C. in C. Western Approaches.
(7). It is probable that subsequent reinforcements,
including the French contingent, will proceed to Narvik
only. Arrangements are being made for the provision of the local
Defences of this Port for Plan R.3.
(8). It is not intended that any Forces shall be landed in
Norway until the Germans have violated Norwegian Territory, or there is clear
evidence that they intend to do so. In addition to the above Forces a Striking
Force should be available at Rosyth from P.M. 3rd
to deal with any Seaborne expedition the Germans may send against Norway.
(9). It is realised that the above
requirements will necessitate the withdrawal of all Cruiser support SWD from
Northern Patrol and it is at your discretion to withdraw the latter temporarily
should you consider it desirable.
Further details will be communicated later. 0125/31.
T.O.O.
1653
T.O.R.
1934
Decyphered by V.D. Jenks, ASO.
PLAN R.4
1. Plan for the military occupation of Stavanger, Bergen,
Trondhjem, and Narvik. The Plan
is not put into operation until the Germans have violated Norwegian territory.
2. NAVAL TASKS
(i). Provision of cover
and escort for convoys.
(ii). The
transport in warships of troops to Stavanger, Bergen, and Narvik.
(iii). Provision
of local naval defence at Narvik.
3. OUTLINE PLAN
Plan R.4 is divided into two parts known as STRATFORD and
AVONMOUTH.
(a). STRATFORD force consists of two battalions for
Stavanger (Red Force), two battalions for Bergen (Blue Force), and one battalion
for Trondhjem (Green Force).
(b). AVONMOUTH
force – combined British and French force of about 18,000 men.
4. FORCES TAKING PART
A. STRATFORD
Red Force in two cruisers sail from Rosyth
on D.1, arrive Stavanger D.2
Blue Force – two cruisers sail Rosyth
D.1, arrive Bergen D.2.
Green Force – Convoy (T.P.), convoy (M.O.), one M.T.
ship (S.S. CYCLOPS – with first line M.T. for Stavanger), S.S. CHROBRY
sails Clyde D.1, arrives Trondhjem D.4.
B. AVONMOUTH
(a). AURORA (Flag ship of Admiral Sir E. Evans)
PENELOPE
MAORI
SHANTY
(n.b. ASHANTI)
FOXHOUND
ESCAPADE
ENCOUNTER
Sail
with S.S. BATORY in convoy
(b). H.M.S. PROTECTOR, A/S and boom defence
trawlers
(c). At least six destroyers for convoy escort
(d). Convoys
N.S.
1
2
Storeships (LOMBARDY and MCGREGOR LAIRD)
N.P. 1
S.S.
BATORY leaves Clyde D.1, arrives Narvik D.5
N.O. – one oiler
leaves Scapa as requisite, arrived Narvik as soon
after N.P. 1 as possible
N.P. 2
3
liners - EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, MONARCH OF BERMUDA, and REINA DEL PACIFICO –
with remainder of British Brigade
R.F.A.
WAR PINDARI sails to arrive Narvik D.5
(e). French component with convoys and escort proceed in two
or more fleets calling at Clyde for refuelling and route
instructions.
5. AIR TASKS
A/S and air protection for convoys and
reconnaissance of North Sea.
15 Group tasks
Air escort required for French convoys in Western Approaches
and Irish Sea, and N.S. 1
from
Newport to Clyde.
18 Group tasks
A/S protection from Clyde and Northwest
coast of Scotland to Narvik for convoys N.P. 1 and
N.P. 2.
A/S protection
for RED cruisers from Rosyth to Stavanger, for BLUE
force cruisers from Rosyth to Bergen, for convoy
(T.P.) from Clyde to Trondhjem, convoy (M.O.) from
Leith to Stavanger.
6. COMMUNICATIONS
AVONMOUTH force will keep watch in guard ship on following
frequencies, in order of preference.
280 kcs. While air escort is
provided
Fleet Reconnaisance Wave
No. 18 Group R.A.F. main frequency.
In the event of enemy surface forces being reported within
60 miles, all ships set watch on Fleet Reconnaissance wave in addition to any
others. All enemy reports are re broadcast by Scapa W/T on Fleet Reconnaissance
Wave.
MOST SECRET
PLAN R.4
INFORMATION
1. The
decision to lay mines in Norwegian waters may lead to German reaction in Scandinavia.
AIM
2. To
forestall German action by occupying certain ports in Norway in anticipation of
the landing of an expeditionary force.
PLAN
3. Ports to be occupied:
STAVANGER
BERGEN
TRONDHJEM
Port to be
occupied in Force: NARVIK
4. Troops for Stavanger and Bergen, approximately two battalions,
for each place, will embark in cruisers DEVONSHIRE, YORK, BERWICK, and GLASGOW.
These cruisers are to arrive at Rosyth early on
Thursday, 4th April in readiness to embark troops on 5th
April. Stores for these two ports will arrive Rosyth
on 4th April.
5. Troops for Trondhjem,
approximately one battalion and an advanced party for PLYMOUTH Force to be
ready to embark in liner S.S. CHROBRY on the Clyde on the 5th April.
Stores for this port will arrive at Clyde on 4th April.
Naval escort to consist of three destroyers.
6. Troops for Narvik, two battalions
to be ready to sail from Clyde on liner S.S. BATORY about 7th April;
naval escort comprises cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE under command of Admiral
Sir Edward Evans, and destroyers. Times of sailings will be notified later but will
conform generally to the sailing instructions contained in paragraph 13 and Diagrams
I, II, and III to Plan R.3 (file S.7010/18).
AIR COOPERATION –
PROBABLE REQUIREMENTS
7. Diagram II shows four cruisers as sailing approximately
noon from Rosyth to arrive Bergen and Stavanger
(presumably two cruisers to each place) before noon on the following day. In
addition to A/S Air protection, long range fighter
protection will probably be required during daylight hours. Dawn and dusk
searches of southern half of the North Sea may also be required to give warning
of movements of enemy surface craft.
8. A/S protection will be required for both
Trondhjem and Narvik forces on
passage on West coast of Scotland and subsequently on passage across the North
Sea. Long range fighter protection from Shetlands may
also be necessary for the North Sea crossing for the Trondhjem force.
There is no mention in Plan R.3 of an air component with
Stavanger force and presumable the subsequent movements will adhere to the
outlined plan shown in paragraphs 11 to 27 of Plan R.3
9. Withdrawal of cruiser support from Northern Patrol may
require reinforcement of air patrols between Faroes
and Iceland and between Faroes and Shetlands. This
may require the withdrawal of Sunderlands from units
in 15 Group. Flying boats to operate from both Shetlands and
Invergordon.
AERODROMES AND
SEAPLANE BASES ON WEST COAST OF NORWAY
10. Naval seaplane stations exist at Harstad
and Bergen though it is probable that many other anchorages exist in the
fiords. Military aerodromes exist at Vaernes near
Trondhjem and Bomoen east of
Bergen. The main civil aerodrome is 7 ½ miles southwest of Stavanger at
approximately sea level.
PARTICULARS OF
STAVANGER AERODROME
Landing Area. N.N.E.
by S.S.W. 950 yards
S.E. by N.W.
1050
yards
Grass covered
Two concrete runways, 43 yards wide and of same length and
same directions as stated above.
One hanger – 164 feet by 26 feet.
Has W/T facilities, transmitting and receiving station and D/F station.
Meteorological services and boundary
markings.
STAVANGER
SEAPLANE BASE
The aerodrome communicating by concrete road to the
Hafs Fiord which is used as a
seaplane base. This base is used regularly for commercial traffic. There are
two very small breakwaters at the South west Corner
with a slipway between them which can only be used at high water as it is of
any great length. There is no hanger, but fairly large tarmac and aircraft with
their wings more than four or five feet off the ground can be moved along the
concrete road to the aerodrome hanger. Believed to be two mooring buoys.
