20.4.1940 Norwegian Sea 80th day at sea 76°08'N, 16°27'E
After hiding at South Cape Island for 6 days and changing the ship’s camouflage to that of a neutral Dutchman, Kapitan.z.S Hartmann decides to operate along an area where the B-Dienst reports vast numbers of Independent Norwegian merchant shipping attempting to escape Norway. Several targets including 2 whale factory ships, and various tankers of over 10,000 grt are sailing for England. Schiff 19 weighs anchor and sets sail at 16 knots to her operations area between Narvik and the Faroe Islands. Schiff 19 has been advised that other Hilfskreuzers had sailed or were preparing to sail in the coming days. The S.K.L. has informed Schiff 19 that at least 3 other Hilfskreuzers have sailed or are preparing to sail.
While enroute the main radio room received new orders from the S.K.L. which instructs the raider to break off operations and proceed to Waiting Area C in the Greenland Sea and await for favorable weather to breakout into the North Atlantic.
