Operation Wilfred
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Operation Wilfred was a British scheme to mine the waters between Norway and her islands in order to prevent German convoys fom using the neutral waters to transport high grade Swedish iron ore. The Allies assumed that Wilfred would provoke a German response in Norway. When that occurred, the Allies would implement Plan R4 and occupy Norway. [1]
Operation Wilfred was put into action on April 8, 1940, but shortly cancelled due to the following days German invasion, starting the Norwegian Campaign.
[edit] History
Operation Wilfred was designed by First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill in 1939 shortly after the German invasion of Poland. Because of its seeming innocence, it was named after a naive character from the popular comic strip Pip, Squeak and Wilfred.
[edit] Plan R4
- The naval side of R4 was to be commanded by Admiral Edward Evans.
[edit] Forces involved
- Renown Force
- HMS Renown (Vice-Admiral William Whitworth)
- Renown's escort
- 1st Destroyer Flotilla
- 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
- Minelaying force
- 20th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain J.G. Bickford)
- Minelaying escort
- 2nd Destroyer Flotilla (Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee)
- R4 Force (Admiral Edward Evans)
- 1st Cruiser Squadron (Vice-Admiral John H. D. Cunningham)
- 2nd Cruiser Squadron (Vice-Admiral George F. B. Edward-Collins)
