Action in the Oslofjord

Part of the Norwegian Campaign in World War II

The ship Pol III in Tønsberg. The bow is damaged from ramming the German torpedo boat Alabatros.

Date	8 April 1940
Location	Oslofjord, Norway
Result	German victory

Belligerents

Norway

Germany

Commanders and leaders

Leif Welding-Olsen †

Oskar Kummetz

Strength

2 forts
1 patrol boat

2 heavy cruisers
1 light cruiser
1 torpedo boat
8 minesweepers

Casualties and losses

1 killed
14 captured
1 patrol boat damaged

1 torpedo boat damaged

The Action in the Oslofjord occurred late on 8 April 1940 in World War II. As Kampfgruppe 5 of the German invasion force proceeded towards Oslo, it encountered Norwegian defences in the Oslofjord. During a short exchange that resulted in the first Norwegian casualty of the war, the Germans managed to push through down to Drøbak Sound, where they would face more determined resistance.

In order to invade Norway, the Germans divided their naval forces into six groups. The fifth of these, "Kampfgruppe 5," was to pass through the Oslofjord and land troops in Oslo. The group consisted of the heavy cruisers Blücher and Lützow, the light cruiser Emden, the torpedo boat Albatros, and eight minesweepers. The ships were under orders not to open fire unless fired upon.

The outer parts of the fjord were guarded by the Oslofjord Fortress, established in 1914, made up of smaller forts at Bolærne and Rauøy.

Of the 11 guard ships operating out of Tønsberg, HNoMS Pol III would be tasked with patrolling the Oslofjord on the night of 8 April. Requisitioned by the Norwegian Navy in 1939, Pol III was armed with a 76 mm (3 in) gun and two machine guns. The ship had a crew of 15, including its commander Captain Leif Welding-Olsen.

Shortly after 23:00 on 8 April, Lieutenant Hans Bergan of Pol III spotted the anonymous invasion force at the mouth of the Oslofjord. The patrol boat fired a warning shot, and closed with the German torpedo boat Albatros. Admiral Oskar Kummetz, having seen the patrol boat to his ships' port sides, ordered the Albatros to intercept it. Captain Leif Welding-Olsen of the Pol III had a short conversation with the commander of the German boat, Kapitanleutnänt Siegfried Strelow, who demanded his surrender, to which he refused. Realizing that Norwegian neutrality was going to be violated, Oslen radioed a warning to Horten Naval Base: "Alien ships incoming at high speed," fired flares for their coastal artillery (one white, two red, meaning "Enemy ships are forcing the line."), then ordered Pol III to ram Albatros.

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Wikipedia