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 8th, 1940, but shortly cancelled due to the following days German invasion, starting the Norwegian Campaign.

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 .

Plan R4

• The naval side of R4 was to be commanded by Admiral Edward Evans .

Forces involved

• Renown Force
  • HMS Renown (Vice-Admiral William Whitworth )
  • Renown's escort
    • 1st Destroyer Flotilla
      • HMS Glowworm
      • HMS Greyhound
    • 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
      • HMS Hyperion
      • HMS Hero
  • Minelaying force
    • 20th Destroyer Flotilla (Captain J.G. Bickford)
      • HMS Esk
      • HMS Impulsive
      • HMS Icarus
      • HMS Ivanhoe
  • Minelaying escort
    • 2nd Destroyer Flotilla (Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee )
      • HMS Hardy
      • HMS Hotspur
      • MS Havock
      • HMS Hunter

• R4 Force (Admiral Edward Evans )
  • 1st Cruiser Squadron (Vice-Admiral John H. D. Cunningham )
    • HMS Berwick
    • HMS York
    • HMS Devonshire
    • HMS Glasgow
  • 2nd Cruiser Squadron (Vice-Admiral George F. B. Edward-Collins )
    • HMS Aurora
    • HMS Galatea
    • HMS Penelope
    • HMS Arethusa