on 9 april 1940, "storm" was guarding the approaches to bergen, a restricted naval port, and was under orders to fire at any intruder. reports of foreign warships moving against norway had motivated the naval commander in bergen, rear-admiral carsten tank-nielsen to put his forces on a war footing. lieutenant pettersen had suggested to admiral tank-nielsen placing his vessel at the outer line of the restricted area, with further forces closer to bergen. before reaching the area covered by "storm", any intruders would have to pass a line of small patrol boats with the task of identifying incoming ships and reporting back to tank-nielsen. by 22:00 on 8 april, "storm" was in position to defend the bergen approaches.