the mission was launched on 8 june 1940, as an attack on harstad to relieve pressure on the german garrison at narvik. after refuelling at jan mayen island the mission became unnecessary as the allies were evacuating from norway. on his own initiative, however, the german commander, admiral marschall, decided to seek and destroy the allied transports. the troop transport "orama", the tanker "oil pioneer" and the minesweepeing trawler were sunk. marschall ordered the "admiral hipper" and the destroyers to trondheim, where they arrived in the morning of 9 june.