when world war ii began, "erich steinbrinck" was initially deployed in the baltic to operate against the polish navy and to enforce a blockade of poland, but she was soon transferred to the german bight where she joined her sister ships in laying defensive minefields. she also patrolled the skagerrak to inspect neutral shipping for contraband goods in october. on the night of 18/19 november, "steinbrinck" was commander ("fregattenkapitän") erich bey's flagship for an offensive minelaying mission off the british coast when she led her sister ships "friedrich eckoldt" and "hans lody" to the humber estuary that claimed seven ships of , including the polish ocean liner .