﻿[2] 4 Jul 1942
[2] Size: Medium
[2] 
[2] July 4, 1942
[2] German side
[2] Guided by reconnaissance intelligence from the 
[2] Luftwaffe and U-boat wolfpacks, the heavy 
[2] cruisers Admiral Scheer and Lützow have made 
[2] steady progress on their intercept course. 
[2] Intelligence indicates the target is a substantially 
[2] large transport convoy, yet surprisingly, there are 
[2] no signs of heavy Allied escorts in the vicinity.
[2] Soon, an unmistakable cluster of massive 
[2] contacts begins painting on the radar screens. 
[2] The time for the hunt has come.
[2] 
[2] Allied Powers
[2] Convoy PQ-17, dispatched to transport essential 
[2] supplies to the Soviet Union, was sailing through 
[2] the freezing Barents Sea near the 25th meridian 
[2] east. At that moment, a fateful order was given. 
[2] The Allied cruiser escort force was ordered to 
[2] withdraw to Scapa Flow, and the convoy was 
[2] instructed to disperse and proceed to various 
[2] Soviet ports.

Amidst the chaos caused by the 
[2] sudden abandonment by the escort fleet, an 
[2] urgent distress signal was transmitted, breaking 
[2] the radio silence: "We are under attack by 
[2] German warships!" The Allied forces remaining in 
[2] the area could not ignore this desperate plea for 
[2] help.
[0] SINK ENEMY TRANSPORTS. Destroy as many 
[0] merchant vessels as possible.
[0] 
[0] AVOID UNNECESSARY RISKS We have a 
[0] large force of friendly German air force and U-
[0] boats deployed in the Barents Sea. It will be a 
[0] long journey for the enemy, so we can leave it 
[0] to them.
[0] 
[0] PRESERVE CAPITAL SHIPS. Under no 
[0] circumstances are heavy units to be lost. Avoid 
[0] engagements that hazard our major surface 
[0] combatants.
[1] PROTECT THE CONVOY. Escort the transport 
[1] ships.
[1] 
[1] ENSURE SURVIVAL. Screen the scattered 
[1] merchants and ensure as many as possible 
[1] escape the immediate threat of German surface 
[1] raiders.
