James Holland

So the idea is it's supposed to look like they're heading back to, they're heading to Murmansk.

We're just going to get some stuff from the Russians, our allies, our friends.

But actually, the seven ships are going to pause.

And they're waiting at Narvik.

And another 15 merchant vessels are carrying 3,761 troops, 670 horses.

Still need their horses, the Germans.

1,377 vehicles and 5,935 tons of supplies.

Two tankers, the Kattegat and the Jan Wellen, are sent ahead to Narvik and scared.

the Skagrak to Trondheim.

And this is essential because obviously Trondheim is further up the coast, Narvik even further up the coast.

By the time the destroyers and their force get up there, they're going to be running low and they're going to need to oil.

And so these Trojan horses are going to be lying there ready for them to just refuel so they can turn around quick time and zip back before the Royal Navy can catch them.

But Jim, this all sounds pretty good.

This is bigger than the current Royal Navy.

I mean, ready and waiting to go across in stages are 120,000 troops in all, which is not a small amount, but it's not a huge amount either.

And all of Fliegerkorps 10, which is 1,200 aircraft, of which the Allies absolutely cannot compete at all.

Can't do anything like that.

And at the very same time, the British troops ready for Narvik and Trondheim are boarding transports in the Clyde.

And Admiral Evans, Teddy Evans, he is hoisting his flag on the cruiser Aurora.

And the first cruiser squadron of four cruisers at sea also destroyers heading through the heavy snowstorms towards the Vestfjord for the mining of the Leeds.