Kapitain Heinrich Dau on the bridge of the Altmark which is being escorted by the RNN destroyer Garm and two torpedo boats spots smoke on the horizon. HMS Cossack moves to block the tanker but is forced to move when the Garm moves to intercept the British destroyer. Captain Vian again moves to intercept the tanker, This time the Norwegian destroyer Garm attempts to block the destroyer but decides better of it when Cossack fires two 4.7 MM shells across the tankers bow. Dau onboard Altmark orders a hard turn towards Jossingfjord. Onboard Cossack Captain Vian moves his destroyer to follow the tanker.
Mean while messages are being sent between London and Oslo. The Norwegian government is in uproar over British aggression against Norwegian neutrality, While London is screaming that the Altmark has British, French and Norwegian sailors onboard and that Germany has broken Norwegian neutrality laws by not releasing their prisoners.
Captain Vian sends a message via blinker light to the Norwegian destroyer that he is under orders to open fire on the tanker and anyone who is harbouring her as there is 300 merchantmen including Norwegians onboard. At 1500 hours the Norwegians pull back to 8000 yards and allow Cossack to close with tanker.
Captain Dau sends a message to Berlin asking for orders as a RN destroyer has closed to 3000 yards in Norwegian waters. Ten minutes later he gets a reply that he is to remain where he is as the cruiser Nurnburg is on route to escort him back to Germany with his prisoners.