Draug faced the April 1940 invasion after a difficult reactivation from reserve. After escorting the German merchant ship Seattle through Norwegian waters, it received orders to refuel its coal stores. Warnings included German activity in Danish waters and Orzeł's sinking of the German troop transport Rio de Janeiro off Lillesand. A senior admiral authorised Draug's captain to exercise his own judgement and prepare for war. The destroyer then stopped a German merchantman whose papers claimed a coke cargo but which carried provisions and roughly 2,000 mines for forces going to Trondheim. When a naval commander reported that he was a prisoner and could give no orders, Draug's captain treated command as compromised and took the merchantman as a prize. He compelled its captain to sail toward Britain by threatening to torpedo it, despite Draug having no anti-aircraft weapons.
Notable Point · 53:53-58:19
Draug prepares for invasion and captures a German supply ship
Warnings and delegated authority let Draug's captain act when command is compromised, taking a merchantman carrying supplies and mines toward Britain.