DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN NAVY APPOINTED TO THE SHETLAND AND BURGHEAD BASES

Beskrivelse

11.7.1942. SECRET Copy no.l0.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ROYAL NORWEGIAN NAVY APPOINTED TO THE SHETLAND AND BURGHEAD BASES

1. A Norwegian Naval Independent Unit was created come time ago for the purpose of transporting men and war material to Norway. Further more the Unit may be called upon to carry out various clandestine operations off the Norwegicn cocst which have the approval of the Anglo-Norwegian Collaboration Committee.

2. The Shetland and Burghead Bases are branches of the S.O.E. to which have been posted Ratings of the Norwegian Naval Independent Unit under the command of a Norwegian Senior Officer. In audition one Junior Norwegian Officer is to be posted to each of the bases. It is the intention to administer the Shetland and Burghead Bases separately so far as maintenance and operations are concerned, but the Senior Norwegian Officer will be responsible for the Norwegian personnel at both Bases.

3. The Norwegian Officers in charge of the Norwegian personnel at each of the Bases will be responsible to the British Officers in charge at those Bases. The Norwegian Officers have the right to report direct to the Norwegian Naval Officer on the Anglo-Norwegian Collaboration Committee. They should, however, inform the British Officer in charge of the subject with which such reports deal in order that any difference of opinion which cannot be settled on the spot may be dealt with properly by the Anglo-Norwegian Collaboration Committee. A similar obligation rests on the British Officer in charge.

4. The Norwegian Officers will be responsible for the discipline and welfare of the Norwegian personnel and will also be responsible for looking after all barracks and accommodation stores used by the Norwegian personnel.

5. The wages and bonuses of the Norwegian personnel and the cost of the repairs and maintenance of the vessels allocated to S.O.E. and the buildings at the Bases shall be paid by S.O.E. The Norwegian Government shell, however, be responsible for the payment and expenses of the Norwegian Naval Officers, the family allowances paid to defendants of Norwegian personnel, any pensions which may become payable in respect of the Norwegian personnel, and the provision of Norwegian Naval uniform and clothing.

6. The existing agreement with the Royal Navy whereby S.O.E. boats are repaired by them will not be disturbed and the Royal Navy's responsibility in the matter will continue to be exercised by N.O.I.C. Lerwick and R.N.O. Lossiemouth respectively or such other Officers as the Royal Navy may appoint. The arrangements with the Royal Navy cannot be filtered as all the vessels concerned are chartered to the Royal Navy by the Norwegian Government and under the Royal Navy's arrangements they are in certain circumstances available for purposes other than those of S.O.E.

7. The care and maintenance of the boats will be the responsi-bility of the British Officers appointed by S.O.E. The work to a large extent will be carried out by Norwegian personnel attached to the Base and It is the intention that the requirement of the crews shell be brought to the cognisance of the British Officers through the Norwegian Officers.

8. The responsibility for the equipment and stores etc. on board the boats will fall on the British Officers, subject to such delegation as they may decide to make to the Norwegian Personnel.

9. The Senior Norwegian Officer at either of the Bases is the representative of the Norwegian High Command, and is responsible to the Norwegian C-in-C for the operational work carried out by the Norwegian personnel end that each crew and boat proceeding on an operation is seaworthy and fit for the opertion as regards arms, training, supplies of victuals and fuel etc. If he is not satisfied In this respect, he will hand the British Officer in charge of the Base a written statement to this effect, giving his reason for the opinion. In such event the vessel shall not sail on the operation until agreement has been reached between the Norwegian and British Officers.

10. As regards the Shetland Base, whilst the Norwgian Officer will be in charge of Nicholson's Yard at Scalloway, he vill not be responsible for Lunna Voe shore establishment. This will remain the responsibility of S.O.W. owing to the mines, operational stores, arms and other devices which are kept there. The discipline and welfare of Norwegian personnel at Lunna Voe will remain the responsibility of the Norwegian Officers during the visit of such personnel to Lunna and at other times.

11. The Norwegian Officers will not be responsible in the absence of the British Officers in charge at either of the Bases for the work of tht S.O.E. Branch.

12. In general and so far as practicable all orders to Norwegian personnel will be passed through the Senior Norwegian Officer for the time beiing at each Base, by whom all questions of leave, complaints, payments should be handled in conformity, however, with the provisions of paragraph 5.

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