 The operational plan called for strict radio silence to ensure surprise could be maintained . This required Meendsen @-@ Bohlken to have total tactical and operational control of his ship ; shore @-@ based commands would be unable to direct the mission . On 16 August , Admiral Scheer and her destroyer escort left Narvik on a course to pass to the north of Novaya Zemlya . Upon entering the Kara Sea , she encountered heavy ice ; in addition to searching for merchant shipping , the Arado floatplane was used to scout paths through the ice fields . On 25 August , she encountered the Soviet icebreaker <unk> . Admiral Scheer sank the icebreaker , but not before she sent a distress signal . The German ship then turned south , and two days later , arrived off the port of <unk> . Admiral Scheer damaged two ships in the port and shelled harbor facilities . Meendsen @-@ Bohlken considered sending a landing party ashore , but firing from Soviet shore batteries convinced him to abandon the plan . After breaking off the bombardment , Meendsen @-@ Bohlken decided to return to Narvik . She reached port on 30 August without having achieved any significant successes . 
