Just after midnight (0045/16) Admiral Forbes orders ships of Operation DT to intercept the German supply ship ALTMARK. Deployed with ARETHUSA, SIKH, NUBIAN, INTREPID and IVANHOE to search for the German prison ship ALTMARK. At 0700 in position 58° 03’N, 05° 15’E the trawler LIBIA was boarded by COSSACK. The vessel was wearing Dutch colours and markings. Her papers were found to be in order.

On 16th of February, at 08.25 hours, a flight of Lockhead Hudson aircraft, led by ‘K’ and crewed by Pilot Officer McNeil and Pilot Lawrie, L.A.C. Sheekey and Cpl.Hugill were to find the Altmark, identify her, take photographs, and pass information of Altmark’s position and direction as soon as possible, but not to attack. Pilot Officer McNeill has heard a signal from ‘F’ aircraft, telling of a vessel heading south; having been seen 15 miles north of the course of his flight and at 12.55 hours on seeing a dark shape ahead he made a wide sweep to view her from broadside. After this he then flew under the bows of the ship, where clearly painted was the name ‘Altmark’. (Position DVCT 2847) Realising that unless intercepted very quickly the ship would make her escape, he instructed (against wireless orders), Wireless Operator Sheekey to ‘bash’ a message out – ‘Enemy first sighting’. He felt sure that anyone interested in the Altmark would understand and take action.

At 12.50 hours on 16th February 1940 a wireless message was received giving the position of a ship thought to be the Altmark which had been spotted by an aircraft of Coastal Command