Originally Posted by _Richard_

'The two ships were expected to try to break westward through the Greenland-Iceland-UK (GIUK) gap. While passing neutral Sweden in the Baltic Sea, they were first spotted by the Swedish cruiser Gotland and patrol planes from the neutral country;[2] these reports were intercepted by the British embassy, allowing Royal Navy ships to watch their probable route. Due to cloud and rain, aircraft scheduled to assist in the search, could not do so when the German ships attempted their breakout.[3] On the evening of 23 May, despite the advantage of foul weather to cloak their presence, the Germans were spotted, steaming at 27 kn (31 mph; 50 km/h), by the British heavy cruisers HMS Norfolk and Suffolk. These cruisers - each carrying eight 8-inch guns - were patrolling the Denmark Strait under the command of Rear-Admiral Frederic Wake-Walker. With the help of Suffolk's newly installed radar, the cruisers shadowed the German ships through the night, reporting on their movements.'

dead.