 In "Operation Wildente", the Germans aimed at using the Norwegian coastal steamer to bring their own troops the to Hemnesberget, well behind the Allied lines which were south of Mo i Rana.A successful operation would break up the Allied defence line in Nordland county and cut off Norwegian and British forces, leaving the way north open for the advancing Germans, which at that point were struggling to move forward in the Mosjøen area.The operation had originally been initiated on 8 May, but had been recalled after reports of Allied submarine activity in the area.