Operation Seagull ("Unternehmen Möwe" or "Seemöwe" in German) was an Abwehr II/Brandenburger Regiment-sanctioned mission launched in September 1940.
His orders were to transport an NCO from the Brandenburgers, Helmut Clissmann, and one Abwehr I. radio operator to the southern coast of Ireland to carry out their mission.
If travelling to Britain proved impossible, Clissmann was to enlist the help of the IRA in searching within Ireland for guides to the Dover area.
In the event of the agents being forced to remain in Ireland, they were to make contact with Captain Hermann Görtz through the German Legation in Dublin.
During the seacrossing from France a number of things went wrong; the bilge pump on the boat failed, the Danish mechanic became unconscious after an accident, and the vessel was buffeted by a heavy storm for three days.