On 27 March 1940 the "Malangen" departed Wesermünde on her maiden voyage to the fishing grounds of the Barents Sea. While she operated off Norway the German invasion of that country began. As she attempted to make her way back to Germany "Malangen" entered the port of Honningsvåg in the Norwegian Finnmark county on 13 April.&lt;ref name="D/S Honningsvåg"&gt;&lt;/ref&gt;