On 5 March, Luftwaffe reconnaissance aircraft spotted PQ 12 near Jan Mayen Island; the reconnaissance failed to note the battleship HMS Duke of York or the battlecruiser HMS Renown, both of which escorted the convoy, along with four destroyers.
Pada 5 Maret, pesawat pengintai Luftwaffe melihat kovoi PQ 12 dekat Pulau Jan Mayen; tetapi mereka gagal melihat kapal HMS Duke of York ataupun HMS Renown, yang mengawal konvoi tersebut bersama dengan empat kapal perusak.