On 21 February 1942, "Admiral Scheer", the heavy cruiser , and the destroyers , , , , and steamed to Norway. After stopping briefly in Grimstadfjord, the ships proceeded on to Trondheim. On 23 February, the British submarine torpedoed "Prinz Eugen", causing serious damage. The first operation in Norway in which "Admiral Scheer" took part was Operation Rösselsprung, in July 1942. On 2 July, the ship sortied as part of the attempt to intercept Arctic convoy PQ-17. "Admiral Scheer" and "Lützow" formed one group while "Tirpitz" and "Admiral Hipper" composed another. While en route to the rendezvous point, "Lützow" and three destroyers ran aground, forcing the entire group to abandon the operation. "Admiral Scheer" was detached to join "Tirpitz" and "Admiral Hipper" in Altafjord. The British detected the German departure and ordered the convoy to scatter. Aware that surprise had been lost, the Germans broke off the surface attack and turned the destruction of PQ-17 over to the U-boats and Luftwaffe. Twenty-four of the convoy's thirty-five transports were sunk.