Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

I have seen references and a few photos concerning the Hampden used by the Russians with the Third Squadron of The 24th Mine and Torpedo Aviation Regiment, Northern Fleet (after the RAF / RAAF had left Northern Russia), but did they make much use of them? Did any other Russian units use them and as a type did they last only a few weeks in Russian service?

Any info greatly appreciated

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Larry,

In Red Stars 4 lend -lease aircraft in Russia by Guest and Petrov it's said that Hampden were only used by 24 MTAP elevated to Guard status on 31 May 1943 becoming 9 GMTAP.

Alain

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hampden were operated by Soviet from Vayenga from oct 1942 to July 1943

Alain

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Larry,

The brief version is as follows. They were used by the whole regiment, which received 20 in October 1942. The last were taken out of service in July 1943, after most were lost in combat or accidents. So they did see quite a bit of action. No other units flew the type, because there were no flyable aircraft left after July.

I've sent you a PM.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Larry

Maybe still not impossible to get is the Flypast October 2012. In it there is Vladimir KOTELNIKOV’s and Yuriy RYBIN’s article 'Balalaika' on the use of Hampdens by the 24 MTAP.

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Juha,

Thank you for the source. Do you know whether FlyPast issues indexes of published articles? Their website search function is reasonably good, but an index would be even better. I am not a frequent reader of FlyPast, so I apologise if the answer to my question should be obvious.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

No I don't. I'm also an infrequent reader of FlyPast. Sorry that I cannot help on this.

Juha

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Larry

Two squadrons went out - Operation Orator-Ham.

455 and 144Sqn. Off the top of my head it was 38 off Hampdens that flew from Scotland/over Shetland/sweden/norway and to land in northern Russia. They were sent as a deterant against the Tirpitz after PQ16. 1942

A number were lost in Sweden/Finl;and and norway or crashing in Russia. After remaining there for a cmonth or so (along with Recon Spitfires).

P1344 is being restored at Cosford. (Ex-144Sqn). One or two tried to land at Kitkenes (Luftwaffe base).

regards

Mark

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Yes, there was also a Catalina sqn for searches, altogether 32 Hampdens, 13 Catalinas and 4 Spitfires to protect PQ-18 and QP-14. Hampdens flew only one mission searching Tirpitz for an attack but found nothing. Then it was decided that flight back to GB against prevailing winds would be too foolhardy, so it was decided to turn over the surviving Hampdens to the Russians and the crews returned on warship(s). One of the Hampdens flown by a Sqn/Ldr on way to the SU landed in Norway and Germans got important papers from it on the PQ 18, IIRC also its timetable, but that was also picked off by the Finnish radio-intelligence who had intercepted and decoded a low-level VVS message which also gave away the timetable of the PQ 18.

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Below please find the updated Hampden section from my book Red Stars Vol.4 "Lend-lease Aircraft in the USSR" (sold-out long time ago):

Handley Page Hampden
In order to avoid repetition of the big losses of convoy PQ 17 a task force from RAF Coastal Guard (consisting of 144 and 455 (RAAF) Sqns Handley Page TB.I torpedo bombers, three PR Spitfires and six Catalinas of 210 Sqn) was dispatched to Northern Russia in September 1942 to protect arrival of convoy PQ 18 and departure of return convoy QP14 (Operation Orator). 32 (of intended 34) Hampdens took off from Sumburgh, Shetland Islands in the evening of 4 September 1942, but only 23 Hampdens arrived safely in the Murmansk area after the long ferry flight over German-occupied Norway, neutral Sweden and enemy Finland. The RAF crews performed only one 7.5 h anti-shipping sortie from Vayenga on September 14 without results. A German bomber attack to Vayenga 27 September seriously damaged two Hampden (one of which was later repaired to flying condition) and another four got damages.

Because of the big losses on the outward flight it was decided not to fly the Hampdens back to England but to hand them over to the Soviet Northern Fleet (VVS SF). The first Soviet solo flight was made by Capt A.Z.Stoyanov (to become Hampden escadrille C.O.) 30 September 1942, and the C.O. VVS SF Maj.Gen.A.A.Kuznetsov piloted also a Hampden a few days later.

After modification to accommodate Soviet-made torpedoes and defensive armament (see below) the 20 remaining Hampdens (one of which was equipped with double-command) were handed over to the VVS SF on 16 October 1942 and formed 2nd and 3rd escadrilles of 24 MTAP. One week later (23 October) the 144 and 455 Sqn personnel departed to UK. The double-command Hampden (the identity of which is not yet known) was modified by a Soviet team led by the Chief Engineer of VVS SF Lt.Col. (Eng.) V.M.Sobchenko, using various Hampden spare parts and also some Kittyhawk details (eg. the seat of the pilot-instructor, which was installed behind the seat of the pilot-student).

During conversion training two Hampdens were lost in accidents (the C.O. of 24 MTAP Lt.Col. Vedmedenko was killed 21 December 1942 when P5315 crashed on a training flight) and two others were damaged.

The Soviet naval pilots flew their first Hampden-sortie 16 December 1942 attacking Kirkenes and Titovka. German shipping at the Norwegian coast, Kirkenes harbour etc. were subsequently repeatedly attacked by the Soviet Hampdens. On 18 December Capt. S.I.Trunov torpedoed a German transport ship at Tanafjord.

Because of the Hampden’s poor flight characteristics operational losses were heavy, but the Soviet aviators fought heroically with their obsolete aircraft. According to Soviet historiography two Hampden crews performed legendary "burning tarans", directing their blazing aircraft against German ships: Capt. A.A.Bashtyrkov (14 January 1943 at Vardö) and Capt. V.N.Kiselev (25 April 1943 at Gamvik, sinking German transport Leesee). Both pilots and navigators of these two Hampdens were posthumously made HSUs.

However, Kiselev´s alleged sinking of Leesee (2.624 BRT) is apparently only a “Soviet hero legend”. Leesee was in fact hit by a torpedo (fired either by Kiselev or by another Hampden), and Kiselev´s Hampden was shot down by anti-aircraft fire from the German minesweeper M-381.

From April 1943 the decreasing number of serviceable Hampdens was gradually replenished with modified A-20G Boston torpedo-bombers. The last operational Hampden sortie was made on 4 July 1943 when a group of seven Soviet aircraft including two Hampdens attacked German ships at Cape Kirbergnes. One German transport was reported sunk and two others damaged, but on the return leg German fighters shot down both Hampdens, piloted by Maj. F.G.Shipilov and Jn.Lt. A.A.Martynov. Both crews were fortunately rescued. Meanwhile, on 31 May 1943 24 MTAP had been elevated to Guards status becoming 9 GMTAP.

Because of the fuselage shape the Russian nickname for the Hampden was Balalaika. At first British Mk.XII torpedoes were carried, but the torpedo racks were soon modified for Soviet 45-36 AN torpedoes. (A-20G Bostons were correspondingly modified to carry Mk.XII torpedoes.) The defensive armament of the Hampdens was also increased by installing Soviet UTK-1 turrets with 12.7 mm UBT machine guns replacing the paired Vickers 7.69 mm guns.

18 April 1946 Soviet Lt.Gen. G.M.Savonenkov (Deputy Chairman of the Allied Control Commission in Finland) asked the Finnish Foreign Minister Carl Enckell for information about the crew of Hampden AT138 which was shot down over Finland 4 September 1942. According to the ACC inquiry at least the pilot Sgt. J.G.R.Bray was taken prisoner, while the navigator Lt. J.D.Smith (No. 129539), the R/T operator Sn.Sgt. J.D.Kirkby (No. 1181778), the MG-gunners Sgt. R.S.Otter and Corp. L.H.Mallinson (No. 1476073) apparently were killed. On 30 April Mr. Enckell answered that "no British aircraft was shot down by Finnish forces during WW II, but according to German reports an aircraft was shot down by German FLAK near Alakurtti 4 September 1942 at 04.23 am, and was destroyed by fire. One Australian aviator escaped by parachute and was taken prisoner by the Germans. No further information about the fate of the imprisoned aviator nor about the other crew members is available."

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

From a now defunct website listing the losses of the Soviet Northern Fleet Aviation, I have the following Hampden losses by 24 MTAP/9 GMTAP:

01 Nov 42: one Hampden crashed at Vaenga-1 airfield, no casualty reported
18 Nov 42: one Hampden crashed at Vaenga-1 airfield, one KIFA
21 Dec 42: one Hampden crashed, crew wounded
01 Jan 43: one Hampden crashed in the sea near Vardo, 4 KIA
12 Jan 43: one Hampden did not return from a mission, 4 KIA
14 Jan 43: one Hampden shot down in the sea, 4 KIA
29 Jan 43: one Hampden shot down over a convoy (4 KIA) and another damaged and forcelanded on Rybachy peninsula, 1 WIA
31 Jan 43: one Hampden shot down, 4 KIA
10 Apr 43: one Hampden shot down by a Bf 110 over the Tana Fjord, 4 KIA
25 Apr 43: one Hampden shot down, 4 KIA
02 May 43: one Hampden shot down, 4 KIA
08 May 43: one Hampden shot down, 4 KIA
02 Jun 43: one Hampden crashed near Vaenga, 3 KIFA, 1 WIFA
23 Jun 43: one Hampden shot down in Pummanki area, crew safe
04 Jul 43: two Hampdens shot down by 70°08 N 30°40 E, crews safe

We have 17 entries for the 20 Hampdens transferred to Soviet control.

But please note differences with the long text by Mr Geust above. For example, he had four accidents (two Hampden destroyed and two damaged) during the training in 1942, while there are 3 entries above, and he says that on 21 Dec 1942 the CO of 24 MTAP, Lt.Col. Vedmedenko, who was killed.

I would rather believe Mr Geust than me, but in this case he seems to be wrong: various Russian sites says that that Vedmedenko took command of 24 MTAP on 20 Dec 42 and was killed on 16 Mar 43 (no Hampden loss this day, but a DB-3, also used by the regiment, was lost, 1 KIA).
And this date is confirmed on the OBD Memorial for Soviet WWII dead:
http://www.obd-memorial.ru/html/info.htm?id=76521463

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Thank you Laurent for the correction concerning Lt.Col. Nikolai Vedmedenko (C.O. 24 MTAP), who as you correctly point out was killed 16 March 1943 in an unsuccessful landing with an Il-4 (DB-3f) at Kildin island, upon return from a torpedo attack to Bosjord. The other crew members were only slightly hurt.
I do have this entry as well in my Soviet loss file, and did unfortunately not compare (and delete) my erroneous Hampden entry for 21 Dec 1942. According to my notes the source of this entry is the unpublished history of VVS SF in the Russian naval archive in Gatchina, which I visited in the 1990s.

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Diary extract from Jack D:

Days grow shorter, boredom set in. Headquarters taking time to arrange our return. Eventually decided to hand over the 23 Hampdens to Russian Navy.

also

Grant [Lindeman] interviewed on BBC upon our return:

'He was asked if he had enjoyed the visit to Russia and he replied 'if the opportunity comes for us to return to Russia again, we would gladly stand aside and allow someone else to go.'

Footnote: This was broadcast live and did not impress the RAF Top Brass.

Regards

Andy Bird

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Juha,

Do you know anything about the fate of the Catalinas? The Hampdens and Spitfires have been written about in Russian sources, but I've never seen anything on the Catalinas.

For reference, the 3 links below have data relevant to the transfer flights:

1. Brief mention of the operation
http://www.lincsaviation.co.uk/histo...pden-AE436.htm

2. List of Hampdens lost on the way to the USSR
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/tsatsa.html

3. Mention of one of the lost Hampden aircrew murdered during the Great Escape
http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/gt_esc/

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello,

Thank you very much for sharing this most interesting extract! On the issue of ship sinkings, I seem to remember from Miroslav Morozov's recent book on Soviet torpedo-bombers that the Hampdens did not hit any ships themselves, it was the DB-3s that scored successes, but I will check whether my memory is correct.

I have sent you a private message on another topic.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Laurent,

Do you have the whole list of losses from eismeerfront.com ? That was a great resource until it disappeared!

You need to clear your private message inbox, by the way :)

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Not much, there is a short mention in http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/210_wwII.html. Also some in a couple books. According to Ashworth's RAF Coastal Command 1936-1969 (1992) p. 62 none of the Catalinas were lost. There is also an article or two in old Aeroplane Monthly/ies on Catalina activities in Spitzbergen which might have been connected with PQ 18 but I cannot remember exactly the dates of those ops. They were connecting on the reoccupation of Spitzbergen by the Free Norway Forces with the help of RAF and RN.
And the story of the Handley-Page HP52 Hampden TB.1 - Serial # AE436 144 Squadron, Leuchars, Scotland, that crashed in Tsatsa mountain in Sweden on the way to Afrikanda, a Russian airfield located S of Murmansk is given here http://www.forcedlandingcollection.s...024-AE436.html
The track of the only Reconnaissance in force mission flown by the 23 Hampdens can be found in RAAF in WWII Ch11 War at Sea Jan-Sept 42 p. 296 which is digitalized and can be found in the net.

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Yes, yes, and done. I have an Excel file compiling Soviet losses from various Internet sources (as I am now used to see them disappear, I try to save them on my computer regularly). Please send a private message with your e-mail adress if you're interested.

By the way another useful link for Soviet airmen losses in the North:
http://sk16.ru/forum/viewforum.php?f=17

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Juha,

Thank you for a very good review of the various sources! I will follow up and see if I can find anything on Catalina operations in Russian.

Having consulted Morozov's book, I can say that my memory was wrong and it was in fact the Hampdens that sank the Leesee. See summary of the three notable attacks below:

On 14 January 1943, 2 Hampdens attacked a convoy with 2 torpedoes, the submarine chaser UJ 1108 was slightly damaged by machine-gun fire with 1 dead and 2 wounded on board. 1 Hampden flown by Bashtyrkov was shot down.

On 25 April 1943, 5 Hampdens attacked a large convoy with 5 torpedoes, the transport ship Leesee of 2624 grt was sunk with the loss of 3 members of the crew. 1 Hampden flown by Kiselev (who hit Leesee) was shot down.

On 4 July 1943, 3 Il-4s and 2 Hampdens attacked a convoy with 5 torpedoes, the transport ship Pernambuco was slightly damaged by machine-gun fire. 1 Il-4 (flown by Balashov) and 2 Hampdens (flown by Shipilov and Mart’yanov) were shot down.

There were no successes in any of the other torpedo-bomber missions flown by the Hampdens.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Laurent,

Thank you very much for your offer! Have sent you a private message now.

The link is very good. It seems to provide registers of personnel losses for almost all air units of the VVS Northern Fleet.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Paul
thanks for the summary of the Hampden achievements from Morozov's book.
It is also my impression that Leesee was the only success of the VVS SF Hampdens even if according to Hans Jürgen WITTHÖFT’s Die deutsche Handelsflotte 1939 – 1945. Band II (1971) it was sunk by bombs. I forgot to mention that the map in the RAAF in WWII Ch11 War at Sea Jan-Sept 42 p. 296 shows also the search patterns of the Catalinas of the 210 Sqn from 11th to 18th Sept 42.

Juha

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Juha,

I can translate the description of the sinking of the Leesee, it is fairly definitive. Miroslav Morozov's book was published in 2011, so it has the advantage of 40 years of accumulated additional research over the Handelsflotte book.

The digitised Australian official histories are an interesting reference source, here is a link to the volume that you mentioned - https://www.awm.gov.au/histories/sec...HWW2/Air/Vol3/

I have found quite a bit of information about RAF Catalina operations related to convoy PQ 18, links are listed below for reference:

The Norwegian Catalina Mk.III FP525 (RAF Sqdn 330/Z, pilot Lt C.J.A. Stansburg) was shot down – this was not directly related to Catalina operations in Russia
http://uboat.net/boats/patrols/patrol_1699.html

U-255 was heavily damaged by a 210 Squadron Catalina flown by Norm Langdon on 23 September
http://uboat.net/boats/u255.htm

Obituary for Les Langdon, Catalina pilot in the Pacific and Norm Langdon's brother
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obitua...423-zqy2i.html

Military service details of 210 Squadron Catalina pilot F/Lt Dennis Edward Healy DSO
http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/07732.php

Mention of Healy's success against a He 111 earlier in 1942, as well as his death in air combat in September. The crew shot down the reconnaisance Ju 88D-1 which attacked them.
http://ktsorens.tihlde.org/flyvrak/adventdalen.html

Obituary for Flight Lieutenant Ernest Schofield, Healy's navigator
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...Schofield.html

Book about the operations, co-written by Schofield and Roy Nesbit
Arctic Airmen: The RAF in Spitsbergen and North Russia, 1942 by Ernest Schofield, Roy Conyers Nesbit

Obituary for Air Commodore Jack Holmes, another pilot who served with 210 Squadron during Operation Orator
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obit...-obituary.html

Book about the convoy, PQ 18
Arctic victory: the story of convoy PQ 18 by Peter C. Smith

Book which mentions later operations in 1943
Catalina over Arctic Oceans: Anti-Submarine and Rescue Flying in World War II by John French

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Paul
Thanks for the interesting links and sources. The translation of the description of the sinking of the Leesee by Morozov would be nice.
I'm familiar with the Healy's story and his tragic end. Partly because of Bjørn HAFSTEN et al. Flyalarm Luftkrigen over Norge 1939 – 1945 (1991) , which had description of the Spitzbergen op and Healy's last flight. It is a good source on the airwar over and off Norway given also info on the Soviet actions. Only Norwegian text made regrettably its use difficult for most of us.

Juha

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Hello Juha,

You are welcome. I will translate the Morozov extract this weekend, whenI should have a moment to focus on it. Even though I have no knowledge of Norwegian, I will try to take a look at the book you mentioned when I can. It is available at 4 or more national libraries in Europe, so that will be easier than I expected!

Healy's story, as well as that of the Langdon brothers, is quite extraordinary. These stories emphasise how great a share of the burden of that war was carried by 'the few', whether flying fighters or other aircraft. The casualty rates that they suffered are also astonishing. So many of them, like Adrian Warburton and Healy, seem to have been exposed to danger more frequently than almost any other participants in the war.

I have finally found some information on the Russian part of the Catalina's Arctic operations. These Russian-language links have malfunctioned in this post, again, but pasting them into the browser search box will work normally:

Review of the Catalina's service in the USSR
http://www.almanacwhf.ru/index.php?o...=article&id=27

Transfer flights of Catalinas to the USSR in 1944
arh.mk.ru/article/2013/07/24/890618-mezhdu-nebom-i-morem.html

Catalinas on Novaya Zemlya in 1944
belushka.ru/site/istoriya-novoj-zemli/147-aviatsiya-novozemelskoj-bazy

Catalina activities on the White Sea in 1944
www.polarpost.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=622

Photograph of PBN-1 Nomad in service with 118 ORAP of the Northern Fleet
waralbum.ru/21393/

Strength of the aviation of the Soviet Northern Fleet at various dates during the war
blockhaus.ru/forum/topic/22924-nemnogo-o-morskih-konvojah-i-murmanske/page-13#entry251912

Modification of Soviet Catalinas with ASh-82FN engines after the war - the modified aircraft were renamed KM-2
alternathistory.org.ua/ispytano-v-sssr-vtoroe-dykhanie-kataliny

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

I had time earlier than I had expected, so here is the extract from Miroslav Morozov's book, concerning the sinking of the 'Leesee'. I have preserved the author's choice of words and style, as far as possible. It looks like this unique Soviet success was achieved primarily as a result of the courageous actions of Kapitan Kiselev and his crew, as opposed to the efforts of the Soviet air force command:

"The next large battle involving a convoy occurred on 25 April. At 10.55 on that day 5 torpedo-bombers escorted by 6 Pe-3s took-off on a mission to carry out a torpedo attack on a convoy which had been observed in the Gamvik area. The torpedo-bombers were led by Kapitan Kiselev, the Pe-3s by Kapitan Syrovatko. At 11.50 the group was ordered via radio to attack a different convoy, in the area of Kongs-fjord. At approximately this time, the convoy was unsuccessfully attacked by the submarine S-101. The convoy, which, according to the Soviet version of events, consisted of two groups (the first – 3 transports, 12 escorts, the second – 1 transport, 2 escorts), was observed by the strike group at 12.56. Two Bf 110s and 1 He 115 (in reality, a BV 138) were seen above the convoy.
On Kapitan Kiselev’s signal, the Pe-3 approached the convoy at maximum speed and attacked the enemy fighters. The torpedo-bombers attacked from the direction of the open sea, initially choosing the smaller group of ships as their target. However, the group leader then changed his changed his decision and led his aircraft between the shoreline and the convoy, with the intention of attacking the larger group of ships from the direction of the shore. This manoeuvre was not understood by all pilots. Starshina Mart’yanov decided of his own accord to launch his torpedo against the transport that had been the initial target of the attack. Starshiy serzhant Gutorov also did not follow the leader and attacked a patrol vessel instead. The three torpedo-bombers which had retained their torpedoes attacked the following targets: Kiselev – a transport, his two wingmen – (Starshiy Leytenant Zaychenko and Mladshiy Leytenant Makridin) – a minesweeper. The source of the leader’s error was that, having made the correct decision, he conducted the manoeuvre in view of the ships and the shore batteries, thereby exposing himself to heavy fire. Nevertheless, as a result of the uncoordinated actions of the strike group pilots the escort ships were forced to divide their fire, which considerably decreased its effectiveness. The AA gunners could not prevent the Soviet aviators from approaching within a minimal distance of the ships. The steamer 'Leesee' (2624 grt; was transporting 3622 tonnes of coal for the German XIX Mountain Corps in Petsamo)* appeared right in front of Kiselev’s torpedo-bomber, who dropped his weapon from a distance of just 300 m. The vessel, which was enroute to Kirkenes, was hit and sank within 6 minutes. 3 German sailors were killed. Unfortunately, Kiselev was destined not to have the opportunity to celebrate his victory – while disengaging his Hampden was essentially turned into a sieve by the fire of the outer line of escort ships and crashed into the sea. Its entire crew was killed. Kapitan Kiselev Vasiliy Nikolaevich and his navigator, Starshiy Leytenant Pokalo Mikhail Fedorovich, were both awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union posthumously. The remaining torpedo-bombers descended to 10-15 m and disengaged in different directions. Enemy fighters, in spite of their numerical inferiority, attempted to pursue. At the critical moment, the Pe-3s of Kapitan Syrovatko and Starshiy Leytenant Kolontay essentially shielded the torpedo-bombers with their ‘bodies’. As a result, both Pe-3s were shot down by the enemy with impunity. The only achievement of the escorting Pe-3s was light damage to the BV 138 flying boat at the beginning of the battle, with one of the flying boat crewmen sustaining wounds.

*Footnote – the War Diary of Admiral Norwegen noted that, in view of the average monthly coal consumption in Petsamo of 200 tonnes, the cargo lost with the Leesee would have lasted 18 months"

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Thanks a lot, Paul!
Very interesting. I have only one question, have you info from German sources on the size of the main convoy? 12 escorts for 3 ships seems a bit high for a North Norway convoy in that stage of the war when compared what I know on those convoys. I admit that my knowledge on this is limited and much depend on what the ships were carrying. According to Jürgen Rohwer's and Gerhard Hümmelchen's Chronik des Seekrieges 1939-1945, see http://www.wlb-stuttgart.de/seekrieg/43-04.htm, Leesee was escorted only by UJ 1207. The report of the Finnish AF liaison-officer at the HQ of the Lfl 5 doesn't give the composition of the convoy neither Flyalarm but the latter says that the convoy attacked on 14 April consisted of three ships escorted by eight Vps and UJs. According to Valtonen's Pohjoinen Ilmasota: Suomeen liittyvät sotatoimet syksystä 1944 kevääseen 1945 (1996) the convoy La 135 Ki which sailed 24 - 25 Sept 1944 to Kirkenes consisted of one 1,975 BRT steamship and a repair barge escorted by three Vps. And the convoy against which VVS SF attacked on 16 Oct 1944 consisted 4 ships and 3 cutters escorted by 4 minesweepers, 3 Vps and 7 R-boats and behind the convoy proper sailed one Vp towing a MFP protected by two R-boats. And these convoys sailed in the later part of 1944 when VVS SF was much more powerful than in early 1943.

Very much appreciated
Juha

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

You are welcome, Juha!

I don't have information from German sources, but Morozov's book lists the convoy's composition as follows:
Transports Leesee, Neukuhren, Rauenthaler; Tanker Hermann Andersen; Minesweepers M 343, M 381; Patrol boats V 6109, V 5902, V 5907, NKi 10, NKi 11; Submarine chasers Uj 1207, Uj 1208

In my opinion, that constitutes a fairly large escort force, considering there were only 5 Hampdens and some of these were flown by inexperienced crews. It should be noted that the German navy defended its Arctic convoys quite succesfully for the duration of hostilities, so the heavy escort proved its worth. The escort forces for German convoys in Western Europe were much larger, but they also faced a much more experienced and well-equipped enemy in the strike wings.

Did you consult the reports of the Finnish AF liasion officer in the archives? I wonder whether these contain any information on German ship losses. Morozov's book does not cover attacks by aircraft other than torpedo-bombers, or indeed by other Soviet forces.

Regards,

Paul

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

Thanks a lot again for your informative answer. So if it is true that only UJ 1207 escorted Leesee the other 3 ships had 8 escort vessels and the 3:8 relation is the same as that of the convoy attacked on 14 April.

Yes, I consulted the reports of the Finnish AF liasion officer in our then War Archives, now part of our National Archives. That was several years ago, but Leesee was mentioned in the report of that week. I took photos on all reports I came across, the dossiers were somewhat disorganized (between reports there were misplaced other interesting papers) but I can go through them if you want, are you interested in some special periods or the whole war period, I seems to have at least the periods 220741-271242 and 1943.

Juha

Re: Russian use of Handley Page Hampdens
 

You are welcome, as always. I cannot say anything definitive regarding the escorts, because I only have this one book as a source, but the text I translated would suggest that Leesee was part of the main body of the convoy, not the laggard ship which may have been escorted by Uj 1207 alone.

These Finnish reports are very interesting, I have sent you a private message describing how they may relate to the research that I am doing.

Paul