Quote:
Originally Posted by Rainer
Here is the translated KTB SKL entry for the Black Sea on 3 August 1942:
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Hello Rainer,
Thank you, this provides a surprising look into the limited capacities of German intelligence in the area, despite the availability of relatively numerous reconnaisance aircraft. Since I have been interested in this action for a while, I made some notes about the whereabouts of the four cruisers of the Black Sea Fleet at this time. As you will see, no cruiser apart from the Molotov was involved:
Krasnyi Krym (Красный Крым – Red Crimea) was in Batumi until 5 August, when it sailed to assist in the evacuation of Novorossiysk
Krasnyi Kavkaz (Красный Кавказ – Red Caucasus) was finishing repairs in Poti after being damaged by air attack (possibly by Stukas) on 4 January. It sailed for sea trials on 17 August.
Voroshilov (Ворошилов) had just finished repairs in Tuapse on 24 July, after suffering a turbine failure on 20 May during its last sortie to Sevastopol. There is no firm information about its location on 3 August, but it was probably not at sea.
For reference, Molotov (Молотов) spent a year in repair in Poti after the torpedo hit discussed here. The stern of the incomplete cruiser Frunze (Фрунзе) was fitted to the Molotov, which entered service again on 31 July 1943.
Warm regards,
Paul