|
Re: Soviet Northern Fleet P40 units in late 1943
Here some additional info on P-40 units of VVS SF (Soviet Northern Fleet Air Force) and other Soviet air forces in 1943 in far north:
On 1.3.1943 following units with P-40´s were located at the Murmansk region:
2 GAIP (VVS SF) - 7 operational P-40 E´s at Vajenka (+1 under repair)
768 IAP (PVO 122 Fighter Division) - 4 P-40 E´s at Arktika
769 IAP (PVO, 258 Mixed Flight Division) - 10 P-40 E´s at Murmashi
19 GIAP (258 Mixed Flight Division) - 10 operational P-40 E´s at Shongui
20 GIAP (258 Mixed Flight Division) - 6 operational P-40 C (+ 4 under repair) + 7 operational P-40 E´s (+3 under repair) at Montshegorsk.
When it comes to Northern Fleet Air Force P-40 inventory, here some info of the situation on 1.7.1943 and 1.7.1944:
on 1.7.1943 it appears that there were only 2 P-40 (Kittyhawk) in the books of VVS SF, but on 1.7.1944 their number had increased to 83 (of which 74 were in operational condition).
About the actual combat performance of Soviet P-40´s it is difficult to say anything definitive due to mutual German/Soviet overclaiming. However the Soviet P-40 units did not suffer as many losses than Germans claimed. Examples of German overclaiming vs. Soviet P-40´s at the arctic front (Luftfotte 5):
Germans claimed on the period of 28.2.-6.3.1943 to have shot down in air combats 4 Tomahawks (P-40C) and 4 Kittyhawks (P-40 E) but the actual P-40 air combat losses during the period were just 1 Tomahawk.
On 18.8.1943 Germans claimed to have shot down 4 P-40´s in air combat but actually none was not lost on that day. The total German overclaiming during the air combats of 18.8.1943 appears to be have been as much as 5:1.
On 25.11.1943 Germans claimed to have shot down in air combat 9 P-40´s but the actual Soviet P-40 losses on that day were four P-40 N belonging to 78 IAP (VVS SF).
When it comes to Soviet combat reports and claims, the VVS SF appears to have been more accurate (less overclaiming) than other Soviet air units - the VVS SF command had given a spesific order that its fighter pilots were not allowed to report any "nonexistent" air victories.
When it comes to the airwar situation in the far north of German East Front the report of Finnish liason officer notes that by the August 1943 the initiative in the airwar of Arctic Ocean was firmly in Soviet hands and this was admitted by the Germans. During the year 1943 Germans reported that Soviet fighters in the Murmansk region were more willing to engage in air combat than earlier, that Soviet air activity was clearly increasing and that there was also a clear improvement in Soviet air tactics.
Source: Hannu Valtonen 1997: Luftwaffen pohjoinen sivusta. Saksan ilmavoimat Suomessa ja Pohjois-Norjassa 1941-1944. - Luftwaffe´s Northern Flank. German Air Forces in Finland and Northern Norway 1941-1944.
In the book are also included the known German aircraft losses in north (Luftflotte 5) by surviving German records. Many combat losses have been compared with Soviet claims and in some cases the clear corresponding match have been found (cases in which it can be said quite surely which unit or pilot had made a accurate claim).
|