[Rainer]

Here is the translated KTB SKL entry for the Black Sea on 3 August 1942:
"Long-range air reconnaissance reports that on the afternoon of 2 Aug., a force of 1 cruiser, 1 destroyer, and 4 escort vessels, proceeding at high speed on a westerly course, was observed 20 miles west -northwest of Tuapse. According to continuous reports from shadowing planes,' the force was steering a northwesterly to northerly course, and at 1945 it was 50 miles south of Anapa. By evaluation of photographs the larger vessels have been tentatively identified as a heavy cruiser of the KIROV class and the flotilla leader KHARKOV. From 2245 on, our torpedo planes followed the force whose position at 2351 was reported as 10 miles southwest of Cape Opuk on a 20° course. After midnight, Italian submarine chasers attacked the force some 20 miles south of Feodosiya. According to further sighting reports, at 0455 the 2 vessels were located with 7 escort vessels on a 110° course south-southwest of Anapa and at 0650 with 15 PT boats on a 150° course southwest of Novorossisk. Since, in addition to the force which was sighted, the Main Naval Direction Finding Station at Constanta located the cruiser KRASNY KRIM in the same area at the same time, it is not impossible that several groups participated in the thrust towards the Crimean coast. Group South has requested the Air Commander, South to check on this possibility."

The actions of the three Italian MAS boats that were at sea to cover a convoy of landing barges is also described:
"Of the three Italian submarine chasers protecting the break-through, MAS-573 stopped in her patrol position 5 miles south of Feodosiya as a result of engine failure. At 2400, she sighted an enemy force of 1 three-funnel cruiser and 1 flotilla leader and launched 2 torpedoes against the cruiser at a distance of barely 100 m. One of the torpedoes hit the target. At 0130, the MAS-568, which had been notified in the meantime, attacked the cruiser with 2 torpedoes, hitting her with both. The Italians are certain that the burning ship sank. The 2 subchasers were then pursued by the flotilla leader but reached the base undamaged. During the subsequent search on the morning of 3 Aug., subchaser MAS-569 found wreckage and equipment at the place where the torpedo attack had occurred. It is not yet quite clear what vessel was attacked and probably sunk, since the force located on the morning of 3 Aug. was located later in its original strength. During the same night, around midnight, Ivan-Baba was under continuous air attack and a simultaneous attack from the sea. The attack from the sea may be taken as another proof that other enemy naval forces were operating off the Crimean coast."

Entry from 6 August 1942 concerning the night of 2/3 August:
"Concerning the sinking of a Russian vessel by an Italian submarine chaser on the night of 2 Aug., the Air Commander, South reports in accord with the Italian subchaser flotilla command that, after checking all the data, he now shares the belief that 2 separate enemy forces were involved on the night of the operation and that the Italian submarine chasers sank the cruiser KRASFY KRIM. This opinion is based on findings of the radio intelligence
service."

There is also an entry on 13 August 1942 concerning the night of 2/3 August:
"Since according to interpretation of photographs taken on 9 Aug. and according to radio intelligence, the cruiser KRASNY KRIM is evidently undamaged, the vessel sunk by Italian subchasers on 3 Aug. was probably a three-funnel destroyer. This assumption on the part of the Naval Staff is recorded in the War Diary, 3 Aug."

Here is what can be found in the KTB Admiral Schwarzes Meer about this action:
2 August 1942: "Radio intelligence reports: Increasing fleet movements and continued lively U-boat activity. In the sea area of the middle east coast a large unit - possibly cruiser - the flotilla leader CHARKOV and two destroyers at sea. After detection by the M.P.H.S. this force proceeded northwards in the evening. After midnight the cruiser KRASNY KRIM was also in the middle of the east coast, also the same guard ships, minesweepers and motor torpedo boats active in the northeast of the Black Sea as the day before.
3 August 1942: At 0003 on 3 Aug. aircraft employed as shadowers by Air Commander, South report that they observed gunfire from the discovered force about 27 nm southeast of Feodosiya. Situation dispatches indicate that the coast in the above area has been shelled from sea. After the bombardment was completed the force withdraw at high speed and was spotted leaving on a main couse of 120° 30 nm west of Novorossiysk at 0455 and lying at anchor in the roads of Tuapse at 1957. Apparently the ships kept radio silence during the whole operation as the M.P.H.S. reported waning activity."