Einsatzbereitschaft - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

bill norman · #1 29th July 2006, 09:24

The following type of entry regularly appears in the KüFlGr/KGr.506 KTB: Einsatzbereitschaft 10 x 2 x 8 x 6. I know that 'Einsatzbereitschaft' means 'states of readiness for operations' but what do the figures represent?

SES · #2 29th July 2006, 09:31

Hi,
A WAG is that the first 2 figures are for aircraft and the last 2 for crews. This would correspond with the format of Lwstrength returns. The first in each group is Soll (number of a/c or crew authorized) the second it Ist (actually on hand).
bregds
SES

bill norman · #3 29th July 2006, 10:45

Thanks, SES, for a very speedy reply - within seven minutes of my initial posting!

SES · #4 29th July 2006, 10:51

Hi bill,
YAW, I just happend to log on at that time.
:-)
SES

Seaplanes · #5 29th July 2006, 17:11

According to my experience with the KTB's, the first number is the total number of aircraft on strength and the second the number of aircraft ready for operations. The third give the total number of crews and the fourth the number of crews ready. The Sollstärke (or War establishment if you like) is the planned number of aircraft and crews, and was normally not reported in the day to day reporting system.

SES · #6 29th July 2006, 18:04

Hi,
I rechecked a couple of strength returns and you could be right. The ones I have, have 3 colums for both Flugzeuge and Besatzungen:
"Soll", "Ist", and "eins." In the question above the figures probably represent "Ist" and "eins." i.e. "On Hand" and "Combat Ready".
Please see files up-loaded here:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=5302
bregds
SES

Nick Beale · #7 29th July 2006, 20:02

It gets more complicated. In BA-MA Freiburg RL2 III/734 units are given a six-figure strength return e.g. for Sonderstaffel Einhorn on 7 November 1944 you get:

14 Fw 190 F-8 x 13 x 9 x 9 x 7 x 0

I read the first three as an establishment (Sollstarke) of 14 Fw 190; actual strength (Iststarke) of 13; and serviceable stength (Einsatzbereitschaft) of 9.

If the last three numbers are crews, then the categories may be the same as for the aircraft.

I didn't see a definite explanation on the file so maybe it was just one those things that everyone understood at the time.

SES · #8 29th July 2006, 20:17

Hi Nick,
I agree with your interpretation.
bregds
SES

bill norman · #9 29th July 2006, 21:14

Now that SES and SEAPLANES have explained the principle to me, I can see the logic in Nick Beales interpretation. Thanks to all.

ju55dk · #10 30th July 2006, 07:48

Here are a copy of an original Luftwaffe-document, with 7 entries. 3 for aircraft, 3 for crew and 1 for how many aircraft you can send into action!

Junker