Air to Air Victories By German Seaplanes Over Soviet Planes

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

Were there any reports of Soviet planes shot down by German seaplanes during WWII especially by Arado Ar-196s?

Edward L. Hsiao

[James A Pratt III]

I believe so. in the 1944-45 period in the Baltic there may some night claims. As for the Black sea I don't know I do know in other areas the AR-196 did score victories.

[James A Pratt III]

From the book "Barbarosa to Odessa Volume 2 by Denes B
4 Aug 41: "At 13.53 two MBR-2 seapalnes left on a reconnaissance mission but failed to return. Two Arado Ar 196 floatplanes of SBK XII (CK+FB and CK+FI) took off for reconnaissance sortie after noon. Over the sea they encountered two Soviet MBR-2 seaplanes and shot both down to score the first aerial victories scored by Ar196s over the Black Sea. The Germans dropped a dinghy to help their erstwhile adversaries and an He 59 (DA+ML), which had been dispatched to search for survivors, rescued two Soviet airmen."

[James A Pratt III]

6 Oct 41 : "The crew of an Ar 196 (CK+FJ) of SAG 125 claimed to have shot down a Soviet flying boat at around 1015. Another Ar 196 was attacked by two Soviet 'ARK-3s' at about 1500. The floatplanes gunner returned fire, reportedly hitting one of the attackers, which was later seen to be sinking. The other Soviet flying boat flew off smoking heavily but it was not seen to crash because the observer had been wounded in the duel. Two Do 24s were sent to rescue the downed Soviet airmen but returned empty-handed, although they reported seeing debris at the spot where the aircraft was reported to gone down."