Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum  

Go Back   Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum > Discussion > Allied and Soviet Air Forces

Allied and Soviet Air Forces Please use this forum to discuss the Air Forces of the Western Allies and the Soviet Union.

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #16  
Old 27th August 2015, 18:39
Tango Echo Dog Tango Echo Dog is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 78
Tango Echo Dog is on a distinguished road
Re: Soviet aviation fuel: More bang for the buck or the ruble?

Once again I would like to thank members for their contributions on this subject.
I have been pondering upon the logistical and operational implications of the information supplied and, unless someone can provide more information, it wonder whether or not the Russians created a rod for their own backs?
Air operations require huge amounts of fuel and Soviet figures indicate that more than 694,500 tonnes of fuel were used by their air forces during the Second World War in Europe which, presumably, includes US imports of high octane fuel. Most historians agree that the Soviet Union fought the war with industrial and communications resources which, compared with friend and foe, were extremely limited and that they out-produced the Germans by severely restricting their military product ranges.
The oil industries of Germany, Great Britain and the United States met their air force requirements by producing a range of fuels with the necessary additives which could then be issued for use by for trainers, multi-engined and some single-engined combat aircraft as well as high performance fighters. Information produced by members indicate the Russians produced four basic octane fuels; B-59, B-70, B-74 and B-78 which needed additives to provide.higher octane ratings. But this implies that the VVS supply service faced a nightmare situation of up to 16 different variants ranging from 73 to 95 octane, some apparently for specific engines, and even this does not include the B-89 which several fighter pilots stated was used by their aircraft.
How then did the system work and what were the operational implications? The Soviet Union’s communications were stretched to the limit and yet it appears that instead of moving ready-mixed fuel it was having to move petrol, plus additives, despite the fact that every tonne of additive would mean one tonne less of petrol. It is surprising this was allowed.
Then where did they go?. Were they moved to the VVS’ regional or battalion support depots and mixed there or was final mixing performed at regimental level? Either way mixing additives with hundreds of tonnes of fuel would take a significant amount of time and surely delay deliveries and, in turn, restrict operations especially in the later stages of an advance when Red Army units were at the end of very strained supply lines.
This would suggest that either pre-mixed fuel was delivered to regiments and that the Soviet air commanders accepted the problems or, like their enemies and friends, they received pre-mixed fuel otherwise they would have complained directly to Stalin. Yet I know of no such action, although before Kursk there were complaints about the general lack of fuel.
It is worth noting that, if there were fuel supply problems , this might explain while German aces in fighters, bombers and ground attack seemed to fly significantly more sorties than their Russian counterparts.
Perhaps I am missing something but I would welcome any comment by members, especially those with an intimate knowledge of the wartime Soviet air forces to resolve this mundane, yet vital, issue.
Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
seeking information about Soviet Aviation Commander oquaig Allied and Soviet Air Forces 0 30th September 2012 01:14
Question about the Soviet 401st Fighter Aviation Regiment oquaig Allied and Soviet Air Forces 0 18th July 2011 06:14
Red Stars – Black Cross’s Ally over Poland. Soviet Aviation over East Part of Poland in IX, X 1939, a New Book Mirek Wawrzynski Books and Magazines 21 8th May 2009 19:35
Soviet Long Range Aviation during the war Vitellius Allied and Soviet Air Forces 7 26th April 2009 19:05
Soviet Fuel Supply in late summer 1942 yogybär Allied and Soviet Air Forces 3 9th March 2009 13:08


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 16:40.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004 - 2018, 12oclockhigh.net