Did KG 26 hit the cruiser Molotov in 1942?

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Andrey Kuznetsov

According Kriegsmarine documents, it was Italian MTBs success (erroneously claimed cruiser Krasny Krim sunk). Torpedo planes were mentioned as shadowers only, nothing about their attacks. Moreover, Fliegerführer Süd after 2-3 days of investigation came to conclusion that really Krasny Krim was sunk by MTBs.

So we have only Soviet documentary evidences about torpedo planes attacks - at night and 07:18 MSK, the last one was unsuccessful.

It is unclear for me what is the source of 6./KG26 claim. Maybe some info is in British radio intelligence documents? Or in the pilots logbooks

Hello Andrey,

Thank you for a very interesting set of remarks! I would think that if the Germans did not claim a sinking, which they usually did even with little evidence in their favour, it is quite probable that there was no German attack. Could the Soviet crew been confused by the presence of LaGG-3s or MBR-2s in the area? I have seen an 'escort' of some kind, involving a pair of each aircraft type, being described as involved in this mission. If they were flying beyond the range of easy visual idenitification and were not in radio contact, the crew could have possibly considered them hostile. There is also a tall tale on airwar.ru of an MBR-2 firing signal rockets to fend off an He 111 during this action, a sign of general confusion!

I am sure logbooks would help clarify the issue, but I have never heard of any surviving logbooks for 6./KG 26.

Warm regards,

Paul

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Paul,

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

Could the Soviet crew been confused by the presence of LaGG-3s or MBR-2s in the area? I have seen an 'escort' of some kind, involving a pair of each aircraft type, being described as involved in this mission. If they were flying beyond the range of easy visual idenitification and were not in radio contact, the crew could have possibly considered them hostile.

"Molotov" and "Kharkov" were without air cover during the night attacks. The air cover (fighters and 4 MBR-2) had appeared at daybreak only.
During the night 5 DB-3? 7 SB and 16 MBR-2 bombed the port facilities in Feodosia, but I can't find any evidence of their contacts with "Molotov" and "Kharkov".

German torpedo planes had shadowed the cruiser. It is info from Kriegsmarine documents. Soviet navy reports and AA Defence reports (probably from shore radar station) also contains info about continuous contacts with German recce planes.
But Kriegsmarine documents in contradistinction from Soviet reports hasn't any info about aerial torpedo attacks, only about Italian MAS-boats attacks.

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

I am sure logbooks would help clarify the issue, but I have never heard of any surviving logbooks for 6./KG 26.

Maybe British Y-intercepts and ULTRA contains some useful info?

3.Aug.42 He111H-6 WNr 4816 1T+JH (4./KG26) was downed by AA fire from cruiser "150 km suedl.Feodosia" according to Steenbeck's book (probably not S but SE Feodosia). All crew MIA incl. FF Lt Hans-Georg Bachem. I wonder if the exact time and location of the loss in known? Maybe in NVM report?.

Warm regards,
Andrey

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Andrey Kuznetsov

"Molotov" and "Kharkov" were without air cover during the night attacks. The air cover (fighters and 4 MBR-2) had appeared at daybreak only.
During the night 5 DB-3? 7 SB and 16 MBR-2 bombed the port facilities in Feodosia, but I can't find any evidence of their contacts with "Molotov" and "Kharkov".

German torpedo planes had shadowed the cruiser. It is info from Kriegsmarine documents.

Maybe British Y-intercepts and ULTRA contains some useful info?

Andrey, thank you for providing yet more great information. On reflection, it is probably unsurprising that there was no air cover during the night, given communication difficulties. I would say that the relatively large number of Soviet sorties, including a dozen by twin-engine bombers, gives some support to the theory of mistaken identity. However, as you say, the information about German shadowers is firm, so there was some basis to the Soviet claims of torpedo attacks.

I hope some forum members who have seen relevant ULTRA material will comment here. I would pin some hope on Signatur RL 10/65 at Freiburg. Has anyone seen that?
Doug and Larry's excellent database probably uses the same Steenbeck book for Bachem. Perhaps it was 4./KG 26, not 6./KG 26, flying that night? If the Bewegungsmeldung is not in error, this was the only combat loss for the Gruppe during the entire month:

BACHEM, Dr. Hans-Georg. 03.08.42 Lt., 4./KG 26 MIA - He 111 H-6 (1T+JH) struck by AA from an enemy cruiser 150 km S of Feodosiya/Crimea - search was fruitless. 31.08.42 Lt., (pilot) awarded the Ehrenpokal.

Kleemann was indeed the commander of 6./KG 26 at that time and so could have been in the area, but there is no evidence so far to support or refute that assertion:
KLEEMANN, Wilhelm. (DOB: 31.08.16). (DKG). 01.04.40 promo to Oblt. 16.05.42 Oblt., appt Staka 6./KG 26 (to 08.42). 01.07.42 promo to Hptm. 10.07.42 awarded DKG, II./KG 26. 03.43 at the Fliegerwaffenschule (See) (to 15.04.43). 15.04.43 trf to Ob.d.L. pool (Sch.Etat). 20.05.44 Hptm. and Staka 8./KG 26, MIA – in Ju 88 A-17 off the mouth of the Seine.

Doug provided a very useful list of the other Staffelkapitäne of KG 26 on this forum, back in 2010:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=21606

Nick, thank you for the details from Schmidt's book. I wonder whether II./KG 26 was short of torpedo-bombers, or torpedoes. The Bewegungsmeldung suggests that not all the units aircraft were equipped as torpedo-bombers, see http://www.ww2.dk/oob/bestand/kampf/biikg26.html On the other hand, they did have enough torpedo-bombers for more than one formation attack on Soviet warships, perhaps they simply concentrated on bombing sorties. Does the Schmidt book say anything about that?

In summary, it does appear more plausible that the "Molotov" was hit by Legnani's MAS 568, but this is only a provisional conclusion.

Warm regards,

Paul

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello, Paul,

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

Perhaps it was 4./KG 26, not 6./KG 26, flying that night?

Yes, it is another puzzle. 4.Staffel or 6.Staffel or both.
Exact time and location of 1T+JH loss is really interesting.

Warm regards,
Andrey