Sinking of the freighter "Ulyanov" 22/23.Feb.43 Tuapse.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello,

at 01:51 MSC 23.Feb.43 (23:51 MEZ 22.Feb.) a Ju88 sunk the freighter "Ulyanov" in Tuapse (Black Sea port). In the darkness the plane was mistaked by the observers for the returning Soviet “Boston”, therefore it was able to bomb from low level without any counteraction in that heavily defended base.

Are there any details from the German side? (Unit, crew, etc - maybe from logbooks). Most probably it was a recce aircraft from 4.(F)/122 but other variants are possible too.

It isn't clear if the successful crew saw the result of his attack because in Kriegsmarine documents the first mention of that success registered on 25.Feb.43 when air recce had fixed the merschant ship (2500 t) sunk by Luftwaffe in Tuapse (nose part under the water).

Best regards,
Andrey

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Oops,

according to MVO VIII.Fliegerkorps (ULTRA DEFE3), report 22:17 23.Feb.43, "Tuapse attacked on night of 22/23/2. Hit on 2500 ton freighter. Tongue of flame 300 meters high". So the crew saw the result.

But the question remains.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Andy Mitchell]

Andrey,

Have a copy of the War Diary Admiral Black Sea - 1 Jan 43 - 31 Mar 43 (PG Numbers 31523-31526). This is an English (US Navy) translation.

The below entries look like they may be related but I'll leave it to you to decide.

22 Feb 1943

Enemy Situation - Air Recce reports - 6 Miles SE of Tuapse a freighter of about 4,000 tons seemed to have run aground.

23 Feb 1943
1820 According to an Air- Force report of 22 February a steamer of about 4,000 tons is aground off the coast 5 miles southeast of Tuapse. The wash of the screws, visible in an aerial photograph suggests that she is still fit to proceed and is attempting to get free under her own steam.
I have cent radio instructions to the 1st E-Boat Flotilla, now on operations between Ghelenjik and Tuapse, to detach 2 boats to torpedo the steamer.

No reference to bombing sorties though.

24 Feb 1943

1125 Three hosts of 1st E-Boat Flotilla were ordered to put out at 1300 to torpedo the steamer beached southeast of Tuapse and still identified by today's morning reconnaissance in the same place (see War Diary, 1820 23 February). After completing this task they were instructed to operate until 0400 on 25 February against enemy supply traffic on a level with Cape Idokopes.
Since U 9 is standing in the area between Tuapse end Ghelenjik anti-submarine operations were forbidden.

25 Feb 1943

1501 8th Air Force reported that according to photographic survey the freighter which had grounded on 22 February 6 miles south-
east of Tuapse has put in to Ghelenjik.
A second photograph revealed another freighter of about 2,000 tons, her bow
under water, beached very close to the first. It seems that S 47 did not
torpedo the grounded steamer but a freighter of about 2,000 tons which was proceeding immediately off the coast under escort by 2 gunboats. According to the photograph the steamer must be regarded as a total
loss.

There were some reasonably detailed entries in TsAMO file 12476 Akte 38. "Unterlagen der Ia-Abteilung des Generalkommandos des I. Flakkorps: Anlagen zum KTB des Generalkommandos des I. Flakkorps, Band C – Lagemeldungen der Luftwaffengruppe Kaukasus" relating to 4(F)./122 flights that included bombing sorties. Unfortunately this file only covers operations up until end Jan 43!

Hope that this helps.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Andy,

Thank you. I have read the original (German) version of War Diary Admiral Black Sea.
"Ulyanov" sunk within Tuapse port so the wrecks outside the port are irrelevant.

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

Andrey,
There were some reasonably detailed entries in TsAMO file 12476 Akte 38.

This folder is really excellent but the reports of Lw-Gr Kaukasus are ended in the beginning of Feb.43 when I.Flakkorps was reestablished.
It is pity that Soviet Army couldn't seized the papers of the next command (VIII.Fliegerkorps).

Particularly interesting if the Ju88 in question had the "Lichtenstein" or not.

Best regards,
Andrey