Did KG 26 hit the cruiser Molotov in 1942?

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Paul,

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

did the after-action analysis suggest that there were multiple torpedo-bomber attacks, or just one attack by all 6 aicraft?

Several attacks by 1-2 aircraft each.

Warm regards,
Andrey

[andrus]

Hello,

Fliegerführer Süd success overview from 19.2. until 9.8.1942 claims two heavy cruisers of type "Kirow" damaged (one of them during construction), also one light cruiser.

page has handwritten text III/L14-1 Anl. 5 and first page of file has stamp "Bibliothek für Zeitgeschichte Archiv". I got report from John Calvin FTP server.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Andrus,

Originally Posted by andrus

Fliegerführer Süd success overview from 19.2. until 9.8.1942 claims two heavy cruisers of type "Kirow" damaged (one of them during construction), also one light cruiser.

Thank you! I'll try to check the dates of the claims in question (maybe they listed in Kriegsmarine documents). Have you the Tagesabschlussmeldung of Fliegerführer Süd 3.Aug.43?

Best regards,
Andrey

[Andreas Brekken]

Originally Posted by Andrey Kuznetsov

Whether division of non ready aircraft between Grosseto and Crimea is known?

Hello,

no - it does not give the breakdown of readiness status between the part of the unit training at Grosseto and the rest of the unit.

Regards,
Andreas B

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Andreas,

thank you!

Best regards,
Andrey

[Richard Aigner]

over at the ship model forum there is a nice photo plus color side view of Molotov
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum...?f=69&t=164721
Greetings, Richard

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Andreas Brekken

no - it does not give the breakdown of readiness status between the part of the unit training at Grosseto and the rest of the unit.

Regards,
Andreas B

Hello Andreas,

Given that we now know that 6./KG 26 was the specific part of II./KG 26 at Grosetto, do you think it would be reasonable to consider the readiness state of the Stab, 4. and 5./KG 26 separately? I understand that there is a good reason to be suspicious of such assumtions if the Einsatzbereitschaft report does not explicitly state that it was just 6./KG 26 that was in training.

Warm regards,

Paul

[Paul Thompson]

Originally Posted by Andrey Kuznetsov

Have you the Tagesabschlussmeldung of Fliegerführer Süd 3.Aug.43?

Andrey, sorry to but again, but I noticed that you thought about getting the relevant documents from Signatur RL 8 at Freiburg back in 2010, did you ever go through with those plans? My experiences of getting microfilms from that insitution have been variable, but in some cases the digital copies by Selke were of good quality.

Warm regards,

Paul

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Andrus,

Originally Posted by andrus

Hello,

Fliegerführer Süd success overview from 19.2. until 9.8.1942 claims two heavy cruisers of type "Kirow" damaged (one of them during construction), also one light cruiser.

Claim about heavy cruiser of type "Kirow": it was unsuccessful attack in Sevastopol 24.Feb.42. But as I have found the Tagesabschlussmeldung FlieFu Süd3 .Aug.42, the claims list make no difference now.

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Paul,

Originally Posted by Paul Thompson

you thought about getting the relevant documents from Signatur RL 8 at Freiburg back in 2010, did you ever go through with those plans?

No. My previous experiences with Selke was too variable
But I have found the Tagesabschlussmeldung FlieFu Süd 3.Aug.42

According to the report, one He111 from II./KG26 (with bombs) was used as shadower, and 7 He111 as torpedo planes. So British radio intelligence had missed at least one aircraft (an in the Soviet after-action analysis it was missed too).

Torpedo hits weren't achieved "due to cruiser's skillful evasive manoeuvers". Bombing also hadn't visible results.

Lost 1T+JH fell in flames according to the report. So some German crew(s) saw the loss.

It is interesting whether in the NVM report the exact time of the loss was mentioned.

Warm regards,
Andrey