Finnish boat HB-2
Re: Finnish boat HB-2
An example of a possible Finnish Air Force passenger car equipped with a swastika (Sa-kuva 164340). Photographed near Mensuvaara airfield in September 1944.
Re: Finnish boat HB-2
Finnish Air Force had quite many motorboats already before the war because there were many bases for maritime aircraft, for example Kasinhäntä (Sortavala), Turkinsaari (Viipuri), Santahamina (Helsinki) and Ruissalo (Turku). These "organic boats" were nearly always marked with FAF markings. Also FAF trucks and tractors (at least those owned by the FAF) had the small national emblems painted.
AA troops used similar marking in their vehicles but the swastika was painted in red (military branch colour). I have never seen any boat of the FAF AA troops, but coastal AA troops may have had these. They were although part of the Navy and didn't use any special emblems.
In black and white photos (there are two main film types) red appears to look either very dark (almost black) or if yellow colour looks dark then red is usually rather neutral. Blue colour looks about the same in both film types. The HB-2 clearly has a blue and white FAF emblem like has the one on the rear of the lorry.
Armoured vehicles of the 1st Division which used about similar blue colour than FAF in their swastika emblems can be easily recognized from the vehicles of Armoured Battalion or later Armoured Division which used black swastikas.
AA troops used similar marking in their vehicles but the swastika was painted in red (military branch colour). I have never seen any boat of the FAF AA troops, but coastal AA troops may have had these. They were although part of the Navy and didn't use any special emblems.
In black and white photos (there are two main film types) red appears to look either very dark (almost black) or if yellow colour looks dark then red is usually rather neutral. Blue colour looks about the same in both film types. The HB-2 clearly has a blue and white FAF emblem like has the one on the rear of the lorry.
Armoured vehicles of the 1st Division which used about similar blue colour than FAF in their swastika emblems can be easily recognized from the vehicles of Armoured Battalion or later Armoured Division which used black swastikas.
Re: Finnish boat HB-2
An excerpt from an order given by the Finnish Air Force HQ regarding supply on 6 October 1943:
"From 1 November 1943 onwards, a new special marking (swastika on white background) shown on the following attachment shall be taken into use in all Air Force motor vehicles belonging to the flying corps, the anti-aircraft corps or the signal corps. Motorcycles and tractors shall not be marked.
The marking shall be painted on front of the vehicle on the tip of the left fender, so that it is clearly visible from the front. The rear of the vehicle can be marked either by directly applying the marking into the body or to a seperate plate attached to suitable location. The marking shall be painted (or applied) to the centre of the tail gate in lorries. In other vehicles, the marking shall be painted (applied) to the rear in such suitable location that in can be clearly seen from the behind.
[...]
Size:
A circle with a diameter of 180 mm
Colours:
Circle: White background
Swastika: blue in the flying corps (the same shade as used on aeroplanes), "artillery red" in the anti-aircraft corps, violet in the signal corps."
"From 1 November 1943 onwards, a new special marking (swastika on white background) shown on the following attachment shall be taken into use in all Air Force motor vehicles belonging to the flying corps, the anti-aircraft corps or the signal corps. Motorcycles and tractors shall not be marked.
The marking shall be painted on front of the vehicle on the tip of the left fender, so that it is clearly visible from the front. The rear of the vehicle can be marked either by directly applying the marking into the body or to a seperate plate attached to suitable location. The marking shall be painted (or applied) to the centre of the tail gate in lorries. In other vehicles, the marking shall be painted (applied) to the rear in such suitable location that in can be clearly seen from the behind.
[...]
Size:
A circle with a diameter of 180 mm
Colours:
Circle: White background
Swastika: blue in the flying corps (the same shade as used on aeroplanes), "artillery red" in the anti-aircraft corps, violet in the signal corps."
ILMAVOIMIEN HUOLTOKÄSKY N:o 12/43
[...]
1.11.43 mennessä otetaan käytäntöön erikoistunnuksena kaikissa Ilmavoimien lento-, it- ja viestijoukkojen mt.ajoneuvoissa (mp. ja traktorit poisluettuna) liiteen mukainen, valkoiselle pohjalle maalattu hakaristi. Koko ja väri selviävät liitteestä. Merkki maalataan auton eteen vasemman etulokasuojan kärkeen siten, että se selvästi näkyy edestäpäin katsottuna. Auton taakse voidaan merkki kiinnittää vaihtoehtoisesti joko maalattuna välittömästi autoon tai erilliselle levylle, joka sopivasti kiinnitetään. K-autoissa merkki maalataan (kiinnitetään) kuormalavan takalaudan keskelle. Muissa autoissa merkki maalataan (kiinnitetään) takaosaan sopivalle paikalle siten, että se selvästi näkyy taaksepäin.
[...]
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Re: Finnish boat HB-2
To Mangrove:
You mentioned the list of Navy units. Is it available somewhere?
Regards, Pekka
You mentioned the list of Navy units. Is it available somewhere?
Regards, Pekka
Re: Finnish boat HB-2
It is available on folder T 15881/1384 at The National Archives, but not online.Ruotsinsalmi wrote: You mentioned the list of Navy units. Is it available somewhere?
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Re: Finnish boat HB-2
Thaks Mangrove!
pity it's not online...must go to Hki!
Pekka
pity it's not online...must go to Hki!
Pekka
Re: Finnish boat HB-2
Found accidentally some info on boats HB-3 and HB-4. They were transferred from Sortavala air station (= Kasinhäntä)/LLv. 16 to Valamo Sector of coastal artillery in the beginning of Winter War. Boats were assigned to Niikkana fort. HB-4 was also used for guard duty during nights. The boat engines were found unreliable and the boats not suitable for winter use on Lake Ladoga. They were docked for winter on 26. December 1939.
Indeed HB boats seem to have been Air force boats. Possibly they were used by peace time air stations operating floatplanes. HB-2 might have been used by Santahamina air station, but I haven't found any info on this.
Indeed HB boats seem to have been Air force boats. Possibly they were used by peace time air stations operating floatplanes. HB-2 might have been used by Santahamina air station, but I haven't found any info on this.
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Re: Finnish boat HB-2
Thanks for all the great feedback.
Question- would these possibly been intended or used as air-sea rescue launches to recover downed air crew?
Dave
Question- would these possibly been intended or used as air-sea rescue launches to recover downed air crew?
Dave