Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningrad?
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Re: Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningr
it really is amazing that a PORT city was not bombarded.
certainly they had some marginal ships that could be risked in such a high reward operation?
combined with minesweepers and e-boats (wooden hulls couldn't they cross some or all minefields?)
did KM think since they had bottled up the Soviet fleet better to turn cautious?
lost the chance to take Leningrad, still faced the Soviet fleet later in the war, lost all the ships they were trying to preserve.
certainly they had some marginal ships that could be risked in such a high reward operation?
combined with minesweepers and e-boats (wooden hulls couldn't they cross some or all minefields?)
did KM think since they had bottled up the Soviet fleet better to turn cautious?
lost the chance to take Leningrad, still faced the Soviet fleet later in the war, lost all the ships they were trying to preserve.
Re: Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningr
Most of the mines were probably contact mines. Mine sweeping is a dangerous buisness in any case. If the mine fields are covered by artillery it's much worse.
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Re: Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningr
There were the Baltic fleet ships that out gunned what the Germans had.
- Ironmachine
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Re: Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningr
And, as has been previously noted in this same thread, a strong coastal artillery force.
Re: Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningr
Well, Leningrad was bombarded ... by aircraft and land-based siege artillery.it really is amazing that a PORT city was not bombarded.
You can expect to achieve similar results without endangering your warships, which are costlier to replace than a Ju-87.
Olivier
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Re: Why Didn't the Kriegsmarine Support the Seige of Leningr
Let's not forget that main guns of heavy units have very limited life's span. Few hundred shots - at the most - and accuracy goes out the window. If one hopes to successfully engaged other giants, than one needs to replace gun barrels. Keep'em fresh . Very costly and time consuming procedure, if any are still around to begin with. Aircraft and especially land artillery are much cheaper solution. On top of course of not endangering own side precious Queens of the Seas.