R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

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Juha Tompuri
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R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#1

Post by Juha Tompuri » 28 Jan 2013, 08:27

14th September 1941 Räumboote R-60, 61 and 62 blew up at Helsinki.
I have read about some rumours of sabotage, but has the real reason of the destruction been verified?
Accident?

Regards, Juha

igorr
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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#2

Post by igorr » 28 Jan 2013, 12:14

German accounts about this case not lead to any defined conclusion. Some withnesses talk about some unknow people running from boats, but no strong proofs. Waterbombs accidental explosions was also proposed but not proved 100%. From other side, no claims for destruction from soviet side was made. I think this was accident by crew carelessness which germans prefer to hide during investigations.


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Juha Tompuri
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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#3

Post by Juha Tompuri » 29 Jan 2013, 22:51

Hi,

What ever it was that went off that night, it was something very powerful - depth charge size or similar amount of explosives.

Regards, Juha

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#4

Post by Juha Tompuri » 25 May 2013, 21:13

Some photos from Finnish Defence Forces archives http://sa-kuva.fi/
Mentioned to have been taken 14th September at Katajanokka Navy harbour, Helsinki - so most probably they are about the Räumboote R-60, 61 and 62 explosions, fires and damages after them.
Attachments
SA-kuva 46360.JPG
Explosion
SA-kuva 46365.JPG
Fire, caused by the explosion
SA-kuva 46366.JPG
Fire, caused by the explosion

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Juha Tompuri
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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#5

Post by Juha Tompuri » 25 May 2013, 21:44

Continuing:
Attachments
SA-kuva 46367.JPG
A warehouse damaged by the explosion
SA-kuva 46368.JPG
The deck of lightship Helsinki after the explosion
SA-kuva 46370.JPG
The deck of pilotboat Tiiri after the explosion

John T
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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#6

Post by John T » 26 May 2013, 16:44

Juha Tompuri wrote:14th September 1941 Räumboote R-60, 61 and 62 blew up at Helsinki.
I have read about some rumours of sabotage, but has the real reason of the destruction been verified?
Accident?

Regards, Juha
It is a bit strange that three Swedish destroyers shared a similar accident three days later on the 17:th
No proofs where found but sabotage where seen as most probable cause.

Note that Swedish navy escorted German ship to and from Finland at this time.

Cheers
/John

Ste
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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#7

Post by Ste » 26 May 2013, 18:20

The same day in Helsinki died Leutnant zur See Axel Goetzke.He will receive a posthumos Ritterkreuz on 27.12.1941 as Kommandant R 16.I guess it was one of the victims of the explosion.

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Re: R-60, 61 and 62 destruction at Helsinki 140941

#8

Post by igorr » 27 May 2013, 03:41

Correct, but he was commander of R.61, not R.16

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