This should have been the first thing to get confused: smoke covered by the same sea mist lifted by the perturbation that also covered the fire. Also remember the ship wasn't visible for long time, and neither well for what it seems..Too much signs was confused in one time. Yes, soviet sailors many times confused types of ships, but almost all this cases - subs or TKA, crafts that is very bad as observaton base. But OK, they can somehow mistaked with type.
How can SOKR. didn't notice fires raged on Z.26? Remember, she has only one gun that time and damages was very extensive.
Exactly, totally missing the arrival of Fury, or noticing it after, if she was too much north to notice her (and again considering the bad visibility).If intervals was big, SOKR. may has absolutely different view to battle, than ECLIPSE.
In this situation i think that a choice have be done.I write this overstatement to underline you 100% denial of soviet visual observation.
Honestly i think to trust more the observation of a British captain which ship was in a central position, rather then the two point of view of the soviet destroyers that were at the sides of Eclipse, giving them a less "central" view of the action. (with Sokr. that had a less clear view of Fury (and could have not noticed her, i don't know if there is a mention to her in her report) and Grem. that confused the engagement of all that happened at her stern side (mixing the movement of Fury with the one of Z-26)
It's not lack of confidence in Soviet reports, just that i think that comparing the positions and the british naval experience, it seems more accurate an evaluation of British commanders, even if with admitted mistakes (thinking that Sokrushitelnyi's target was Trinidad).
Ok. but lacking a full report from the Z-26, this means few.. because the ship could have easily kept then on his sailing to SW."After second salvo in area of machine DD strong steaming arise, she turn to right and dissapeared it snow storm" - words from SOKR. report.
If she sailed more W / SW to escape Trinidad, was the exact position of meeting with the DDs.Lets suppose, that Z.26 go to west or NW to evade TRINIDAD, which was now from starboard for she. Then Tr. disappeared (have turned hard tp SE after tropedo hit) and now new enemies arouse from port, shelled Z.26 and force them to turn to starboard. What force them turn back to enemy? Why Z.26 not to make long turn to North, then north-east, to safety?
1) because he was not possibly aware of self-torpedo of Trinidad and wasn't aware that Trinidad left her being self-torpedoed, with the danger of the ship at north, the only route of escape was south. And SW, rather then SE, knowing that convoy (and enemy escorts) were following an East route.
Due the damage, the Z-26 was going to evade the enemy and so moving on the opposite side of expected enemies (DDs at south, sailing to east, and Trinidad chasing her from north). Not being aware of Trinidad self-torpedoing, Z-26 didn't sail to North
Then explain me why this has not been mentioned before.Yes, and in archive anyone can see them long before 2010.
Damage or not is another issue, my main point is to understand if there was a contact (= if Soviet DD engaged at least one time with German DD).Why? I can't see any strong proofs. I'm not exclude possibilities that SOKR. fired at Z.26 but consider it low enough in comparison with clash with FURY.
All in all, even if SOKR. fire two salvoes against Z.26, it can hit target only occasionally and can't damage german considerably.
You're right, my point it's mainly that in this kind of battle could have been easier to not seen a second ship due the visual condition and position, rather then confuse a single ship for two different ships, reporting also a different position about the sightening for both of them specifying that happened at the same time (remember that reference at degrees, i'm not exactly sure about how interpret them, but seems quiet specific).I can write again, too: document crearly show that ECLIPSE see two different ships. That's all. SOKR. see one ship, but which one? I think that FURY, you think Z.26. Both we have proofs, both stay on ours positions. Discussion go to dead end, and without additional documents it must remain there.
In Eclipse are said different visibilities during the battle, and all are evaluation and changing, but the general conditon were not much pleasent.SOKR.'s report say visibility 10-15 cables, not so terribly bad. Fire was open at 15 cables.
True, it's not directly said but honestly it's pretty much logic. Considering also that ECLIPSE report Fury arrival at 0930 and if i'm right the engagement of SOKR. started shortly after the shells at 0927Where you get this statement? SOKR. report say to as that shells started to fall near her board. Which one? It is not said.
There is a difference of few minutes, but in general the whole situation match for me with overshots fired by Trinidad that reached the DDs