*Transport ships of USSR in 1941-1945 - any info!!

[BIGpanzer]

I checked additional sources and what I found:

"Angarstroy" was sunk not by unknown submarine (see my previous post) but by US SS-210 "Grenadier" submarine (captain Lt.Cdr. W.A. Lent).

"Byelorussia" was sunk not by Japanese submarine (see my previous post) but by US SS-381 "Sand Lance" submarine (captain Lt.Cdr. Garrison)

"Ob" was sunk not by unknown submarine (see my previous post) but by US SS-281 "Sunfish" (captain Lt.Cdr. E.E. Shelby)

"Odessa" (Lend-Lease transport ship of "Liberty" type) was torpedoed 04.10.1943 at 00.22 am by US submarine S-44, but not sunk.

Also new info - Soviet small seine boat (oceanographic vessel) No. 20 was sunk by US SS-178 "Permit" (09.07.1943, Sea of Japan). US captain Lt.Cdr. W.G. Chapple realized his mistake and rescued the survivors before the Soviet craft sinks. The Soviet sailors were taken to Akutan, Alaska. I didn`t include this ship into my list as it was not transport ship and was very small (55 brutto-tonns). I believe that seine boat No. 20 was "Chuchka" mentioned by you, how do you think? "Chuchka" was, probably, its civil name before WWII or even nickname for such types of very small fishing boats, which usually didn`t have personal names, but only numbers.

So US submarines sunk 6 or 7 Soviet medium/large transport ships + one small oceanographic vessel during WWII, 145-178 Soviet sailors were lost during those accidents.

[BIGpanzer]

And one of my old questions (post from the 7th of June) - about "Andrey Zhdanov" type cargo-passenger ships.

"Smolny" was one of the ships of that type and was used for Soviet volunteers transportation to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. But I couldn't find any info about its service during WWII.

[mjbollinger]

No 20 is not the same as CHUCHKA

CHUCHKA (Чукча)
WWII Registration: RMJY
Builder: Detroit Ship Building Co.
Location: Wyandotte, MI (USA)
Delivered in 1920
2606 GRT
Type: USSB 1099

1920 Completed as LAKE FANDON (USSB) 04.20
1929 CHUCHKA (Krabotrest) 25.09.29
1930 CHUCHKA (STF-DGK)
1932 CHUCKHA (TF) Navy-Far East as hydrographic ship 10.09.32
1935 CHUCKHA (TF) 11.01.35
1943 Missing in Sea of Okhotsk 24.05.43 from Tetyukhe (Dalnegorsk) to Petropavlovsk (possibly sunk by S-34 on 01.06.43)

ODESSA may have been sunk by S-44. I believe it was. But the two surviving crew members of S-44 (they were captured by the Japanese when the submarine sank) did not report S-44 having attacked any ships to that point. U.S. reports indicate ODESSA hit a mine. I've checked records for mine fields laid during WWII and couldn't find any in that area.

Here is what I have on SMOLNII. It was only used in military operations during August 1945.

1927 Launched as SMOLNII 10.27
1929 Completed as SMOLNII (STF-BGK) 10.29
1934 SMOLNII (BGMP) 15.03.34
1939 SMOLNII (DGMP) in middle of 1939
1945 Carried Soviet delegation to UN in 04.45
1945 ALEKSANDR ZHDANOV (TF) 09.08.45
1945 SMOLNII (DGMP) 03.09.45
1958 Re-engined with diesels
1965 SMOLNII (DMP)
1975 Removed from DMP roster
1980 Broken up in USSR

Marty

[BIGpanzer]

Thanks a lot for the clarification! Yes, I see - "Chukcha" was completely different ship from the small fishing boat No. 20 (but the last one was also sunk by US submarine). I found the mention in my sources that "Chukcha" served at hydrographical service of Soviet Pacific Fleet (TF) during WWII.
Just one small note - check spelling, please. It should be not

CHUCHKA

, but "CHUKCHA" ("Chukchi man") - I`ve checked this with the help of Russian vocabulary and my Russian office colleagues confirmed that.

Regards, BP

[mjbollinger]

You are right. It is CHUKCHA. That is why I always stick to the Cyrillic names.

Marty

[BIGpanzer]

Hello, Marty!
I have old questions from my previous post here (01 July 2005 and later the same page).
1. As for medium universal tankers of "Azerbaijan" type (13250 t), four were built in 1928-1941 ("Azerbaijan", "Moskva", "Sakhalin" and "Ural").What happened with "Azerbaijan" later, after its heroic navigation of PQ-17 convoy? It survived the war, probably, as I couldn`t find the name "Azerbaijan" in the list of lost ships.
Repeat of my old info:

"Azerbaijan" became famous after the dangerous navigation of PQ-17 convoy (navigation started on 27 June 1942 from Reykjavik, Iceland). There were two Soviet tankers in PQ-17: "Azerbaijan" (medium tanker, transported linseed-oil) and "Donbass" (smaller tanker). The half crew of "Azerbaijan" and "Donbass" consisted of women. On 3 July many German torpedo-bombers attacked convoy for the first time, trying to sink the tankers as the important target. "Azerbaijan" was equipped with several small AA guns and MGs, had a combat with six torpedo-bombers and was heavily damaged by several bombs and two torpedoes. Nevertheless, both tankers could reach Arhangelsk port (only 11 ships from 37 of PQ-17 convoy could reach it).
"Azerbaijan" with damaged, but repaired engines, burned-out superstructures and two large holes from torpedoes reached the port alone, despite the orders of British commander of the convoy to leave the doomed ship.

2.

"Ural" as the last tanker of that type was built only in 1941. Served at Black Sea during WWII, was damaged by German bombers

Do you have more info about tanker "Ural"?

3. Also do you know the additional info about 11 large tankers for Caspean Sea of "Lenin" type?

What I found is only:

11 large tankers for Caspean Sea (of "Lenin" type) were produced in 1930-1936 by "Krasnoe Sormovo" shipyard (six for oil transportation and five - for gasoline).
Specifications: 12600 t (deadweight 8500 t); 132,6 x 16,86 m; 2 x 1250 hp diesel; 11,6 knots; 2800 miles range; 41 men crew.
"Lenin", equipped with AA guns, transported petrol and oil for Stalingrad Front under bombs of German aviation. It was awarded with Red Banner after end of Stalingrad battle.
The another 10 tankers of the same type were used also quite widely during the Stalingrad battle and after. Also some of them participated in landing operation of Soviet troops into Iranian territory in 1941, transported soldiers and ammunition.
They had names "Profintern", "Tsurupa", "Agamali-ogly", "VKP(b)", "Komintern", "Sumgait", "Zhdanov", "Geroi Mekhti", "Bolshevik Ahundov", "Azerbaijan".
"Komintern" was burnt down by three German bombers on 30 October 1942 at Astrakhan port despite the manoeuvring. The crew could reach the shore by life-boat, 3 men were killed. In 1943 the tanker was repaired and used till 1960.
It is interesting that several such tankers still used by Russia and Azerbaijan as port storehouses.

4.

Also I found short info about Caspian tanker "Kulibekov" (unknown for me type, deadweight 1754 t, so it was small tanker). It was sank by four Ju88 on 15 November 1942 near Astrakhan port, when it towed three small ships and have passengers with children on board. Patrol boats saved 43 men.

What type was "Kulibekov"? How much and when were built?


Thanks in advance with the help me with the info about Soviet tankers, were used during WWII.
Regards, BIGpanzer

PS. Sorry for many questions

[mjbollinger]

Not a problem, BIGpanzer. Ask and you shall receive...

Let me take them one at a time:

AZERBAIDZHAN did survive the war:

1931 Launched as AZERBAIDZHAN 04.31
1932 Completed as AZERBAIDZHAN (STF-ChGK)
1934 AZERBAIDZHAN (Sovtanker)
1940 AZERBAIDZHAN (DGMP) operational transfer 07.40
1941 Made passage out of Black Sea before 06.41
1942 Minor repairs in Los Angeles -Visit 1: 18-19.02.42; sailed to NY
1942 Major repairs in New York - Visit 1: 08.04.42 to 12.05.42
1942 PQ-17 Reykjavik to Arkhangel'sk 27.06.42; dispersed 04.07.42; arrived 24.07.42
1942 Hit by air-launched torpedo 06.42; survived
1942 Attempted NSR transit from Arkhangel'sk to USA 08.42
1942 Blocked at Ambarchik and returned to Arkhangel'sk
1942 Sailed independently Arkhangel'sk to Reykjavik late 42/early 43
1943 Minor repairs in New York -Visit 2: 15.06.43-09.07.43
1965 AZERBAIDZHAN (DMP)
1975 Removed from DMP roster (probably scrapped)

URAL -- no such ship in my database

My information is that the tanker URAL was not finished until the 1950s. Where did you get the information that it was completed in 1941? Two other ships named URAL were in service during the war but neither fits your description.

KULIBEKOV -- here is what I have

KULIBEKOV (Кулибеков)
WWII Registration: UNUO
Builder: Lindholmens Verkstads A/B
Location: Gothenburg
Delivered in 1899
1754 GRT
Type: Tanker

1899 Completed as SULEIMAN USEINOV Mamed Bagir Hadzhi Useinov)
1920 KULIBEKOV (Kasmortrans) 06.20
1922 KULIBEKOV (KGP) 01.09.22
1923 KULIBEKOV (GKP) 01.09.22
1923 KULIBEKOV (Kaspar) 07.09.23
1934 KULIBEKOV (Kasptanker)
1942 Bombed and sunk off Astrakhan 15.11.42


Finaly, I have eleven tankers of the LENIN series constructed by Krasnoye Sormovo completed before WWII, and one (GENERAL AZIASLANOV) launched in 1935 but not completed until 1950. My information on these ships (as with all ships in the Caspian) is very sketchy and I would appreciate any information you have:

LENIN
1927 Launched as LENIN
1930 Completed as LENIN (Kaspar)
1934 LENIN (Kasptanker)
1974 Withdrawn from service and hulked

PROFINTERN
1927 Launched as PROFINTERN
1930 Completed as PROFINTERN (Kaspar)
1934 PROFINTERN (Kasptanker)
1943 PROFINTERN (KGMP)
1958 GUDERMES (KGMP)
1974 Withdrawn from service

TSIURYPA
1928 Launched as TSIURYPA
1931 Completed as TSIURYPA (Kaspar)
1934 TSIURYPA (Kasptanker)
1973 Withdrawn from service

AGA-MALI-OGLI
1928 Launched as AGA-MALI-OGLI
1931 Completed as AGA-MALI-OGLI (Kaspar)
1934 AGA-MALI-OGLI (Kasptanker)
1942 Bombed and damaged late 1942 off Astrakhan
1971 Converted to floating storage

KAGANOVICH
1933 Completed as KAGANOVICH (Kasptanker)
No further information available! Do you know anything?

VKP(B)
1929 Launched as VKP[B]
1934 Completed as VKP[B] (Kaspar)
1938 VKP[B] (Kasptanker)
1941 Transported evacuees Baku to Krasnovodsk late 41
No further information available! Do you know anything?

KOMMINTERN
1932 Launched as KOMINTERN
1934 Completed as KOMINTERN (Kaspar)
1938 KOMINTERN (Kasptanker)
1941 Participated in Iranian landing 25.08.41
1942 Bombed and sunk off Astrakhan 30.10.42
1943 KOMINTERN (Kasptanker) salvaged
1953 DROGOBYCH (Kaspar)

ANDREI ZHDANOV
1930 Launched as ANDREI ZHDANOV
1934 Completed as ANDREI ZHDANOV (Kaspar)
1938 ANDREI ZHDANOV (Kasptanker)
1941 Transported evacuees Baku to Krasnovodsk late 41
195- Renamed SUMGAIT? (Kaspar) -- uncertain see STALIN below

STALIN
1930 Launched as STALIN
1934 Completed as STALIN (Kaspar)
1938 STALIN (Kasptanker)
195- Renamed BOLSHEVIK R. AKHUNDOV (Kaspar)
1970 Deleted Soviet register
Was this the ship renamed SUMGAIT?

MOLOTOV
1930 Launched as MOLOTOV
1936 Completed as MOLOTOV (Kasptanker)
1957 GEROI MEKHTI (Kaspar)
1970 Deleted prior to 1970 in Soviet register

BERIYA (AZERBAIDZHAN)
1935 Completed as BERIYA (Kaspar)
1938 BERIYA (Kasptanker)
1953 AZERBAIDZHAN (Kaspar)
1955 Altered for sea-going service (date approx)
1957 AZERBAIDZHAN (DGMP)
1973 Broken up in USSR

Not too many questions, BIGpanzer. Where are you located?

Marty

[BIGpanzer]

Thanks, Marty!

1. Excellent info about the Soviet tankers for Caspean Sea - really, I couldn`t find any additional info about them despite the fact that the role of those tankers in Stalingrad battle was very high (oil and cargos transportation).
About "VKP(b)" and "Kaganovich" tankers - I have no info, unfortunately. I only suppose that they survived the war.
I found the mention that "Kaganovich" was renamed as "Sumgait" and "Stallin" as "Bolshevik Akhundov".

2. As for the tanker "Kulibekov". Thanks a lot, I didn`t know that it was an old tanker, built in Germany. As I am interested here in transport ships, were built in USSR, I didn`t find some additional info about that tanker.

3. "Azerbaidzhan" tanker was damaged on 3-4 July 1942 (PQ-17 convoy) by several bombs and two air-launched torpedos from He-111s (from I.KG/26), not only by one torpedo. But the most heavy damages were from two torpedo explosion on the right side of the ship (which lost almost 6000 t of transported linseed oil), not from bombs. The crew (more than half were women, captain V.N. Izotov) could repair it and reached the port of destination. Exact "Azerbaidzhan`s" armament I don`t know - several MGs and light AA guns, also one 76mm gun. Captain Izotov and several crewmembers were awarded by Soviet and British decorations after that heroic navigation.

mjbollinger wrote:
1942 Blocked at Ambarchik and returned to Arkhangel'sk

"Azerbaidzhan" was blocked by heavy ice at Ambarchik in August 1942 together with several other Soviet transport ships ("Schors", "Mironych", "Kuibyshev", "Arkos", "Dvina", "Donbass", "Chernyshevsky", "Elna-2", "Komsomolets Arktiki") during the way from Arkhangelsk to USA. So they returned back.

4. "Ural" tanker - the same type as "Azerbaidzhan" (medium tankers for Black Sea). It was the last in the series of the four tankers and according to the "Nikolaev shipyard" production report list - it was completed only in 1941 as the another three tankers were finished in the beginning of 1930s. Some archive sources really report that tanker "Ural" was almost completed in 1941, but mothballed as the war began and saw service only after WWII.
The reason of the great delay with "Ural" launch (as another three tankers of the series were built quite quickly) was the decreasing of Soviet oil export in the late 1930s (the majority of produced oil was used inside the USSR, because the development of native industry was very high), so the need in large tankers for foreign routes also decreased.

PS I am in Switzerland at the moment

Regards, Bp

[mjbollinger]

Do you have the production list for the Nikolaev Shipyard or others from the pre WWII/WWII era? I'd be very interested in those?

Marty

[BIGpanzer]

Sorry, I don`t have the full production lists at the moment.
As for Nikolaev Shipyard - not full list, just the shipyard`s info about several ships, including "Ural" (in several old naval Russian and Polish journals).
As for Baltic Shipyard - I found several months ago the Internet link about it with the almost full list of all produced ships (starting from the times of XIX century and ending near 1960s, no info about modern ships) - the link was on Russian and I couldn`t find it in my Favourites now. Will try to find it again....................


Regards, BIGpanzer

[BIGpanzer]

Dear Marty!

Several questions about Soviet large timber ships of "Volgoles" type (my post here from 20 July). AFAIK 15 ships of this type were built in 1930-1935 by Admiralty shipyard and North shipyard (Leningrad) + 2 were rebuilt as transports for ore and coal in 1936.

Do you know the further fate of the ships?
1.

“Volgoles” – was interned at German port Stettin after the beginning of Soviet-German war (22 June 1941). The crew was arrested by Germans.

Did the Germans used the ship during WWII?
2.

“Dvinoles” – sank on 4 February 1942 (North Atlantic, 80 miles from Newfoundland Island) after the collision in fog with Norwegian steamer during the convoy navigation from USA to USSR. All Soviet crew was rescued by another Norwegian ship.

This is clear, no questions.
3.

“Komiles” – was used as reequipped military transport for locomotive transportation from USA to USSR (Pacific Ocean). Survived the war.

Do you know some episodes from its military career during WWII?
4.

“Sevzaples” – was used as reequipped military transport for locomotive transportation from USA to USSR (Pacific Ocean). Survived the war.

The same question.
5.

“Kuznets Lesov” – was sunk on 23 November 1942 (North Atlantic, Greenland Sea). The ship made navigation together with convoy QP-15 and lost touch with convoy because of strong storm, so it continued the navigation alone. It was torpedoed by German submarine U-601, all crew was lost.

This is clear, no questions.
6.

“Klara Cetkin” – was used as reequipped military transport for locomotive transportation from USA to USSR (Pacific Ocean). Survived the war.

The same question as for 3 and 4.
7.

“Exportles” – military transport. Survived the war.

Every info is very welcome! - theatre of operation?
8.

“Lesbel” – military transport. Survived the war.

Every info is very welcome! - theatre of operation?
9.

“Maxim Gorky” – was used as reequipped military transport for locomotive transportation from USA to USSR (Pacific Ocean). Was sunk during WWII, probably (or the ship with the same name).

Any additional info is very welcome, theatre of operation, when and how was sunk?
10.

“Stary bolshevik” – was used for military cargo transportation (guns, ammunition, fighters, medicaments) during the Spanish Civil war. Heroic ship of WWII. Survived the war.

The crew of timber ship “Stary bolshevik” (“Old communist” in some sources) became famous after the heroic navigation in May 1942 (convoy PQ-16). The ship went from Boston to North Russia, transporting 5000 t of shells, bombs and explosives. It was attacked by 9 German bombers and was heavily damaged by bomb. The ship was enveloped in flames and monstrous explosion (5000 t of explosions on board, first nuclear bomb corresponded to 15000-20000 t!) could be happen every second. British destroyer could take wounded Soviet sailors from lifeboats, but the rest Soviet crew (many of the crew members were women) decided to save the ship and remained on board under the new German attacks (total 47 air attacks during the navigation!). The convoy left the doomed ship. But crew (captain I. Afanasiev) could repair the diesel, extinguished the strong fire and even brought down the German bomber and damage German submarine by the ship light artillery and MG fire. In three days the burnt ship with completely destroyed superstructures and masts could came up with convoy. The British convoy commander commodor Perry was amazed with the heroism of Soviet sailors from “Old communist” and immediately radioed about that to London, all ships from the convoy saluted to Soviet sailors. The captain, mate and steersman became the Heroes of Soviet Union.

Any info about its further service (1943-1945) is very welcome!

11.

“Murmanles” – military transport. Survived the war.

No more info!
12.

“Uralles” – was sunk on 29 October 1941 near Evpatoria (Black Sea) by German bombers during the evacuation of civilians.

This is clear, no questions.
13.

“Ivan Papanin” (military transport No. 505) – was sunk on 29 August 1941 (Finnish Gulf, Baltic Sea) during the convoy navigation from Tallinn. The ship transported more than 3000 soldiers and 200 trucks. It was attacked by German bombers and was heavily damaged by two bombs. Near 70 men were killed in fire (including the captain), but the ship could reach the shore and more than 2500 soldiers were rescued. Next day the damaged and burnt ship sank.

This is clear, no questions.
14.

“Karl Lepin” – it was used for military cargo transportation (mainly I-15 fighters) during the Spanish Civil war. Military transport during WWII. Survived the war.

Any additional info is welcome, theatre of operation during WWII?
15.

“Vtoraya pyatiletka” (military transport No. 543). The ship was sunk on 30 August 1941 (Finnish Gulf, Baltic Sea) during the convoy navigation from Tallinn by German bombers (more than 15 attacks). Patrol boats rescued the crew and 2500 soldiers.

This is clear, no questions.
16.

“Polina Osipenko” – transport for ore and coal, rebuilt timber ship. The ship was heavily damaged on 13 August 1941 by German bombers (Black Sea) during the navigation from Nikolaev with cargo and 1000 civilians on board. The burning ship could reach the shore and sank. Almost all men were rescued (9 were lost). In 1968 the ship was raised by divers and scraped.

This is clear, no questions.
17.

“Anatoly Serov” – transport for ore and coal, rebuilt timber ship. Survived the war.

Any additional info is welcome, theatre of operation during WWII?


Best regards, BIGpanzer.
Thank you very much in advance.

[mjbollinger]

Here's a start. Have to catch a flight. More to follow.

VOLGOLES
1931 Launched as VOLGOLES 08.31
1932 Completed as VOLGOLES (STF-ChGK)
1934 VOLGOLES (BGMP) 15.03.34
1940 VOLGOLES (BF) as transport
1941 Taken by Germans in Stettin on 06.22.41
1942 Renamed COLMAR (Deutsches Reich)
1944 Sunk by Soviet TKS off Vardo on 19.08.44

KOMILES
1931 Launched as KOMILES 16.12.31
1933 Completed as KOMILES (STF-BGK)
1934 KOMILES (BGMP) 15.03.34
1940 KOMILES (DGMP) operational transfer 14.04.40
1941 PQ-5 Hvalfjord to Arkhangel'sk 27.11.41-13.12.41
1942 Armed and militarized for Northern operations
1942 QP-13 Arkhangel'sk Reykjavik 26.06.42-07.07.42
1942 PQ-18 Hvalfjord to Murmansk 08.09.42-19.09.42
1942 QP-15 Arkhangel'sk to Loch Ewe 17.11.42-30.11.42
1943 JW-53 Loch Ewe to Murmansk departed 15.02.43
1943 Damaged in bad weather returned to Loch Ewe
1943 Redirected to Vladivostok; arrived 17.06.43
1943 Converted to carry locomotives
1948 Lost voyage Vladivostok to Petropavlovsk

SEVZAPLES
1931 Launched as SEVZAPLES 16.12.31
1933 Completed as SEVZAPLES (STF-DGK)
1935 SEVZAPLES (DGMP) 03.35
1941 QP-1 Arkhangel'sk to Orkney Is. 28.9.41-10.10.41
1942 PQ-12 Reykjavik to Murmansk 01.03.42; straggled 11.03.42; arrived
1942 QP-10 Murmansk to Rejkjavik 10.04.42-21.04.42 ?
1943 Converted to carry locomotives
1965 SEVZAPLES (DMP)
1972 Removed from DMP roster

KLARA TSETKIN
1932 Laid down as EXPORTLES
1933 Launched as KLARA TSETKIN 25.06.33
1934 Completed as KLARA TSETKIN (BGMP) 19.12.34
1941 Transitioned NSR Arkhangel'sk to Vladivostok 07.41
1941 KLARA TSETKIN (DGMP) date approx
1943 Converted to carry locomotives
1970 KLARA TSETKIN (NKRP)
1975 Broken up in USSR

EXPORTLES
1931 Laid down as EXPORTLES 19.11.31
1932 Launched as EXPORTLES 02.10.32
1933 Completed as EXPORTLES (STF-BGK)
1934 MAXIM GORKII (BGMP) 15.03.34
1940 MAXIM GORKII (DGMP) operational transfer 14.04.40
1943 Converted to carry locomotives
1965 MAXIM GORKII (DMP)
1971 Removed from DMP roster
1972 Broken up in Hong Kong by Fuji Marden & co.

[mjbollinger]

A lot of your ships are actually duplicate names for the same ship

LESBEL
1932 Laid down as LESBEL
1933 Launched as VTORAYA PYATILETKA 25.06.33
1933 Completed as VTORAYA PYATILETKA (STF-ChGK) 11.33
1934 VTORAYA PYATILETKA (ChGMP) 15.03.34
1939 VTORAYA PYATILETKA (BGMP)
1941 VT-543 (BF) mobilized as transport
1941 Aground/bombed 60.04N-26.44E near Suursaari 29.08.41

STARII BOLSHEVIK
1932 Launched 09.32 as STARII BOLSHEVIK
1933 Completed as STARII BOLSHEVIK (STF-ChGK)
1934 STARII BOLSHEVIK (ChGMP)
1940 STARII BOLSHEVIK (ChABU)
1941 QP-1 Arkhangel'sk to Orkney Is. 28.9.41-10.10.41
1941 HX-166 Halifax to Liverpool 21.12.41-05.01.42
1942 PQ-8 Hvalfjord to Murmansk 08.01.42-17.01.42
1942 QP-7 Murmansk to Seidisfjord 12.02.42-22.02.42
1942 PQ-16 departed Reykjavik to Murmansk 21.05.42-30.05.42
1942 Damaged by aircraft 27.05.42
1942 QP-13 Arkhangel'sk Reykjavik 26.06.42-07.07.42
1942 STARII BOLSHEVIK (DGMP)
1964 STARII BOLSHEVIK (DMP)
1970 Broken up at Izumiohtsu 01.70

MURMALES
1932 Launched as URALLES
1933 Completed as MURMALES (STF-ChGK)
1934 KARL LEPIN (ChGMP) 15.03.34
1938 NIKOLAI EZHOV (ChGMP)
1939 IVAN PAPANIN (BGMP)
1941 VT-505 (BF) mobilized as transport
1941 Beached/bombed near Suursaari; 70 killed 30.08.41

ANATOLI SEROV
1932 Laid down as KOLLEKTIVIZATSIYA
1939 Design converted to ore carrier
1939 Completed as ANATOLI SEROV (AGMP)
1941 ANATOLI SEROV (ChABU)
1942 Attacked by 77 aircraft; survived 06.06.42

[BIGpanzer]

Thanks for the excellent data as always, dear Marty!

Can I add a few additional info?
1. About "Volgoles" - I found a story that this large timber ship together with other Soviet ships ("Kuban", "KIM", "Neva") participated in the secret evacuation of the gold (510 t!) from the State banks of republican Spain to USSR during the Spanish civil war. That was the very dangerous operation, as Spanish nationalists tried to intercept Soviet ships, but unsuccessfully.
After the capture of "Volgoles" and its crew in German port Stettin on the first day of the war with USSR, Germans used it as military transport ("Colmar"). "Colmar" as the ship from German transport convoy was sunk exactly on 19.08.1944 together with patrol boat V-6102 ("Köln") by Soviet torpedo boats from Northern Fleet near cape Kibergness.

2. "Komiles", "Sevzaples", "Klara Cetkin" and "Maxim Gorkii" large timber ships were reequipped in 1943 for locomotive transportation (18 locomotives with tenders) in US Portland, according to the recommendations of Soviet engineers. They served excellent in that unique for timber ships role during WWII.
"Komiles" participated in PQ-18 convoy (the ship was armed with 1 cannon and 6 "Oerlikons", transported 27 aircrafts, 35 tanks, 1000 t of ammunition, 700 t of fuel), was attacked by German bombers and torpedo-bombers and knocked down two of them. "Komiles" was sunk in 1948, run into the rocks of island Chirinkotan in fog (Sea of Okhotsk).

3. I found the info that Soviet ship "Maxim Gorkii" was captured by nationalist forces in Spain during the Spanish civil war, later it was returned back to USSR. Probably, it was the large timber ship we are discussing about.
Also Soviet ship under the name "Maxim Gorkii" was sunk during WWII, but this was another ship for sure. Do you know something about the type of that sunk ship?

4.

mjbollinger wrote: A lot of your ships are actually duplicate names for the same ship

Actually no, as I gave 17 names for the 17 ships of that type according to my sources (and the ship names were particularized in the article, so I didn`t find each name by myself). Another question, that several ships were renamed or even the names of some of them were changed into another names from the ships of the same series! So this make some difficulties. In your list I can see only 9 names at the moment, please, give additional 8.
My info:
Admiralty shipyard (1930-1935): Volgoles, Dvinoles, Komiles, Sevzaples, Kuznets Lesov, Klara Cetkin, Exportles, Lesbel, Maxim Gorkii.
North shipyard (1930-1935): Stary bolshevik, Murmanles, Uralles, Ivan Papanin, Karl Lepin, Vtoraya pyatiletka.
Nikolaev shipyard (1936): reequipment two timber ship hulls into the transports for ore and coal - Polina Osipenko and Anatolii Serov. 10 smaller holds were made instead 4 large, all cargo cranes were removed, draft was decreased because of shoalness of the Sea of Azov in comparison with the Black Sea (so those two ships could transported only 4800 t of cargos instead of 5500 t as other ships of that type).

5. As for "Anatolii Serov" - what does the abbreviation ChABU mean? Your history about that ship ends in 1942.
Here is some additional info about the ship (my post from 24 July):

I found just now the short info about "Anatoly Serov" military transport ("Volgoles" type timber ship). It was armed with 6x45mm, 3x22mm and 10 MGs in June 1941 and was used for military cargos transportation and evacuation of equipment and civilians from Black Sea ports. The ship participated in Odessa and Sevastopol defence, also in Kerch-Feodosya landing operation. During 15 months it transported 7700 t of ammunition, 650 tanks and cars, 7500 civilians and 11000 wounded soldiers. "Anatoly Serov" was attacked 95 times by German torpedo-bombers and its crew brought down 3 bombers by AA fire. In May 1942 the ship was heavily damaged by 5 bomb direct hits at Sevastopol, but the crew could repair the ship and reached Novorossiysk port, where it was damaged again by additional bomb hit. The destroyed ship could make a new navigation to Sukhumi, where it was completely repaired during 7 months. Till 1945 it transported military cargos for Soviet troops. 5 men from the crew were killed and 15 were wounded during the war. In April 1949 the ship was exploded on old WWII mine and sank.

6. Not "Murmales", but "Murmanles". Sorry for note

Best regards, BIGpanzer

[mjbollinger]

BIGPanzer

1. I can confirm that story. There are several books written on the topic of Soviet aid during the Spanish Civil War

2. I can confirm that. In fact, I have photos of some of those ships carrying locomotives

3. Must be a different MAXIM GORKII that was sunk in WWII -- a warship. Only two merchant ships by that name was the timber ship and a small tanker operating in the Far East.

4. We see to have conflicting data. Here is the translation of the data from The History of Domestic Shipbuilding, a five volume series that is the most comprehensive and detailed I've seen on this topic. The translation is mine and not perfect:

"The big timber carrying vessels already in TsBMS under K.I.Bohanevicha's management were undertaken. This project was authorized by the customer on October, 31, 1929 and soon approved by the Register of the USSR. On it it was planned to construct 28 ships, though in 1930-1934 only 10 ships were constructed. The lead timber carrying vessel VOLGOLES was laid down at the A. Marti factor in 1930, was launched in July 1931, and handed over into operations in December of the following year.

The A. Marti factory constructed DVINOLES, KOMILES, SEVZAPLES, EXPORTLES (later named MAXIM GORKII), SEVEROLES (later named KUZNETS LESOV), KLARA TZETKIN and LESBEL (later named VTORAYA PYATILETKA), i.e. only eight timber carrying vessels, including the lead ship. Two vessels – MURMANLES (launched as URALLES, later renamed IVAN PAPANIN) and STARI BOLSHEVIK - were constructed by Northern Shipyard in Leningrad. In addition two similar vessels - KOLLEKTIVATSIYA and STROITELSTVO - were constructed in 1932-1939 by the Nikolaev factory #61. During construction they were converted into ore carriers for the line the Kamish-Burun -, and at the same time received new names: ANATOLI SEROV and POLINA OSIPENKO accordingly."


EXPORTLES is the same as MAXIM GORKII
SEVEROLES is the same as KUZNETS LESOV
LESBEL is the same as VTORAYA PYATILETKA
MURMANLES is the same as URALLES and IVAN PAPANIN
KOLLEKTIVATSIYA is the same as ANATOLI SEROV
STROITELSTVO is the same as POLINA OSIPENKO

All the names you provided are accounted for. (KLARA TSETKIN was also laid down under the name EXPORTLES but that just confuses things even more.)

Moreover, the 1938-39 Register of the Soviet Union is clear on how many ships in this series were on operation and fits the account above.

This all seems pretty resolved to me. What is the source of your information?

5. ChABU = Черноморско-Азовское Бассейновое Управление. This was formed in 1941 pooling together the resources of the Black Sea State Sea Shipping Co., The Azov Sea State Sea Shipping Co. and Sovtanker. Sovtanker was later spun out in September 1944.

6. MURMANLES is correct. Thanks.

Marty

Marty