Äänisen laivasto-osasto (Ään.LOs)

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Mangrove
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Äänisen laivasto-osasto (Ään.LOs)

#1

Post by Mangrove » 04 Oct 2006, 20:10

This is something I'm working with right now. I'll be posting some general info about this fleet operated at Lake Onega in 1941-1944.

Ään.LOs was founded in 5th November 1941 when the Karelian Army ordered to form up a fleet to "use ships at area of Lake Onega, Svir and in other area near the Karelian Army and arrange supply." The fleet was subordinated to Äänisjärven Rannikkoprikaati.

The fleet was planned to consist following units:

Chief of the Fleet
Squadron of Gunboats, two gunboats or armed tugboats.
Squadron of Ships, four transport ships.
Two squadron of boats, á 25 motor boats (handed over in 29th September 1941)

To collect ships & boats to the fleet, sotasaalisosasto (department of war trophy) was founded. Many of the ships found were in bad shape and their design was overdated when comparing to Finnish standards. However at least following ships were taken into service at the end of the year:

1 passenger ship
6 tugboats
2 paddlewheelers
2 tankers
2 motor ships

At this time no official names were given to the ship, but the 2 paddlewheelers (siipirataslaiva) were probably future Karhumäki and Kontupohja.

Martti

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Harri
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#2

Post by Harri » 05 Oct 2006, 12:44

Here is some more information (note, these pages are old and may contain some inaccuracies altered already in my personal files):

1941 - 1942

http://www.geocities.com/finnmilpge/fmp ... 41_42.html

In my files it was formed on 27.10.1941 (this may be the day when the order of forming was given?). In winter and spring 1942 Ään.LOs. acted as a temporary Sea Battalion (Meripataljoona, MeriP) and detachment was fully formed for the next season in May/June 1942.

1943 - 1944

http://www.geocities.com/finnmilpge/fmp ... 43_44.html


Martti, do you appear to know any more leaders' names in Ään.LOs. / MeriP 4?


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#3

Post by Mangrove » 05 Oct 2006, 14:24

Harri wrote: In my files it was formed on 27.10.1941 (this may be the day when the order of forming was given?). In Martti, do you appear to know any more leaders' names in Ään.LOs. / MeriP 4?
Well, the order is dated 5.11.1941, but it also says "jäljennös" (duplicate). I was unabled to find the original paper in the Ään.LOs -files.

Osasto Haikala was founded before the Ään.LOs in September-November 1941. The first letter O. Haikala sent is dated 12.10.1941. There's one letter made in 27.10, shown below.

However other evidence support the 27.10 to be right. Order dated in 24.11.1941 mentioning Ään.LOs. In the bottom there's a text "Aihe: PK:n kirj. N. 856/Op.2.1 sal. 27.10.41".

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#4

Post by Harri » 06 Oct 2006, 12:12

Thanks, Martti! If you have more such files I'd be interested in seeing more of them.

My information is mostly based on Niilo Lappalainen's book "Äänisen rannoilla" [At the Shores of Lake Onega] with some information also from other "official" military and naval history books.

Like is shown in my pages both Moottoriveneosasto (Mv.Os.) (Motorboat Detachment) with about 50 motorboats moved from Lake Ladoga and Äänisen sotasaalisosasto (Ään.Ss.Os.) (Lake Onega War Booty Detachment) with "tens of boats and vessels" belonged initially to this new naval detachment. The latter one was active since 31.10.1941 but do you know when they were suspended?

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#5

Post by Mangrove » 06 Oct 2006, 16:31

Harri wrote: Like is shown in my pages both Moottoriveneosasto (Mv.Os.) (Motorboat Detachment) with about 50 motorboats moved from Lake Ladoga and Äänisen sotasaalisosasto (Ään.Ss.Os.) (Lake Onega War Booty Detachment) with "tens of boats and vessels" belonged initially to this new naval detachment. The latter one was active since 31.10.1941 but do you know when they were suspended?
Here's the order (the original files are much better than this smaller one) to found the Äänisen rannikkoprikaati and there's no text about Moottoriveneosasto nor sotasaalisosasto, so my opinion is they were suspended when the rannikkoprikaati was founded.

Martti
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#6

Post by Mangrove » 06 Oct 2006, 16:31

The last one.

EDIT: A letter in 5.11.1941 says that "Merivoimista komennettu Äänisen sotasaalisosasto liitetään Äänisen Laivasto-osastoon".
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Re: Äänisen laivasto-osasto (Ään.LOs)

#7

Post by Juha Tompuri » 07 Oct 2006, 20:51

Thank you Martti and Harri very much for very interesting posts about this lesser known subject.
Martti Kujansuu wrote:However at least following ships were taken into service at the end of the year:

1 passenger ship
6 tugboats
2 paddlewheelers
2 tankers
2 motor ships

At this time no official names were given to the ship, but the 2 paddlewheelers (siipirataslaiva) were probably future Karhumäki and Kontupohja.
I think that the two other paddlewheelers were some other vessels as AFAIK Karhumäki entered service 1942 and Kontupohja 1943

Regards, Juha

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Re: Äänisen laivasto-osasto (Ään.LOs)

#8

Post by Mangrove » 07 Oct 2006, 21:12

Juha Tompuri wrote:I think that the two other paddlewheelers were some other vessels as AFAIK Karhumäki entered service 1942 and Kontupohja 1943
Hi!

Could be. The fleet listed ships being repaired at Vosnesenoja in the end of the year 1941 and one of them was paddlewheeler "Udobnii" (length 35 m and width 4,35 / 7,75 m), another "Marat" (37.3 m / 5,7 m) and the last one "Razionalizator" (62 m / 7,65 / 12,15 m). I don't yet have papers for 1942 so I don't know if two of those ships is Karhumäki or Kontupohja. However the last one seems to be too big comparing the photos.

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Re: Äänisen laivasto-osasto (Ään.LOs)

#9

Post by Juha Tompuri » 07 Oct 2006, 21:49

Martti Kujansuu wrote: Hi!

Could be. The fleet listed ships being repaired at Vosnesenoja in the end of the year 1941 and one of them was paddlewheeler "Udobnii" (length 35 m and width 4,35 / 7,75 m), another "Marat" (37.3 m / 5,7 m) and the last one "Razionalizator" (62 m / 7,65 / 12,15 m). I don't yet have papers for 1942 so I don't know if two of those ships is Karhumäki or Kontupohja. However the last one seems to be too big comparing the photos.
Hi!

AFAIK Karhumäki ex-Auvo ex-Vostok was 42x10x1.5m and Kontupohja ex-Rosali 33.5x9.6x1.8m
The auxillary gunboat Karhumäki spent the winter 1941/42 stuck at ice at Tulvoja, where it was towed late spring 1942.
Auxilary gunboat Kontupohja was raised from Lake Onega summer 1942.

Regards, Juha

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#10

Post by Harri » 09 Oct 2006, 14:24

Excellent details! I agree with Juha. In my files Karhumäki appears in 1942 and 1. Osasto Karhumäki (Os.K) (Detachment K) end of July 1943. Detachment was composed of Aputyv. [Auxiliary Gunboat] Karhumäki (3 - 75, 3 - 20M) and Aputyv. Kontupohja (ex-Rosalin) (2 - 75, 3 - 20M).

Kuljetuslaivue (Kulj.Lv.) (Transport Flotilla) formed in 5./6.1942 had larger ships Hl.[Steam Boat] Äänislinna (ex-Rosa Luxemburg) (I think the mentioned passenger ship), Hl. Syväri, Ma.[Motor Vessel] Soksu and Ma. Sunku (the two mentioned motor ships). Since 1943 there are also Aputyv. Ilmari (1 - 45, 1 - 40V,1 - 20M) and Hl. Äänislinna and since 1944 Aputyv. Erkki (armament unknown). Are Syväri, Ilmari, Erkki and Äänislinna possibly some of the vessels Martti mentioned?

I think Val.[Guard Vessel] Ilmari (2 - 40V,1 - 20M), Val. Urho (1 - 40V,1 - 20M), Val. Väinö (1 - 45, 1 - 20M) and Val. Limo (ex-Anneli) (1 - 45, 1 - 20M) were smaller ones (former tugs perhaps)?

Is there any information on the leaders of naval sub-detachments like Raivaajalaivue (Mine Sweeper Flotilla), Kuljetuslaivue (Transport Flotilla) and the above mentioned Detachment K and Detachment I (2. Osasto Ilmari) which together formed Vartiolaivue (VLv.) (Guard Flotilla) led by Lt.Cmd. O. Haikala? When in 1943 did Lt.Cmd. I Huhta take the command?

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#11

Post by Mangrove » 09 Oct 2006, 20:27

Harri wrote: Is there any information on the leaders of naval sub-detachments like Raivaajalaivue (Mine Sweeper Flotilla), Kuljetuslaivue (Transport Flotilla) and the above mentioned Detachment K and Detachment I (2. Osasto Ilmari) which together formed Vartiolaivue (VLv.) (Guard Flotilla) led by Lt.Cmd. O. Haikala? When in 1943 did Lt.Cmd. I Huhta take the command?
I don't have any other files yet than those which are dated September 1941 - December 1941. I try to acquire them in Wednesday or in Thursday.

Martti

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#12

Post by Harri » 11 Oct 2006, 11:09

Martti Kujansuu wrote:Here's the order (the original files are much better than this smaller one) to found the Äänisen rannikkoprikaati and there's no text about Moottoriveneosasto nor sotasaalisosasto, so my opinion is they were suspended when the rannikkoprikaati was founded.
According to Niilo Lappalainen they both belonged initially to Ään.LOs after Ään.RPr. was formed. I think all naval activity ended for winter so between February and the "end of May" 1942 detachment was called as "Meripataljoona" (Naval Battalion). Major changes in Laat.RPr. were made in January 1942 when HQ / 4th Coastal Brigade arrived from Hanko Group and also in May / June 1942 when Ään.LOs. was re-activated.

Cmd. A. Raninen took the command of Ään.LOs. on 30.10.1941 but at the same time he commanded also Lake Onega War Booty Detachment formed for salvaging all found ships, boats and such stuff. It was active since that same day (30.10.). Basically the whole naval detachment was doing that same job in 1941. Cmd. E. Göransson took the command of Ään.LOs. on 1.3.1942.

I think more likely all bigger changes took place in 1942. It is interesting to see the results of your archive research.

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#13

Post by Mangrove » 11 Oct 2006, 15:58

Harri wrote: Is there any information on the leaders of naval sub-detachments like Raivaajalaivue (Mine Sweeper Flotilla), Kuljetuslaivue (Transport Flotilla) and the above mentioned Detachment K and Detachment I (2. Osasto Ilmari) which together formed Vartiolaivue (VLv.) (Guard Flotilla) led by Lt.Cmd. O. Haikala? When in 1943 did Lt.Cmd. I Huhta take the command?
Harri wrote: It is interesting to see the results of your archive research.
Visited the Military Archive today and browsed something like 300 pages and took 150 photographs from them... took three hours. :wink:

"18.4.1942
Käsky

Ään.LO:n Vartiolaivueen perustamisesta.

Määrään muodostettavaksi 20.4.1942 Laivasto-osaston sota-aluksista Vartiolaivueen.
Vartiolaivueen päälliköksi määrään kapt.luutn. O. H a i k a l a n.
Laivueeseen määrään seuraavat alukset viereen merkittyine päällikköineen.

I/VLv.
Tyv. Auvo Luutn. Kullberg, Torsten Aksel (Toinen alus määrätään myöhemmin).

II/VLv.
Va. Ilmari Aliluutn. Tigerstedt, Gregori
Va. Urho Luutn. Penttilä, Oiva

III/VLv.
Va. Väinö Sot.mest. Voutilainen, Lauri Arvi
Va. Anneli Luutn. Merua, Pentti Mikael

U/VLv.
Pm.1 (Matti) Kers. Toivola, Erkki Elias
Pm.2 (Eila) Kers. Reinikainen, Emil
Pm.3 (Laila) Määrätään myöhemmin
Pm.4 Määrätään myöhemmin

Kevyt osasto/VLv.
Tukialus "19" Aliluutn. Peltonen, Pekka
Pikaveneosasto (4 moottorivenettä)
1. Tiedusteluveneosasto 4 -"- kers. Roine, Sulo
2. Tiedusteluveneosasto 4 -"- kers. Turunen, Veikko
3. Tiedusteluveneosasto 4 -"- kers. Muhonen, Emil
Yhdysveneosasto 4 -"-
Venekorjausryhmä ja 4 varavenettä sot.mest. Tiainen, Emil

Meripioneerikomppania Luutn. Huhtanen, Urho
I meripioneerijoukkue (5 moottorivenettä)
II meripioneerijoukkue (5 moottorivenettä)
Huoltoproomu (määrätään myöhemmin yksi nopeasti hinattava proomu)

Merikommpanian miehitys tapahtuu pääasiallisesti aikaisemmin Rannikkopioneerikomppaiasta siirretyllä miinakoulutuksen saaneella henkilökunnalla.
Muu henkilökunta siirretään Vartiolaivueeseen vahvuuskirjassa 20.4.42 olevan jakoperiaatteen mukaisesti. Huollollisesti Vartiolaivue liiteetään Merikomppaniaan. Vartiolaivueen koulutuskeskus perustetaan Syvärin kauppalaan siellä olevan Ään.LO:n kasarmiin.
Määrään pidettäväksi Syvärin koulutuskeskuksessa 1. - 31.5. välisenä aikana tehokasta koulutusta, jotta siellä olevat vartioalukset saataisiin taistelukuntoon 1.6.42 mennessä. Samalla on ryhdyttävä muiden vartioalusten henkilökunnan koulutukseen komentamalla näiden henkilökuntaa pienin erin koulutuskeskukseen.

Ään.LO:n päällikkö
Komentaja R. Göranson

Toimistoupseeri
Kapteeniluutnantti O. Haikala"


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#14

Post by Harri » 11 Oct 2006, 22:35

Thank you very much Martti! Excellent information!

So, my inaccurate "forming date" 5./6.1942 is rather close to the truth if detachment had to be combat ready by 1.6.1942. Interesting abbreviation that "Ään.LO" without the typical "s" in "Os." It may well be the correct one used during the war or it was altered for example in May 1942 together with other abbreviations (for example in Air Force).

Coastal Engineer Companies (except one IIRC) were suspended during late 1941 and 1942 and were replaced with new Naval Engineer Companies. Basically they were light units for coastal mining and clearing duties. Their strength varied depending on their tasks. For example at Lake Onega company was small and had only two platoons.

Lake Ladoga Coastal Brigade had two such companies for a short while. Another one was formed as late as in the summer 1944.

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#15

Post by Mangrove » 12 Oct 2006, 18:16

Minelaying operation was considered at Lake Onega as this 20.4.1942 dated letter points out. It was later dropped out because lack of large enemy ships.

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