The official AHF Equipment of Allies & Neutrals quiz

BIGpanzer · Post by **BIGpanzer** » 22 Apr 2006 15:30

Dear Robb!
Yes, the majority of those boats were reequipped later into mine-sweepers (that was the 2nd class of warships I've mentioned) - and it is interesting fact, not into usual mine-sweepers, but into mine-sweepers with magnetic sweeps/boats for coilless degaussing. They were used for magnetic sea mines clearing.
But the boat on the photo was not reequipped into such mine-sweeper still, so name the small class of warships it belonged to, please. And you win! Varjag mentioned patrol boats and it was true for many tens of ex-fishing boats during WWII, but this case is a little bit differ.

AFAIK those boats were not used in clandestine operations (or I don't have such info at least). As me seems this is not a Lewis gun on the bows, but may be it is as the quality of the photo is not good to understand for sure. But you are very close to the correct answer

.

Regards, BP

Robb · Post by **Robb** » 22 Apr 2006 16:07

Hi BIGpanzer,

Would the first class be an intelligence gathering vessel? There seems to be a lot of antennae on the boat.

Regards Robb

BIGpanzer · Post by **BIGpanzer** » 22 Apr 2006 16:23

Robb, sorry but no.
As I've mentioned those boats were motor-sailing boats so it could be not antennae but tackle. Nevertheless, at least one radio antenna should be for sure

You are quite close to the correct answer as I've already mentioned - small motor boat, equipped with some kind of MG and radio, what it could be? Not exactly the usual multi-purpose patrol boat but something a little bit more specific.......

It will be a pity if somebody take your prize!

At first I thought that my question is not very interesting but I see it now as quite attractive!

Regards, BP

fredleander · Post by **fredleander** » 22 Apr 2006 17:59

Drifter?

BIGpanzer · Post by **BIGpanzer** » 22 Apr 2006 18:05

Dear leandros, but drifter means a civil fishing boat, am I right? We are talking now about warship classes............
We've already discussed that such type of fishing motor-sailing boats were converted into mine-sweepers with magnetic sweeps during WWII, but for what purposes were they used before? It was much more closer to patrol boats than to mine-sweepers I should say

fredleander · Post by **fredleander** » 22 Apr 2006 19:28

Well, somebody's got to try!

BIGpanzer · Post by **BIGpanzer** » 22 Apr 2006 19:32

I hope so

Michael Emrys · Post by **Michael Emrys** » 22 Apr 2006 20:43

Excellent question, BP.

Based on your hints, I would hazard a guess that it is some kind of anti-submarine vessel. Although precisely how, I am at a loss to say as there doesn't appear to be much room for carrying depth charges or any of the later-developed AS mortars.

Michael

Michael Emrys · Post by **Michael Emrys** » 22 Apr 2006 20:49

Robb wrote:Is that a Lewis gun on the bows?

Too short for a Lewis Gun, or any other MG with which I am familiar. If it were from a much later era, I might have thought a mortar or grenade launcher on a swivel, but I don't think there was much in that line during WW II (British 2" mortar?). However, it might be some kind of riverine craft. It's certainly small enough and would seem to have a shallow enough draft to navigate rivers.

Michael

BIGpanzer · Post by **BIGpanzer** » 22 Apr 2006 22:33

Hello, Michael!

Excellent question, BP.

Thank you very much! As I've written before I didn't think that it was even a good question but I change my opinion at the moment

Based on your hints, I would hazard a guess that it is some kind of anti-submarine vessel.

Sorry, but no. Those boats didn't have depth charges on board, also their speed was too low to attack submarines - only 5/7 knots (sail/engine). To say more - AFAIK there were no any submarines on their theatre of operation! (an excellent additional hint by the way!

).

Too short for a Lewis Gun, or any other MG with which I am familiar.

As for MG on the bows - it could be either obsolete light Lewis or medium Maxim without carrier and shield for example, but I am not absolutely sure in this case. I suppose Maxim nevertheless.

However, it might be some kind of riverine craft.

No, that type was developed as sea fishing motor-sailing boat originally, but small boat

The draft (1.4-1.8 m) was enough to get fish alongshore, but those boats could run quite far away from the shore into the open sea (range 800-2300 miles!). I think, they could be used also as river boats during peaceful time.

Regards, BP

fredleander · Post by **fredleander** » 23 Apr 2006 00:18

Would its purpose be a sort of forward air-raid warning?

Michael Emrys · Post by **Michael Emrys** » 23 Apr 2006 07:04

BP, are you saying that these boats operated on the Black Sea?

Michael

varjag · Post by **varjag** » 23 Apr 2006 09:30

Michael Emrys wrote:BP, are you saying that these boats operated on the Black Sea?

Michael

hmmm......there were German uboats in the Black sea, in fact the only 'sea' I can think of - without uboats -
would be the Caspian, but for what purpose there????

Brian Ross · Post by **Brian Ross** » 23 Apr 2006 10:15

They weren't fishing boats operating on the Russian lakes by chance or in the Danube?

BIGpanzer · Post by **BIGpanzer** » 23 Apr 2006 10:44

Hi, guys!
Varjag is right about the sea - such motor boats were used by Soviet Caspian Flotilla which played a big role in military transportation operations (including for Battle of Stalingrad) during WWII.

For what purpose - leandros is absolutely right - those motor boats were reequipped into boats of anti-aircraft defense and used as the vessels of air observation, warning and communication in 1941. As it was thought that German aviation tried to destroy the very important Volga-Caspian sea route, Astrakhan port and Baku oil refineries since the summer 1941, a lot of sea and shore air observation stations were created. Such boats were equipped with binoculars, distance measuring instruments, signal rockets and radio stations. Also the majority of those motor boats were armed with quadruple AA Maxim MG mod. 1931
( http://mortihead1.on.ufanet.ru/WNRussia ... ad_pic.jpg ), but several boats were armed with single Maxim or Lewis because of shortage of AA MGs for small boats.

Caspian Flotilla used 18 such boats of AA defense under the names VN-16-VN-28 (VN means air observation) and PVO-22-PVO-25, PVO-110 (PVO means anti-aircraft defense). As I've mentioned they were built as sea fishing motor-sailing boats for Caspian Sea in 1937-1939, reequipped into boats of AA defense in July 1941 (PVO boats in 1943) and almost all of them were reequipped into mine-sweepers with magnetic sweeps in 1941-1943. Several were given later to Volga River Flotilla in 1943-1944. All survived the war and were returned to their owners after disarmament.

Specifications: 72-87 t; 17.6-22.0x5.96-6.3x1.14-1.8 m; 35 hp engine; 5-7 knots; 800-2300 miles; 1x4x7.62mm MG (some had 1-2x7.62mm MG); 16-18 men crew.

To leandros!

Regards, BP