Saarenpää and S/S "Oliva" on December 16th 1939

[Mangrove]

According to the diary of Saarenpään linnake (SPK 3382) they engaged a well lit freighter 3.6 kilometers west of them on December 16th 1939 at around 5 p.m. She was carrying no cargo and flew reddish flag with dark stripes. The intention was to fire two warning shots to the bow with 152mm, but C-battery shot fire more rounds and one of them hit the stern. Sector commander Major Korvenheimo [later?] insisted the ship was going to land troops on the island. Later the battery personal identified her as S/S "Oliva" based on this newspaper which was published on December 18th.

http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=1626430

"Russian warship has yet again bombarded a German ship off the coast of Finland. Riga, through Stefan, December 17th (STT). German steamer Oliva has arrived to Riga harbour badly damaged after it was bombarded, probably by a Russian warship, 14 nm off the coast of Finland".

[Uusi Suomi] Venäläinen sotalaiva pommittanut taas saksalaista alusta Suomen rannikolla. Riika. Stefanin kautta, 17.12. (STT). Saksalainen hl. Oliva on saapunut Riian satamaan pahasti vaurioituneena sen jälkeen kuin se oli 14 merikulman päässä Suomen rannikosta joutunut erään sotalaivan, luultavasti venäläisen, tykistöammunnan kohteeksi.

[Steady]

The book "Mantsi-Järisevä-Koivisto" tells about this incident. According to it the happenings were confused: the ship had not informed about its approach, it closed on the Finnish artillery fort and did not take heed on any warnings. So Finns took a shot at it. After this the ship left the scene in a hurry.

[Mangrove]

The book "Mantsi-Järisevä-Koivisto" tells about this incident.

If you read the combat report you'll notice the Sector HQ had warned the battery about oncoming landing just few hours earlier so they were quite trigger-happy when the ship appeared. The shots were fired before any attempt was taken to contact the ship. Message was sent only after the hit with the searchlight. She responded with "I do not understand" -sign and headed towards Seiskari.

[Juha Tompuri]

Later the battery personal identified her as S/S "Oliva" based on this newspaper which was published on December 18th.

Actually the German ship seems to have been S/S Ginnheim:
http://warsailors.com/forum/read.php?1, ... #msg-11465

About S/S Oliva, which was attacked by a Soviet sub:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... t#p1048138

Regards, Juha

[igorr]

OLIVIA was attacked twice: by SCH-323 on 5.12.39 (light damage) and by S-1 on 10.12.39 SW Mäntylouto (no damage).

[andrus]

18.40 LSMeP:lta: Ilmoittaa, että saksalainen kauppalaiva Oliva saapui tänään Mäntyluotoon tykkitulen vahingoittamana. Venäläinen sukellusvene oli ampunut 3 laukausta 5.12. klo 23,45 Utön edustalla. Laiva pysähtyi, antoi nimensä ja kotipaikkansa. Vastattiin: prahaditje j.n.e., minkä jälkeen laiva jatkoi matkaansa. Laiva sai osuman keulan n. 1 m. vesirajan yläpuolella. Ammus teki reijän ja räjähti vasta vedessä. Olivan kapteeni pyytää, ettei tätä tapahtuma käytettäisi propagandan tekoon.

http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=1546701

[Mangrove]

http://digi.narc.fi/digi/fullpic.ka?kuid=1546701

6.40 p.m. from LSMeP. German merchant vessel Oliva arrived to Mäntyluoto today after receiving damage from cannon fire. Russian submarine shot three rounds outside Utö on December 5th at 11.45 p.m. She halted, gave her name and port. Answer: prahaditje [meaning?] etc., after which she resumed her journey. The hit was received at the bow c. a meter above the waterline. The round made a whole to the hull and exploded on water. The Captain of Oliva requests that this action would not be used in making of propaganda.

[igorr]

prahaditje= permissing to contunue sailing (smtg like "You may pass")