Naval warfare

[Juha Tompuri]

Russian info:
http://tsushima.su/forums/viewtopic.php?id=10509
Photos and a video clip: https://vk.com/club163987722

[lupodimare89]

Greetings, I know it's an extremely minor thing compared to the recent discoveries of Soviet sub.wrecks but i was still digging some very unreported minor episodes of naval warfare and found another one that could deserve a check of Finnish sources:

Straight from russiaflot.ru chronicles:

2 сентября 1941
В районе о. Валаам наш ска МО захватил катер противника.

2 September 1941
Soviet MO boats captured an enemy boat at Valamo island (Ladoga Lake).

Full capture/seizure make the claim quite solid, it could have been
1) Some small/liason boat (in a similar way of capture of "E-32" on 25/Aug/42, presence of POWs etc.
2) Local fishing boat?

I have yet to ask russians or more details.

[Mangrove]

Full capture/seizure make the claim quite solid, it could have been
1) Some small/liason boat (in a similar way of capture of "E-32" on 25/Aug/42, presence of POWs etc.
2) Local fishing boat?

Finnish war diaries do not record any kind of vessel sent to Valamo and no losses of any kind on September 2, 1941. The first Finnish reconnaissance force reached Valamo on September 20, 1941.

[Mangrove]

Two Finnish T-26 tanks along with a detachment from 3./JP 3 claimed to have destroyed two boats and at least 15 men at Gorka along the Svir River at around 7.45 a.m on 9 September 1941.

[Mangrove]

Example of Finnish after-action report where II/RTR 14 at Lake Onega claimed having sank Soviet tugboat (M 233 or 234), a barge and the pier at Peschanoe (Песчаное) with fire from 44. Rask. Ptri (152/45 C) and II/407. Kev. Ptri (152 H/37) between 3.05 and 3.17 p.m on 2 October 1942. Hits were observed by Muijaniemi observation post.

[Mangrove]

According to after-action report by Rannikkotykistörykmentti 13 (SPK 21771), two Soviet guard ships approached Finnish positions from south of Lunkulansaari (Russian: Лункулансаари) in Lake Ladoga on 17 August 1942. After they got within five kilometres from the village of Hiiva in the southern tip of Lunkulansaari on 00.19 a.m, they engaged two Finnish tug boats pulling timber rafts from Tujamonsaari towards Mantsinsalmi. At the same time, other Soviets ships opened fire with circa 105 mm cannons from 12 kilometres away.

Finnish 309. Kevyt Patteri (SPK 17088) at Hiiva opened fire at 4600 metres on 00.22 a.m. After receiving several hits from circa 45-57 mm and 15 mm weapons, Finnish tug boat S/S Kelo was found grounded at Lunkulansaari at 00.47 a.m. One crewman was wounded in action. The Soviet boats captured a launch attached to one of timber rafts but the two men manning the launch escaped with a smaller boat. The launch was later found to be hit by a shell from Hiiva battery. After inspection, S/S Kelo was towed away the same day.

[lupodimare89]

According to after-action report by Rannikkotykistörykmentti 13 (SPK 21771), two Soviet guard ships approached Finnish positions from south of Lunkulansaari (Russian: Лункулансаари) in Lake Ladoga on 17 August 1942. After they got within five kilometres from the village of Hiiva in the southern tip of Lunkulansaari on 00.19 a.m, they engaged two Finnish tug boats pulling timber rafts from Tujamonsaari towards Mantsinsalmi. At the same time, other Soviets ships opened fire with circa 105 mm cannons from 12 kilometres away.

Finnish 309. Kevyt Patteri (SPK 17088) at Hiiva opened fire at 4600 metres on 00.22 a.m. After receiving several hits from circa 45-57 mm and 15 mm weapons, Finnish tug boat S/S Kelo was found grounded at Lunkulansaari at 00.47 a.m. One crewman was wounded in action. The Soviet boats captured a launch attached to one of timber rafts but the two men manning the launch escaped with a smaller boat. The launch was later found to be hit by a shell from Hiiva battery. After inspection, S/S Kelo was towed away the same day.

Greetings and very interesting episode! Lake Ladoga never cease to surprise, i will try to question someone on tsushima.su maybe if there is knowledge of the Soviet accounts of this fighting.
A pair of questions: it is known the name of the second finnish tug? Apart the launch, there are details on what happened to the tiber raft? suppose the wood it was recovered if it wasn't spoiled-damaged by the action/grounding.


PS: After a first quick search i found only this mention (source: https://marsu.ru/science/research_infra ... disser.pdf)
Основной задачей действий на путях сообщения противника стали поиск
и уничтожение отдельных катеров и судов на переходе и вблизи баз. Поиск
выполнялся катерами МО, действовавшими группами по два-три катера. За
летнюю кампанию 1942 г. были осуществлены четыре поиска. Первый поиск
проводился с 14 по 21 августа двумя группами катеров. Три катера МО № 206,
215 и 228 действовали в западной и северо-западной частях озера и два катера
МО № 205 и 113 – у восточного побережья. Второй поиск проводился в ночь с
19 по 20 августа по приказу командующего КБФ для обнаружения и
уничтожения плавучих средств противника в районе о. Коневец – банка
Суханевская. Для поиска были выделены сторожевой корабль «Пурга» и катера
МО № 175 и 262.

PPS: Further edit.
Another Russian source confirms identity of the Mo-boats
On Ladoga, patrol boats M0-205 and MO-213 sank a lifeboat and damaged a tugboat that threw itself onto the rocks.
На Ладоге сторожевые катера М0-205 и МО-213 потопили лайбу и повредили буксир, который выбросился на камни.

As I suspected, they acted alone, possibly the Finnish ground artillery over-estimated a bit the Soviet firing.
In addition to my previous questions (identity of second tugboat, info about the woods-load etc.), i would also like to ask some extra info of this lost launch: motorboat or rowboat? Suppose wasn't worth to recover? Soviets doesn't mention to have suffered from heavy shelling, so merging the twom infom, imagine the boat was somewhat hit in the attack, took in tow and then abandoned when found leaking.

[Mangrove]

In addition to my previous questions (identity of second tugboat, info about the woods-load etc.), i would also like to ask some extra info of this lost launch: motorboat or rowboat? Suppose wasn't worth to recover? Soviets doesn't mention to have suffered from heavy shelling, so merging the twom infom, imagine the boat was somewhat hit in the attack, took in tow and then abandoned when found leaking.

I couldn't find any futher information about the tugboats or the other timber raft from online sources. It is probable that the tugboats were operated by Itä-Karjalan sotilashallinto ("East Karelia military administration") or Impilahden sotilashallintopiiri ("Impilahti military administration district"). From the after-action report by Rannikkotykistörykmentti 13:

"When interrogating the captain of the tugboat (skipper Hopia), it became clear that the guard ships ("vartiomoottorivene", VMV) had shot at them from a distance of approx. 200 - 300 m with cannons and machine guns, and had captured a large boat with a cabin behind the log raft, where the two log men managed to escape in a small boat in the dark, rowing to the shore of Lunkula. The tugboat steered to shore at Lunkula for shelter and ran aground. It has several 45 m/m shell holes and dozens of 15 m/m bullet holes, one shell had exploded in the engine room cutting off the steam pipes and wounding the engineer in the head and hand. The boat's mast was broken. The boat was removed from the shore and towed to Pitkäranta for repairs.

The second tugboat reached strait at Mantsi with its rafts. - The men of the tugboat reported that the Russians had blown up the raft boat, because the shells from Hiiva's battery hit right near the ships and threw the boat off. - The boat has drifted to the shore of Tujamo and it has been determined that it was hit by a shell from Hiiva's battery, because the shrapnel from the shell has torn the boat quite badly. The Russkies had to detach it because the projectile had destroyed it."

[...] Hinaajan päällikköä (laivuri Hopia) kuulusteltaessa selvisi että VMV-veneet olivat ampuneet heitä n. 200 - 300 m:n etäisyydeltä tykeillä ja konekivääreillä sekä kaapanneet tukkilautan perässä olleen kajuutalla varustetun ison veneen, jossa olleet kaksi tukkimiestä pääsivät pikkuveneellä pimeässä pakoon soutaen Lunkulan rantaan. Hinaaja ohjasi Lunkulan rantaan suojaan ja joutui karille. Siinä on useita 45 m/m kranaatin reikää sekä kymmenittäin 15 m/m luodin reikiä, eräs kranaatti oli räjähtänyt konehuoneessa katkaisten höyryputket ja haavoittaen konehoitajaa päähän ja käteen. Laivan masto oli katkennut. Laiva saatiin irroitetuksi karilta ja hinatuksi Pitkärantaan korjattavaksi. Toinen hinaaja pääsi lauttoineen Mantsin salmeen. - Hinaajan miehet ilmoittivat ryssien räjäyttäneen lauttaveneen, koska Hiivan patterin ammukset osuivat aivan laivojen lähelle ja heittäneen veneen irti. - Vene on ajautunut Tujamon rantaan ja on siihen todettu osuneen Hiivan patterin ammus, sillä ammuksen sirpaleet ovat repineet venettä aika pahoin. Ryssät ovat joutuneet sen irroittamaan siitä syystä että ammus on sen tuhonnut. [...]

[lupodimare89]

Thanks for the extra details!

By the way, checking the lists of MO-4 boats and considering the two contrasting russian report, i am quite sure the correct pairing was MO 205 and 213 ("113" likely a typo").

[Mangrove]

From an after-action report by 7. Rautatieilmatorjuntakonekiväärijoukkue ("7th Railway Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Platoon", SPK 22727), dated 23 June 1944:

"In relation to travelogue of Git 71 [an anti-aircraft wagon]. 22 June 1944. On the way between Vitele and Tuulos [around 11.55 p.m], enemy torpedo boat started firing in front of the train with an autocannon. The crew of the anti-aircraft wagon stopped the train using the emergency brake. After that, naval artillery started firing on two sides of the train, so the crew took cover on the ground. Meanwhile, the fireman of the locomotive had run to the locomotive and moved the train to Rajakontu. When the commander of the Git wagon assembled the men, private Tuomas Hiltunen was nowhere to be found. Probably he had sheltered further back and thus lost his way from the others. The wagon's crew came on foot to Rajakontu, meeting their own Git wagon there."

Liittyy Git 71:n matkakertomukseen. 22.6.44. Matkalla Viteleen ja Tuuloksen välillä alkoi vihollisen torpedovene ampua pikatykillä junan eteen. It-vaunun miehistö pysäytti junan hätäjarrun avulla. Laivaston tykistö alkoi sen jälkeen ampua kahta puolta junaa, jollon suojauduttiin maastoon. Sillä aikaa oli veturin lämmittäjä juossut veturiin ja siirtänyt junan Rajakontuun. Kun Git-vaunun päällikkö kokosi miehet, ei stm. Tuomas Hiltusta löytynyt. Luultavasti hän oli joutunut taaemmaksi ja siten harhautunut muiden joukosta. Vaunun miehistö tuli jalkaisin Rajakontuun tavaten sieltä oman Git-vaununsa.

[lupodimare89]

Greetings again, I finally started (bit slow being entirely for hobby) reading the Chronicles thanks a digital-translation and plans to focus on small fronts like Lakes before moving to seas.

On Onega Lake I found some heated episodes on 20/21 August 1942: (Pag.37 of Baltic&Ladoga Chronicles part 1)
On 20 August: At 16:20.

In the area of Cape Muromsky a boat with three Red Army soldiers who had escaped from a Finnish prisoner of war camp in the village of Ladva was detained. Thet showed that the Finns in Petrozavodsk have armoured boats escorting tugs with barges and on the outskirt of the village Roporuchey is a large auto-repair and gun repair shop

It's unclear from the document which ship found the boat, it could have been KL-11 that was given orders to patrol between Cape Petropavlovsk and Cape Andomsky.
There are some mentions in Finnish data about their escape?


The following day at first gunboats BK-21, BK-41 backed by KL-12 went to shell the village Roporuchey
At 14:05 two bombers inflicted damages to KL-11 (surface part of hull, range finder). 1 bomber claimed hit/downed and flying low toward Roporuchey village.
Other four bombers attacked at 18:00 BK-21, BK-41 and KL-11 but without success, another bomber claimed hit/downed, allegedly "flying away in smoke".
Group then sailed home, KL-12 sailed indipendently. KL-11 required some repairs.

Type/number of Finnish bombers is known? Mention of battle-damage?

[Mangrove]

On 20 August: At 16:20.

In the area of Cape Muromsky a boat with three Red Army soldiers who had escaped from a Finnish prisoner of war camp in the village of Ladva was detained. Thet showed that the Finns in Petrozavodsk have armoured boats escorting tugs with barges and on the outskirt of the village Roporuchey is a large auto-repair and gun repair shop

It's unclear from the document which ship found the boat, it could have been KL-11 that was given orders to patrol between Cape Petropavlovsk and Cape Andomsky.
There are some mentions in Finnish data about their escape?

During the Continuation War, Sotavankileiri 51 operated at Roikonkoski in Latva. According to their war diary (SPK 23377), three Soviet prisoners escaped during the night on 13/14 July 1942 and two prisoners were killed while trying to escape during the day on 14 July 1942. Another three prisoners escaped while they were working on a logging site on 22 July 1942.

Soutjärven alue-esikunta (SPK 25751):

"17 August 1942. At 8.45 a.m. [Finnish time] Anttonen informed, that around 8.30 a.m. a woman from Kaskesoja had heard a conversation in Russian in the forest about two kilometres southwest of Kaskesoja, in which the other had wondered what village that was and how they had gotten to this place. A patrol was sent from Kaskesoja to find out about the men and Sargeant Larjola was sent with a patrol to comb the terrain between Toisenjoki and Kaskesoja. At 5.30 p.m. Vehkaoja informed, that at 6.00 a.m. a boat with number "I S 2" had disappeared during the night from the direction of Vehkaoja."

17.8.42. Klo 8.45 ilm. Anttonen, että n. klo 8.30 aikaan oli eräs kaskesojalainen nainen kuullut metsässä n. 2 km K:jasta lounaaseen ryssänkielistä keskustelua, jossa toinen oli ihmetellyt, mikä kylä tuo on ja että kuinka olivat joutuneet tälläiseen paikkaan nyt. K:ojalta lähetetty partio ottamaan miehistä selvää ja kers. Larjola lähetetty partion kanssa haravoimaan Toisenjoen - K:ojan välinen maasto. Klo 17.30 ilm. Vehkaojasta, että klo 6.00 oli huomattu n:olla I S 2 varustetun veneen yön aikana kadonneen V:ojan suunnasta.

"18 August 1942. Kaskesoja informed that the aforementioned Russkies had probably gone south, which is why patrols were directed south of Kaskesoja.

19 August 1942. At 1.15 p.m. [Finnish time], it was reported from Mäkikylä that about an hour ago, about two kilometres from Mäkikylä towards Matkaselkä, three Russkies in military uniforms had been spotted on the roadside. They asked the way to Kalajoki and Syväri and inquired about a potato field. Sent patrol to find out about our own. At 7.00 p.m. shortly before that, three Russkies were observed in the field behind Yliskylä, at least one of which had a rifle. A patrol is in pursuit and guards were posted. At 10.30 a.m. a gunboat fired approximately 10 grenades into Ruoppaoja. No damage."

18.8.42. Kaskesojasta ilm, että e.m. ryssät todennäköisesti olivat menneet etelään, minkä johdosta partiointia jatkettiin K:ojan eteläpuolella. 19.8.42. Klo 13.15 ilmoitettiin Mäkikylästä, että n. tunti sitten oli n. 2 km päässä Mäkikylästä Matkaselkään havaittu 3 ryssää sotilaspuvussa tienvarrella. Kysyneet tietä Kalajoelle ja Syvärille sekä tiedustelleet perunapeltoa. Lähetetty partio ottamaan omista selvää. Klo 19.00 aikaan ilm. vähän sitä ennen Yliskylän takana pellolla havaitun 3 ryssää, joista ainakin yhdellä kivääri. Partio takaa-ajoon ja asetettu vartiot. Klo 10.30 vih. tykkivene ampui Ruoppaojaan n. 10 kranaattia. Ei vaurioita.

"20 August 1942. At 9.20 [Finnish time], it was reported that a boat owned by some unit at the tractor station had been stolen the previous night. At 4.00 pm, it was reported that a conversation in Russian had been heard along the road leading to Mäkikylä. A patrol was sent to find out, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

21 August 1942. Around 2.00 a.m., a Red Army soldier was arrested in the village of Toinenjoki. At 9.20 a.m. a Corporal from Viestiosasto reported that approximately 20 minutes ago three or four armed Russkies were spotted on the side of the Vehkaoja road, 400 meters from the harbour road towards Soutjärvi. [...]"

20.8.42. Klo 9.20 ilm, että traktoriaseman kohdalla oli eräällä yksilöllä ollut vene, joka edellisenä yönä oli varastettu, Klo 16.00 ilmoitettin, että Mäkikylään johtavan tien varrella oli kuultu ryssänkielistä keskustelua. Partio lähetetty ottamaan selvää, mutta ei havainnut mitään erikoista. 21.8.42. Klo 2.00 aikoihin pidätettiin Toisenjoen kylässä eräs puna-armeijalainen. Klo 9.20 ilmoitti alik. Viestiosastosta, että n. 20 min. sitten oli Vehkaojan tiellä 400 metriä sataman tiestä Soutjärvelle päin havaittu reunan puolella tietä 3 tai 4 aseistettua ryssää. [...]

Rannikkotykistörykmentti 4 (SPK 21627):

"19 August 1942. [...] Approximately 1.00 p.m [Finnish time]. Three armed Russkies were spotted by the civilian residents in Mäkikylä in Soutjärvi [Шёлтозеро]. The Russkies had asked about location of boats and potato fields. The Russkies seemed very malnourished. Later in the evening, the same Russkies were found near the village of Soutjärvi. 7.15 p.m. The pursuit has been started and the coast has been secured. [...]

20 August 1942. [...] "Seppä" informed that the Russkies met in Soutjärvi the day before have probably managed to escape because the boat of the tractor repair shop [at Ruosme?] on the shore of Soutjärvi Bay had disappeared during the night. Neither the commander of II/RTR 4, nor the Soutjärvi area commander knew about the boat, so it was not guarded. All other boats had a guard. [...] 12.50 a.m. [...] It was later learned that our own fighter patrol strafed a rowboat approximately 15 km west of Cape Muromskoye after noon and sank it. Five men were on board. The men were destroyed. [...]"

19.8.42. [...] n. 13,00. Havaitsivat siviiliasukkaat 3 aseistettua ryssää Soutjärven Mäkikylässä. Ryssät olivat kyselleet veneiden sijoituspaikkoja ja perunapeltoja. Ryssät vaikuttaneet kovin nälkiytyneiltä. Myöhemmin illalla oli tavattu samat ryssät Soutjärven kylän lähellä. 19.15. Takaa-ajoon on ryhdytty ja ranta varmistettu. [...] 20.8.42. [...] Seppä ilmoitti, että edellisenä päivänä Soutjärvellä tavatut ryssät ovat todennäköisesti onnistuneet pääsemään pakenemaan koska Soutjärven lahden rannassa ollut traktorikorjaamon vene oli kadonnut yön aikana. Veneestä ei ollut tietoa II/RTR 4:n komentajalla, eikä Soutjärven aluepäälliköllä, joten sitä ei oltu vartioitu. Kaikilla muilla veneillä oli vartio. [...] 12.50. [...] Myöhemmin saatiin tietää, että oma hävittäjäpartio ampui jälkeen puolenpäivän Muro*mien niemestä n. 15 km länteen 1 soutuveneen upoksiin. Veneessä 5 miestä. Miehet tuhoutuivat. [...]

Ilmavoimien esikunta. Yleisesikuntaosasto (SPK 8192):

"Lentorykmentti 2 [...] [20 August 1942] 11.00 a.m - 1.20 p.m [Finnish time]. Reconnaissance flight with two Gloster Gladiator aircrafts [from Lentolaivue 16] in Äänisjärvi [Lake Olonets]. [...] 11.00 a.m - 1.20 p.m. In the middle of Äänisjärvi, on the line mouth of Vodlajoki [Vodla River, Водла] - Soutjärvi, a rowing boat equipped with sails, with 5-6 men. The boat was strafed and sank. [...]"

Le.R. 2. [...] [20.8.1942] Klo 11,00 - 13,20. Tiedustelulento 2:lla GL-koneella Äänisjärvellä. [...] Klo 11,00 - 13,20. Keskellä Äänisjärveä linjalla Vodlajoen suu - Soutjärvi purjeilla varustettu soutuvene, jossa 5-6 miestä. Ammuttiin upoksiin. [....]

The following day at first gunboats BK-21, BK-41 backed by KL-12 went to shell the village Roporuchey
At 14:05 two bombers inflicted damages to KL-11 (surface part of hull, range finder). 1 bomber claimed hit/downed and flying low toward Roporuchey village.
Other four bombers attacked at 18:00 BK-21, BK-41 and KL-11 but without success, another bomber claimed hit/downed, allegedly "flying away in smoke".
Group then sailed home, KL-12 sailed indipendently. KL-11 required some repairs.

Type/number of Finnish bombers is known? Mention of battle-damage?

There were two Finnish missions fitting to the Soviet description on 21 August 1942. The number of aicrafts on the first mission was probably two, although the Finnish Air Force summaries record only one. This is probably a mistake as other missions mention two or three planes at a time, see also the war diary of the Finnish coastal artillery below. There were no recorded hits to any of the Finnish Air Force aircrafts on that day.

Ilmavoimien esikunta. Yleisesikuntaosasto (SPK 8192):

"Lentorykmentti 2: [...] At 1.05 - 3.10 p.m [Finnish time]. Bombing flight with one Fokker C.X aircraft [from Lentolaivue 16] in southern Äänisjärvi [Lake Olonets]. [...] 13.05 - 15.10. Enemy gunboat approximately 12 km southwest of the western shore of Muromskojejärvi [Ozero Muromskoye]. Bombed with 4 x 100 kg and 15 x 12.5 kg bombs. One 100 kg bomb right next to the bow and one 10 m from the ship. At least 4 x 12.5 kg bombs on the deck. During the attack, another gunboat came to help from the north. [...] 40 mm and light anti-aircraft fire from the gunboat at Äänisjärvi. [...]"

Le.R 2: [...] Klo 13,05 - 15,10. Pommituslento 1:llä FK-koneella eteläisellä Äänisjärvellä. [...] Klo 13,05 - 15,10. Vihollisen tykkivene Muromskojejärven länsirannasta n. 12 km lounaaseen. Pommitettu 4 x 100 kg:n ja 15 x 12,5 kg:n pommeilla. 1 100 kg:n pommi aivan keulan viereen ja 1 10 m laivasta. Ainakin 4 12,5 kg:n pommia kannelle. Hyökkäyksen aikana tuli pohjoisesta toinen tykkivene avuksi. [...] Tykkiveneestä Äänisellä 40 mm sekä kevyttä it.tulta. [...]

Äänisen rannikkoprikaati. II linnakkeisto (SPK 25504):

"2.20 p.m [Finnish time]. The ship was in heading 09-00, distance 30 km (from the 5th battery), when two of our own dive bombers attacked the ship. Intense anti-aircraft fire from the ship. [...]"

14.20. Alus oli Su. 09-00, et. 30 km (5. ptrilta), kun 2 omaa syöksypommittajaa hyökkäsi laivaa vastaan. Laivasta kiivasta it.tulta. [...]

Ilmavoimien esikunta. Yleisesikuntaosasto (SPK 8192):

"Lentorykmentti 2: [...] Between 4.55 - 6.55 p.m [Finnish time]. Bombing flight with three Fokker C.X aircraft [from Lentolaivue 16] in the direction of Vodlajoki [Vodla River, Водла]. [...] Between 4.55 - 6.55 p.m., nine kilometres east from the mouth of Vodlajoki, two minesweeper-looking vessels. Bombed with 100 and 12.5 kg bombs, nearest hits 5-10 m away from the ships. [...] Accurate 20 mm fire from the bombed minesweepers at Vodlajoki. [...]"

Le.R 2: [...] Klo 16.55 - 18.55. Pommituslento 3:lla FK-koneella Vodlajoen suuntaan. [...] Klo 16.55 - 18.55. Vodlajoen suusta 9 km itään 2 raivaajan näköistä alusta. Pommitettu 100 ja 12,5 kg:n pommein, lähimmät osumat 5-10 m:n päähän aluksista. [...] Vodlajoella pommitetuista raivaajista tarkkaa 20 mm:n tulta. [...]

[lupodimare89]

Thanks for the very detailed reply!

If i got it correctly it seems that the two groups of escaped prisoners merged, except one that was re-captured, and then took a single boat or it's more likely there were two separate boats? With "I S 2" disappeared on 17 August and/or the boat of the repair ship between 19/20.
Soviets mentioned only 3 men on a boat rescued and then focused on the intelligence gathered from them: it means either there was a separate boat strafed and sunk, or a single boat strafed and survived but with two escapees killed.