Russian OOB during 1944 Offensive on Karelian Isthmus

[CF Geust]

The Order of Battle of the Soviet AF units at the beginning of the major attack against the Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus in June 1944 were as follows:

13th Air Army 9 June 1944 (exact information, according to documents in TsAMO = Russian Defence Ministry Archice in Podolsk)

277 ShAD, Pargolovo (total 148 Il-2)
- 15 GShAP, Kasimovo and Sumsk: 30 Il-2
- 566 ShAP, Ozerki: 42 Il-2
- 943 ShAP, Grazhdanka: 31 Il-2
- 999 ShAP: Ozerki and Kapitolovo: 42 Il-2

281 ShAD, Gorskaya (total 68 Il-2)
- 448 ShAP, Pargolovo: 18 Il-2
- 703 ShAP, Gorskaya: 25 Il-2
- 872 ShAP, Levashevo and Uglovo: 25 Il-2

276 BAD, Gatchina (total 109 Pe-2)
- 34 GBAP, Pushkin, Siverskaya, Ovsishche: 41 Pe-2
- 58 BAP, Gatchina: 36 Pe-2
- 140 BAP, Ropsha: 32 Pe-2

113 BAD, Siverskaya (from Supreme Command Reserve; total 83 Il-4)
- 55 BAP, Siverskaya: 27 Il-4
- 815 BAP, Siverskaya: 26 Il-4
- 836 BAP, Siverskaya: 29 Il-4

334 BAD, Yanino (from Supreme Command Reserve; total 66 Tu-2)
- 12 BAP, Uglovo: 25 Tu-2
- 132 BAP, Manushkino: 25 Tu-2
- 454 BAP, Pushkin: 16 Tu-2

275 IAP, Levashevo (total 172 fighters)
- 14 GIAP, Pavlovo: 34 Yak-9
- 29 GIAP, Sivoritsy: 32 Yak-9
- 159 IAP, Levashevo and Krikkovo: 38 La-5
- 191 IAP, Torma and Plekhanovo: 15 P-40 Kittyhawk, 11 La-5
- 196 IAP, Kasimovo: 36 P-39 Airacobra

Separate units:
- 283 IAP, Torma, Levashevo and Kasimovo: 23 Yak-7B
- 13 ORAP, Sosnovka and Sumsk: 12 Pe-2 and 10 Yak-9
- 199 OSAP [Separate Liaison Air Reg.], Komendantoskoye: 26 U-2
- 12 OKAE [Separate Artillery Directing Sq.], Torma; 2 Curtiss O-52 and 4 Il-2
- 49 OKAE, Torma: 5 Il-2
- 52 OKAE, Kasimovo: 5 Il-2
- 72 OKAE, Levashevo: 5 Il-2
- 595 OAES [Separate Ambulance Sq.], Ozerki: 10 U-2
- 433 OAES, Ozerki: 9 U-2, S-2 and S-4
- 553 OAES, Torma: 9 U-2 and S-2
- 555 OAES, Nikolshchina: 10 U-2 and S-2
- 558 OAES, Vyskatka: 8 U-2
- 22 OAES, Komendantskoye and Pargolovo: 14 U-2 and S-2
- 27 OSAE, Sosnovka: 14 S-2 and S-4
- 6 TAO [Transport Unit], Sosnovka: 4 Li-2, C-47 and Yak-6

Detached units, total: 171 aircraft

13th Air Army, total: 817 aircraft

2 GIAK [Guards Fighter Aviation Corps], Leningrad
- 11 GIAP, Gorelovo: 31 La-5
- 26 GIAP, Pushkin: 30 Yak-9 and 7 Hurricane
- 27 GIAP, Gatchina: 21 Yak-9 and 9 Yak-7
- 102 GIAP, Levashevo: 29 P-39 Airacobra
- 103 GIAP, Gorskaya: 30 P-39 Airacobra
- 400 IAP, Manushkino: 31 La-5
- 401 IAP, Ropsha: 28 La-5
- 403 IAP, Uglovo: 8 P-39 Airacobra
- 404 IAP, Valondina: 31 Yak-9

2 GIAK total: 257 fighters

13th Air Army and 2 GIAK total: 1074 combat aircraft

VVS KBF (Baltic Fleet Air Force) early June 1944 (aircraft numbers approximate; according to the recent "Russian Naval Aviation 100 years" by P.V.Levshov and D.Ye.Boltenkov, St.Peterburg 2012)

8 MTAD [Mine-Torpedo Division]
- 1 GMTAP, Klopitsy: 10 Il-4, 15 A-20G (Boston)
- 51 MTAP, Priyutino: 35 A-20G (Boston)
- 12 GPBAP [Guards Dive Bombing Reg.], Borki: 30 Pe-2
- 21 IAP, Borki: 20 Yak-9

11 ShAD (arrived from Black Sea Fleet Air Force end-May 1944)
- 8 GShAP, Kerstovo: 35 Il-2
- 47 ShAP, Kummolovo: 35 Il-2
- 9 IAP, Kummolovo: 30 LaGG-3
- 11 IAP, Novaya Ladoga: 35 LaGG-3

9 ShAD
- 7 GShAD, Kotly: 35 Il-2
- 35 ShAP, Kummolovo: 30 Il-2
- 13 IAP, Kotly: 35 Yak-9
- 12 IAP, Kummolovo: 35 Yak-1 and Yak-7

1 GIAD
- 3 GIAP, Lavansaari: 40 La-5
- 4 GIAP, Seiskari: 40 La-5
- 10 GIAP, Lavansaari: 30 La-5

Separate units:
15 ORAP, Gora Valdai (Harjavalta): 15 Pe-2 and 20 Yak-9
13 OKAE, Byche Pole: 15 Il-2

VVS KBF total strength:
- 10 Il-4
- 50 A-20G
- 45 Pe-2
- 150 Il-2
- 75 Yak-9
- 65 LaGG-3
- 35 Yak-1 and Yak-7
- 110 La-5
=====
VVS KBF total: approx 545 combat aircraft

Altogether approx 1600 combat aircraft, of which periodically up to 80 % were used against the Finnish forces in June 1944 (the rest securing the southern shore of Gulf of Finland against German Luftflotte 1).

[Art]

any information on status on infantry divisions.

Here we go (see the file attached). If you are interested in sources or other date I'm ready to provide them.

[Art]

- 595 OAES [Separate Ambulance Sq.], Ozerki: 10 U-2
- 433 OAES, Ozerki: 9 U-2, S-2 and S-4
- 553 OAES, Torma: 9 U-2 and S-2
- 555 OAES, Nikolshchina: 10 U-2 and S-2
- 558 OAES, Vyskatka: 8 U-2

That must be liaison squadrons, not ambulance.

- 12 OKAE [Separate Artillery Directing Sq.], Torma; 2 Curtiss O-52 and 4 Il-2
- 49 OKAE, Torma: 5 Il-2
- 52 OKAE, Kasimovo: 5 Il-2
- 72 OKAE, Levashevo: 5 Il-2

This four squadrons were reformed into the 203 Recon Regiment in June 1944, as far as I can see.

13th Air Army and 2 GIAK total: 1074 combat aircraft

Formally speaking liaison, ambulance and transport aircraft are not considered combat. Do the numbers stand for operational aircraft or all available?

[juhamart]

Art, the pdf you compiled is absolutely fabulous. Can't express enough how thankful I am!

[juhamart]

I don't know how hard job it is to find these divisions from your sources, but would also be interested in certain divisions' strengths in 1st August 1944 (just to see in what shape did they come out from campaign and how quickly they were possibly replenished).

Division I am interested in are 45th, 63rd and 64th Guards Divisions (possibly already transferred to 2nd Shock Army by then) and 268, 265 and 109th divisions.

EDIT: also 1st July strengths for Guards divisions would be interesting (still in Isthmus at that stage) as it would show their shape in middle of pivotal Tali-Ihantala -battles where many books state they exhausted themselves completely.

Would also love to know what source you're using so I can cite it correctly in references if needed.

[juhamart]

Art,

one more curiosity from another project of mine. Can you find OOB and equipment situation for 139th and 75th Divisions for December 1st 1939. Some sources mention this as mountain division, but unsure if it is correct. Both were fighting Winter War in Ladoga Karelia (Tolvajärvi/Ägläjärvi area).

[Art]

Would also love to know what source you're using so I can cite it correctly in references if needed.

Sure. It's the Central Archive of the Russian Defense Ministry (TsAMO RF) fond 217 (HQ of the Leningrad Front), opis 1244 (staffing department of the Leningrad Front's staff), delo 609, 610, 611 (strength reports of units subordinated to the Front HQ), delo 621 (strength reports of units of the 21 Army), delo 626 (strength reports of units of the 23 Army)
By the evening pf 30.06.1944 the following personnel strength was reported:
45 Guards Rifle division - 4490
63 Guards - 4925
64 Guards - 4555
265 - 3703
268 - 3468
109 - 5073
30 Guards Rifle Corps:
by the start of 5 July 1944:
Corps HQ and corps units - 1125
45 Guards Rifle division - 4522
63 Guards - 3879
64 Guards - 3907
1157 Corps Artillery Regiment - 470
by 10 July:
Corps HQ and units - 1117
45 Guards - 6441
63 Guards - 6587
64 Guards - 6613
1157 Corps Artillery Regiment - 472
On 30 July 1944
Corps HQ and units - 1190
45 Guards - 6749
63 Guards - 6827
64 Guards - 6980
1157 Corps Artillery Regiment - 471
Accordingly 265 Rifle division - 3706 men by 5 July, 5177 by 10 July
268 Rifle division - 2856 men by 5 July, 5129 by 10 July
109 Rifle division - 4916 men by 10 July 1944

[CF Geust]

Art,
thank you for your kind comments comcerning 13 Air Army OOB. You are right - OAAES (note spelling of abbreviation with two "A"s!) means of course "Separate Army Liaison Aviation Esacdrille", while OSAE is "Separate Sanitary [or Ambulance] Aviation Esacdrille".

Concerning the OKAEs (Separate Artillery Corection Esacdrille) they appear as separate escadilles still in the 1 August 1944 strength report of 13th Air Army, but in the corresponding document of 1 September 1944 these escadrilles are replaced by 203 OKRAP [Separate Artillery Correction Recconnaissance Aviation Regiment].
Sources for this information are documents of fond 362, opis 6169 inTsAMO (Air Force of Leningrad Front; later 13 Air Army).

You are naturally also correct in pointing out that U-2 and in particular the ambulance versions S-2 and S-4 can hardly be counted as "combat" aircraft. The numbers in my previous post indicate total number of aircraft of 13th Air Army at the indicated date (9 June 1944).

[tramonte]

According to claims of Finnish fighter regiments 24 and 34, AA-artillery units and detachment Kuhlmey it looks like 2 GIAK took part in offensive at least with Airacobra regiments. Personally i don't take too seriously claims of pilots of any air force. However those claims are suggesting there were pretty lot of Airacobra and La-5 aircraft operating , likely more than Yak's of all kind. I compared claims and got 1:2 (claims of Yak vs. La-5) and 2:3 (Yak and Airacobra). But if you take a look at OOB of 13th Air Army (including separate units) you will find much more Yak than Airacobra and La-5.

13th Air Army + separate units:
Yak-9/7/6 = 100
Airacobra= 49
La-5= 36

The answer to La-5 issue is obviously VVS KBF units (1 GIAD) operating from isles of Lavansaari and Seiskari, total 110.

and when VVS KBF didn't have any Airacobra it's obvious that Airacobra units of 2 GIAK have operated during Vyborg Offensive.

[tramonte]

The Order of Battle of the Soviet AF units at the beginning of the major attack against the Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus in June 1944 were as follows:

2 GIAK total: 257 fighters


VVS KBF total strength:
- 10 Il-4
- 50 A-20G
- 45 Pe-2
- 150 Il-2
- 75 Yak-9
- 65 LaGG-3
- 35 Yak-1 and Yak-7
- 110 La-5
=====
VVS KBF total: approx 545 combat aircraft

Altogether approx 1600 combat aircraft, of which periodically up to 80 % were used against the Finnish forces in June 1944 (the rest securing the southern shore of Gulf of Finland against German Luftflotte 1).

I've always been interested to know what role 2 GIAK, Leningrad and VVS KBF really played during offensive. Is there any information of combat sorties flied by 13th Air Army, 2 GIAK and VVS KBF?

[Art]

In general 2 GIAK was took much part in operations mostly by escorting bombers from the Leningrad area airfields. Baltic fleet air force was mostly committed to support operations at Koivisto and Vyborg Bay.

[tramonte]

I have old book giving examples of sorties VVS, PVO and VVS KBF did in Finland (not only Karelian Isthmus) during June-August estimated by Finnish observation units. These are of course sorties they counted inside their own area, above front line and behind it:

09.6.44:........................ 1137..................... 21.6.44:........................1390 (820 in Syväri-Svir, north of Lake Ladoga)
10.6.44:........................ 650..................... 22.6.44:........................1150
11.6.44:........................ 250..................... 23.6.44:........................ 900
12.6.44:........................ 400..................... 24.6.44:........................ 100 (bad weather)
13.6.44:........................ 600..................... 25.6.44:........................ 100 (bad weather)
14.6.44:........................ 1680..................... 26.6.44:........................ 450
15.6.44:........................ 550..................... 27.6.44:........................ 480
16.6.44:........................ 450..................... 28.6.44:........................ 900
17.6.44:........................ 1320..................... 29.6.44:........................1030 (Karelian Isthmus 660)
18.6.44:........................ 650..................... 30.6.44:........................ 850
19.6.44:........................ 730..................... 01.7.44........................ 750
20.6.44:........................ 750..................... 02.7.44:........................ 620


03.07.44:..................... 70
04.07.44......................910 (Bay of Vyborg, Gulf of Finland 350)
05.07.44......................760
06.07.44......................750
07.07.44......................650
08.07.44......................620
09.07.44......................700

After that average about 400, except 30.7.33 mostly in Pitkäranta-Ilomantsi: 850 combat sorties

Finnish air observation estimated the number of Soviet sorties seen:
-June 16 242
- July 14 656

Source: Suomen sodat, part 9, page 340-341 (1960)

[Art]

Here are sorties recorded in the 13 Air Army's war diary which in its turn was based on daily reports on operations. By all appearance sorties of the 2 GIAK are included but not those of the Baltic Fleet.

[tramonte]

Here are sorties recorded in the 13 Air Army's war diary which in its turn was based on daily reports on operations. By all appearance sorties of the 2 GIAK are included but not those of the Baltic Fleet.

Sorties.png

Thank you Art. Interesting - especially having divided bombers/ground attack/fighters. What's missing is 21 June 1944 when there was indeed flying operations by 13 VA in Karelian Isthmus.

Captured Soviet flying crew 21.6.44:

Fedorenko Nikolaj Ivanovitsh lieutenant 836 BAP Il-4 21.6.44 Karelian Isthmus KIA?
Dragunov Ivan Vasiljevitsh S.sergeant 836 BAP Il-4 21.6.44 Karelian Isthmus sent to Soviet Union in 01.11.1944
Berlejev Mark Isajevitsh S.lieutenant 703 ShAP Il-2 21.6.44 Portinhoikka (NE from Vyborg, Karelian Isthmus) shot 28.8.44 (?).

(836 BAP, Siverskaya?.....703 ShAP, Gorskaya?

Source: Prisoners of War and Internees, Lars Westerlund
Prisoners of War and Internees
A Book of Articles by the National Archives
Lars Westerlund (ed.)

[Art]

Neither the war diary, nor the daily report of the 13 VA quotes any numbers of sorties. Probably because data were not collected when the report was submitted.