German warships as a bombardment force in the Baltic 1944-45

[paul.i.w]

I've been reading Prit Buttar's book on the fighting in Prussia 1944-45. He refers to the use of German warships assisting the land forces by providing gunfire support - Prinz Eugen, Lutzow, Hipper etc. Does anyone have any more details about this effort, or can point to any written sources in English or German that could tell me more about their use? Was there, for instance, an observer with the land force that corrected the fall of shot with the ships, like the FOBs in Normandy?

Thanks, Paul

[Thoddy]

They used artillery observers on land for correction fall of shot.

Gunfire in general was radardirected using radarbeacons at known landmarks. From thes landmarks a correct firing solution was derived, so called "Schießen mit verlegtem Treffpunkt".

Shooting distance partly above 25 km.
In some cases enemy positions only three hundred meters distant from own positions were shot at including moving targets.

-War diary PG.
-Paul Schmalenbach , Die Geschichte der deutschen Schiffsartillerie.

[paul.i.w]

Thanks for the interesting information, much appreciated.
I wondered what 'War Diary PG' was?
And do you know if any of the ships' logs may have survived with details of the shoots?
Thanks again Thoddy

[Thoddy]

PG call sign Prinz Eugen
War diary ships log

[paul.i.w]

Thanks again Thoddy

I assume the ship's log is in an archive? Do you know if there are any copies or translations that are available?

[RandJS]

German Cruisers of WWII by M.J. Whitley has a chapter regarding the cruiser's actions in the Baltic from 1943-1945 including bombardment duties with some ammunition figures and mentions of cooperation of ship board aircraft.
I believe his German Capitol Ships of WWII has similar information for the panzerschiffe.

Regards,
Rand

[paul.i.w]

Thanks Rand, much appreciated.