Victories and losses of Soviet submarines during WWII

[Juha Tompuri]

Juha wrote:
Every info about the case is based on Finnish eye-wittnesses.
I, as the Swedish sites, prefer ramming over the some Soviet preferred collied

Yes, the only eye-witnesses were Finns as we've already discussed

Actually no...there quite possible were Soviet eye-wittnesses too...

I don't feel any differences between ramming and collision terms in physic sense [ramming means collision of two objects also] as I meant just the origin of fatal hull damage in my previous post.

Rammings might be collisions , but minority of collisions are rammings

I, as M. Morozov, prefer facts over fiction.

Facts and some part of beliefs to the correctness of read sources

Morozov books based on beliefs?

What are the evidences that Shch-320 wasn't exploded on mine around 03 October 1942?

Starting (again) here:
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0


Regards, Juha

[Christian W.]

The Martti's/Varjag's link mentions the depth 136 m, so I guess that crewmembers from stern compartments [if they had time to close the doors, otherwise they were killed by immediate flooding spreaded all over the submarine from the nose damage hole] lived some time until the oxygen came to the end.

I don't think that anyone would like to die from asphyxia in that kind of situation. I have no idea how small arms were stored in Soviet submarines, but assuming that the surviving crew (if there was any) had any firearms available, I belive that they chose to put a bullet on their head.

[Uncle Joe]

In the other thread someone opposed possible raising of the wreck. I disagree. It would make an excellent historical monument. I don´t see why entering a purpose built grave (e.g. Egyptian tombs) is a lesser evil to entering a non purpose built grave (wreck). If one opposes the latter, then he should demand all museums to return e.g. all old Egyptian artifacts stolen to the tombs.

[Mangrove]

Keskiyöllä 15/16.6.42 SB-1 (Palosuo) oli tiedusteluvuorolla matkalla itään. Suursaarta lähestyttäessä havaittiin kolme pinta-alusta olevan kulussa Lavansaaresta länteen. Kun aikaisemmat kokemukset pinta-alusten it.tulen tarkkuudesta olivat tuoreessa muistissa, otettiin korkeutta 800 m. Äkkiä tähystäjä Forstén hihkaisi: ”Keskimmäinen sukeltaa”.

Ohjaaja tyrkkäsi koneen jyrkkään syöksyyn ja pintaan ehdittiin samalla hetkellä kun näköputki oli katoamassa veden alle. Lähestyminen tapahtui veneestä etuvasemmalta ja nopeutta oli yli 350 km/h. Pommi irtosi sopivasti ennakkoon ja molskahti lähelle sukellusvenettä. Mutta ylösvedon aikana lentäjät havaitsivat pommin jatkavan veden alla vaakasuoraa liikettään ja jättävän jälkeensä ”torpedovanan”. Noin 40 m kuljettuaan se vihdoin painui syvyyteen ja räjähti. Sukellusvene oli silloin ehtinyt kulkea pitkän matkan.

Paluumatkalla koneessa keskusteltiin hyökkäyksen epäonnistumisesta. Mutta harmit lisääntyivät Malmilla. Asemiehet totesivat, että pommiripustimen kiinnityskieleke oli pahoin vääntynyt rasituksessa. Sen korjaamiseen tarvittiin ammattimainen seppä Malmin kylältä ja korjaus jäi aamuun. SB-1 oli tietysti viimeinen kunnossa ollut kone.

Klo 05 soi vanhimpana paikalla olleen luutn. Palosuon puhelin: ”Tämä on Porkkalan (?) havaintopaikalta. Soitamme (ohi esikuntien) ilmoittaaksemme, että näköpiirissämme on nyt puolen tunnin ajan kulkenut sukellusvene torni näkyvissä”. – Synkempää aamua ei valjennut.

Vene oli SC-320 (kom.kapt. Ivan Visnevskij), joka oli lähtenyt 13.6.42 Krondstatista ja 15.6.42 Lavansaaresta. Akkua ladatessaan pinnalla se joutui lentokoneen yllättävän hyökkäyksen kohteeksi ja suoritti pikasukelluksen. Pudotettu pommi räjähti kaukana veneestä aiheuttaen pieniä vaurioita. SC-320 murtautui Itämerelle ja upotti 5.7.42 Memelin edustalla hl. ANNA KATRIN FRITZENin. Oltuaan seitsemän viikkoa merellä se palasi Kronstadtiin.

14.10.42 1645 SB-10 (Palosuo) oli matkalla etsintälennolla, kun hänen kk.ampujansa kers. Kalle Ahvensalmi havaitsi sukellusveneen nousevan takavasemmalla. Sukellusveneen torni hävisi saman tien veden alle, mutta nopealla kaarrolla kone ehti paikalle kun pinnalla poreilivat vielä tornin aiheuttamat kuplat. Ensimmäisen pommin sytytyksen asemiehet olivat madaltaneet 15 metriin ohjaajan pyynnöstä. Heti sen jälkeen irtosi koneesta toinen 40 m pommi. Vähän ajan kuluttua nousi räjähdyspaikalta isoja ilmakuplia ja sen jälkeen ruskehtavaa mönjää. Porkkalasta oli radiolla hälyytetty pinta-aluksia. Sellainen oli tulossa, mutta pysähtyi äkisti. Kentälle oli sitten ilmoitus, että miinavaaran takia ei pitemmälle voitu edetä.

Venäläisten ilmoituksen mukaan SC-302 (kom.kapt. V.D. Neckin) oli lähtenyt 10.10.42 tukikohdastaan matkalle Ahvenanmerelle. Se oli todennäköisesti ajanut miinaan Tytärsaaren luona 11.10.42, mutta jatkoi sinnikkäästi länteen kunnes lentokone huomasi sen ja syvyyspommit tuhosivat sen miehistöineen päivineen.

[Mangrove]

The first quote without the latter part (only Palosuo's experience).

On midnight on 15/16th June 42 SB-1 (Palosuo) was on a patrol flight flying eastwards. As the plane approached Suursaari the crew saw three ships west from Lavansaari. The plane climbed to 800 meters. Suddently observer Forsten yelled: "the middle one is diving".

The pilot let the plane on deep dive and it arrived near the surface as the periscope was going underwater. The approach was left from the nose with speed of over 350 km/h. The bomb was dropped just in time and fell near the submarine. But, as they noticed during climb, the bomb didn't stop but continued the vertical movement underwater and exploded after 40 meters way behind the submarine.

The crew discussed what had happened on return flight. They got more troubles when the plane reached Malmi. The saliant of the bomb rack was badly twisted and cound't be repaired before morning as the repairs had to be made by a blacksmith from the village. SB-1 was the only plane available, of course.

Around 05 a.m. the phone of lieutenant Palosuo rang: "This is the Porkkala (?) observation post. We are calling straight to you (and not through the HQs) to inform that we have been observing half an hour a submarine with lookout tower in sight.

[BIGpanzer]

Martti wrote:
http://www.iltasanomat.fi/uutiset/ulkom ... id=1396514
The wreck of SC 305 has been found.

The photo of her crew (made 26 July, 1942) and the list of all 38 lost crewmembers (names, ranks, places of birth) - ftp://213.130.20.46/57/57_06.pdf

The photo of her commander (captain 3rd rank D. Sazonov) and also the alphabetical list of all 38 crewmembers. It seems to be that there is an interesting info how journalists found the relatives (some live in USA, for example) of lost sailors from Shch-305 after the information that the submarine was found appeared in press.
http://www.trud.ru/trud.php?id=200707111200103&print=1

Regards, BP

P.S. According to Prof. Platonov - Shch-305 performed 2 combat runs (25.06.-07.07.1941 and 17.10-05.11.1942 when she was unsuccessfully attacked by torpedos and then finally rammed by "Vetehinen") and made one torpedo attack during the career (28.06.1941, 1 torpedo, Finnish submarine "Vetehinen"; unsuccessful because of only one launched torpedo and large distance). 06.07.1941 avoided the torpedo attack of Finnish submarine also. Lightly damaged by fragments of bombs during the air raid against Kronshtadt, 23.09.1941 (also Shch-302 was lightly damaged one day before during the another air raid against Kronshtadt).

Venäläisten ilmoituksen mukaan SC-302 (kom.kapt. V.D. Neckin) oli lähtenyt 10.10.42 tukikohdastaan matkalle Ahvenanmerelle. Se oli todennäköisesti ajanut miinaan Tytärsaaren luona 11.10.42, mutta jatkoi sinnikkäästi länteen kunnes lentokone huomasi sen ja syvyyspommit tuhosivat sen miehistöineen päivineen.

As for Shch-302 (1 combat run, no torpedo attacks) - she started the run 10.10.1942 and two possibilities of her loss are discussed by Platonov and Morozov: explosion on mine 11.10.-12.10. NW from Suur-Pakri (minefields "Nashorn" or "Seeigel"), or only heavy damages from that mine explosion and finally sinking by Finnish bomber "SB-10" from LeLv-6 14.10 to the north of Tytärsaaren (B. Tuters Is.) which dropped bombs on visible oil tracks. All 37 crewmembers were lost.

[LWD]

Juha wrote:
Every info about the case is based on Finnish eye-wittnesses.
I, as the Swedish sites, prefer ramming over the some Soviet preferred collied

Yes, the only eye-witnesses were Finns as we've already discussed, but some of them reported incorrect things about size of Soviet submarine and other details [most probably, because of darkness and short time for detailed observations]. As for ramming/collision - ~95% of Russian sources mention the term "ramming" [as well as all today's Russian news I am trying to find], as for me - I also think that was ramming, but I don't feel any differences between ramming and collision terms in physic sense [ramming means collision of two objects also] as I meant just the origin of fatal hull damage in my previous post.
...

If you mean are there any differences in the physics of a collision due to ramming as opposed to an accidental collision. Actually there in most cases will be. If you ram you are trying to maximize the damage to the target vessel. This usually means trying for a perpendicular impact at maximum speed where in an accidental collision maneuvers will usually be performed (given enough time) to lesson the damage by either by turning or slowing. So intent is irrelevant for an impact at a given speed and angle but it can effect the speed and angle prior to impact.

[BIGpanzer]

I would like to summarize at least the info about actions of Soviet submarines during the Great Patriotic war (just shortly as I have no time for detailed descriptions of combat runs and often enemy counter-attacks with depth charges during them, also cases of submarine damages) - this is described as much detailed as possible at the moment by Platonov and Morozov already). But if somebody would like to know more details about corresponding submarine - I will translate the corresponding info with pleasure, of course.

North Navy, small submarines.

M-type, XII series:

M-104 "Yaroslavsky komsomolets": 6 combat runs (46 days), 3 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, survived the war.

M-105 "Chelyabinsky komsomolets": 9 combat runs (71 days), 6 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, survived the war.

M-106 "Leninsky komsomol": 3 combat runs (30 days), no torpedo attacks, lost with 23 crewmembers around 05.-08.07.1943 (exploded on mine of mine fields NW-30/Sperre-III or, most probably, sank by flying boat BV 138 from 3/KFGr 406 08.07.43 - German pilot reported about oil spot after bomb attack).
[Amendment: lost with 23 crewmembers 05.07.1943 in the point 70.31'/30.59' - counter-attacked after unsuccessful torpedo attack by German submarine chasers UJ 1206, UJ 1217 and patrol ship NH 06, was heavily damaged by depth charges (73 were dropped) and rammed at 06:35 by UJ 1217 when the deck-house appeared above water, capsized submarine sank and large oil trace 700 m long was detected after ramming. See: http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 59#1176859
]

M-107 "Novosibirsky komsomolets": 4 combat runs (24 days), 3 torpedo attacks (one successful - 11.09.1943, 70.38'/30.26', convoy of 5 ships, 2 torpedos from 10 cables - German submarine chaser UJ 1217 "Star XXII" 307 brt with 29 crewmembers was sunk), survived the war.

M-108: 3 combat runs (18 days), 1 unsuccessful torpedo attack, lost with 23 crewmembers between 22-28.02.1944 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields NW-30 or Sperre-III 28.02.1944).

M-119: 12 combat runs (73 days), 8 torpedo attacks (one successful - 19.11.1943, 2 warships, 2 torpedos from 5 cables, German decoy-ship "Schiff 20" 992 brt was heavily damaged and run aground), survived the war.

M-121: 2 combat runs (10 days), no torpedo attacks, lost with 21 crewmembers between 08.-14.11.1942 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Sperre-V or Bantos-A).

M-122: 4 combat runs (14 days), 3 torpedo attacks (one successful - 16.03.1943, 69.58'/30.03', convoy 11 ships, 2 torpedos from 3 cables - German transport "Johannisberger" 4533 brt with 2102 tons of coal and tar on board was heavily damaged by torpedo and sank in 1.5 hours, crew was rescued by escort ships), lost with 22 crewmembers 14.05.1943 (sank by two fighter-bombers Fw 190 from 14/JG5 in the point 69.56'/32.53', the dead body of mortally wounded by bomb fragments deputy commander senior lieutenant I. Il'in in the oil spot was found by two Soviet patrol boats in 3 hours).

M-171: 28 combat runs (128 days), 20 torpedo attacks (one + one successful - 29.04.1942, 70.07'/30.34', convoy 3 ships, 2 torpedos from 5 cables, German transport "Curityba" 4969 brt with iron ore and two mine-sweeping motor boats M 5403 and M 5407 on board was heavily damaged by both torpedos, run aground and completelly destroyed, 22 crewmembers were lost; and 29.01.1943, 70.32'/30.55', convoy 3 ships, 2 torpedos from 15 cables, German transport "Ilona Siemers" 3245 brt was heavily damaged by one torpedo), survived the war (reequipped into submarine-mine layer in 1943).

M-172: 1 combat run during the Winter war (5 days), 19 combat runs (89 days), 13 torpedo attacks (one successful - 01.02.1943, 70.42'/30.15', convoy 3 ships, 2 torpedos from 4 cables, German patrol ship V 6115 "Ostwind" 320 brt with 45 crewmembers was sunk by two torpedos), lost with 23 crewmembers between 02.-11.10.1943 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Sperre-V or NW-34/35).

M-173: 1 combat run during the Winter war (5 days), 13 combat runs (91 days), 4 torpedo attacks (one successful - 22.04.1942, 70.32'/30.47', convoy 6 ships, 2 torpedos from 5 cables, German military transport H-25 "Blankensee" 3236 brt without cargos was sunk), lost with 21 crewmembers around 16.08.1942 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Sperre-IV or Bantos-A, also that day an unclear radiomessage from the submarine [probably] was received).

M-174: 16 combat runs (138 days), 3 torpedo attacks (one successful - 21.12.1941, 70.04'/30.30', convoy 5 ships, 1 torpedo from 12 cables, German transport "Emshörn" 4301 brt with 3500 tons of portable barracks on board was sunk), lost with 25 crewmembers between 15.-17.10.1943 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Sperre-V or NW-34/35).
Interesting that M-174 exploded on antenna mine UMB of mine field Sperre-V once - 23.03.1943, but she could surface and successfully reached the home base that time (without nose part till 9th frame and heavy damages).

M-175: 1 combat run during the Winter war (6 days), 5 combat runs (47 days), 1 unsuccessful torpedo attack, lost with 21 crewmembers 10.01.1942 (torpedoed by U 584 in the point 70.09'/31.50').
Interesting that M-175 was attacked by enemy submarine (U 81) one time before, 07.08.1941, from 4 German torpedos one hit the Soviet submarine but didn't explode and only lightly scratched the hull.

M-176: 1 combat run during the Winter war (6 days), 16 combat runs (98 days), 7 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, 2 destructions of detected floating mines 20.04.1942 (14 45mm shells were spent) and 29.05.1942, lost with 21 crewmembers around 04.07.1942 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Sperre-V or Bantos-A, but the version of attacks by German mine-sweeper M-16 and submarine chasers from 12 flotilla 03.07.1942 is also quite reasonable)

M-type, XV series:

M-200 "Mest" ("Revenge"): 6 combat runs (65 days), 1 unsuccessful torpedo attack, survived the war.

M-201: 5 combat runs (39 days), 4 torpedo attacks (one successful - 19.08.1944, 70.28'/30.58', convoy 24 ships, 2 torpedos from 6 cables, German patrol ship V 6112 "Friesse" 452 brt with 29 crewmembers was sunk by one torpedo), survived the war.

Regards, BP

[BIGpanzer]

North Navy, medium submarines:

Shch-type, X series:

Shch-401: 8 combat runs (127 days), 8 torpedo attacks (one successful - 23.04.1942, 71.04'/28.20', convoy 5 ships, 3 torpedos from 12 cables - mobilized by Germans Norwegian transport "Stensaas" 1359 brt with ammunition for mountain troops on board was sunk, crew was rescued by escort ships), lost with 43 crewmembers around 24-26.04.1942 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Karin or M-5, quite popular but unconfirmed version is her sinking by mistake by Soviet MTBs TKA-13 and TKA-14 24.04.1942).
Amendment: in reality TKA-13 and TKA-14 lightly damaged German submarine U-454 that time (24.04.1942).
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 50#1176950

Shch-402: 3 combat runs during the Winter war (44 days), 16 combat runs (232 days), 14 torpedo attacks (two successful - 17.10.1941, 70.21'/22.32', convoy 2 ships, 4 torpedos from 6 cables - Norwegian transport "Vesteraalen" 682 brt with 21 crewmembers, packaged cargo and 37 passengers on board [cabotage Tromso-Hammerfest] was sunk, 6 men survived; and 27.02.1942, convoy 12 ships, 2 torpedos from 15 cables - German patrol ship NM 01 "Vandale" 637 brt with 24 crewmembers was sunk), 3 destructions of detected floating mines by fire from 45mm gun (30.05.1942 and 21.03.1943), lost with 45 crewmembers after 21.09.1944 (most probably exploded on mine of mine field NW-30; the official version that the submarine was torpedoed by mistake by A-20 from 36 MTAP 21.09.1944 is very doubted by Morozov taking into consideration the patrol area of Soviet torpedo-bombers that day (far away from Shch-402 patrol area), report from German coastal battery on Is. Gamvik (saw the attack of Soviet torpedo-bomber against small vessel unlike submarine 5.5 miles from the island that time) and photo/description of the target [probably, small Norwegian fishing vessel in reality] by Soviet pilot who believed he attacked the deck-house of German submarine in diving trim).

Shch-403: 14 combat runs (165 days), 11 unsuccessful torpedo attacks (during the attack 22.12.1941 in the point 70.50'/26.00' against convoy of 4 ships 2 torpedos missed and exploded at shore rocks damaged the building of German observation post), lost with 45 crewmembers after 02.10.1943 (most probably exploded on mine of mine field NW-30).
During the career was unsuccessfully attacked by U 657 (avoided 1 torpedo) and U 251 (avoided 3 torpedos), avoided several tens attacks/detections of enemy aircraft by crash dive, shelled and rammed by German mine-layer "Brummer" attacking together with mine-sweeper M 1503 but survived and returned to the home base (heavily wounded on the bridge captain S. Kovalenko was captured by M 1503).

Shch-404: 2 combat runs during the Winter war (28 days), 14 combat runs (201 days), 12 torpedo attacks (one successful - 01.04.1942, 70.45'/30.10', convoy 4 ships, 3 torpedos from 10 cables - German transport "Michael" 2793 brt with iron ore on board was sunk by two torpedos), 1 destruction of detected floating mine by MG fire (25.02.1942), survived the war.

Shch-421: 2 combat runs during the Winter war (28 days), 6 combat runs (98 days), 8 torpedo attacks (one successful - 05.02.1942, 70.54'/26.02', convoy 5 ships, 3 torpedos from 4 cables - German transport "Konsul Schulte" 2975 brt with portable barracks on board was sunk), lost 09.04.1942 (exploded on mine UMB of mine field Ursula-B 08.04.1942 in the point 71.06'/26.53' depth 15 m, crew tried to repair the damages during 17 hours and moved from the close enemy coast using sails from engine canvas cloth; next day submarine K-22 rescued all crewmembers and torpedoed Shch-421 from 3 cables because of impossibility to repair or tow it). All crewmembers stayed on the deck of K-22 and saluted to their submarine, sank in 12 sec after torpedo hit.

Shch-422: 1 combat run during the Winter war (11 days), 15 combat runs (223 days), 18 torpedo attacks (one + one successful - 12.09.1941, 70.57'/29.00', single ship, 1 torpedo from 5 cables - Norwegian transport "Ottar Jarl" 1459 brt with packaged cargos on its way to Germany was sunk, 1 its crewmember was lost; and the same day, anchored Norwegian transport "Tanahorn" 336 brt was hit by 1 torpedo from 8 cables in the port Berlevog but torpedo didn't explode and damaged the ship only), 1 successful artillery attack (26.01.1942, 71.06'/28.32', Norwegian fishing motorboat "Björg" F3G 10 brt was sunk by two 45mm shells, the crew of 3 men was captured before shelling), 1 destruction of detected floating mine by artillery fire (23.07.1942). Lost with 45 crewmembers after 01.07.1943 (exploded on mine of mine field Speer-IV, or, most probably (because there is a small possibility that it could be also M-106, see above) she was counter-attacked by German submarine chasers UJ 1206, UJ 1212, UJ 1214, UJ 1217 and patrol ship NH 06 05.07.1943 in the point 70.31'/30.59' - heavily damaged by depth charges (73 were dropped) and rammed after that by UJ 1217 when the deck-house appeared above water; large oil trace 700 m long was detected after ramming).
It should be noted that once Shch-422 withstood, probably, the most strong attack against Soviet submarines during the war - M 343 and UJ 1206 dropped 356 depth charges during 3-hour pursuit of Shch-422 31.05.1943.
Amendment: Lost with 45 crewmembers around 05.-08.07.1943 (exploded on mine of mine fields NW-30/Sperre-III or, probably, sank 08.07.1943 by flying boat BV 138 from 3/KFGr 406 - German pilot reported about oil spot after bomb attack).
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 59#1176859

Shch-424: pre-war loss - collided with Soviet fishing trawler RT-43 "Rybets" 20.10.1939 and sank in 3 min at depth 250 m, 7 men were rescued from the water (commander captain-lieutenant Shuisky, commissar Kondakov, deputy commander Malyshev, navigator Gavrilov, chief miner Sinyakov, sergeant-major of torpedomen Vakhtanov, squad leader of electricians Rybakov). All those 7 crewmembers were judged very strictly for the collision (trawler was detected from 35 cables and nothing was made during 10 min after that till the distance decreased dramatically), absence of organisation of damage control after collision, panic (the last four mentioned men didn't close the door to the central compartment in order to prevent its flooding and made no any attempts to control the submarine but ran to the bridge instead forgot to close the bottom conning hatch also); perhaps other 32 crewmembers tried to surface the fast flooded submarine (large hole in the forth compartment, left board) performing the damage control without their coward commanders and sank with the submarine staying on their places on duty. Captain Shuisky should be executed but the sentence was modofied and after two years of prison he was returned back to the navy (temporary, during the war), he became the captain of Shch-403 (see above) in 1943.

To be continued (medium submarines of S-type and ex-British of V-type).

Regards, BP

[BIGpanzer]

North Navy, medium submarines. Part II

S-type, IX-bis series:

S-14 "Geroichesky Sevastopol": 8 combat runs (111 days), 5 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, survived the war.

S-15: 7 combat runs (86 days), 3 torpedo attacks (one successful - 24.08.1944, convoy 20 ships, 4 torpedos from 10 cables - German transport "Dessau" 5983 brt without cargos was heavily damaged, ran aground, was towed to Mehamn and wasn't repaired), survived the war.

S-16 "Geroi Sovetskogo Soyuza Nurseitov": 1 combat run (14 days), no torpedo attacks, survived the war.

S-17 "Sovetskaya Svanetiya": didn't participate in the war (in service since 09.06.1945).

S-19: 1 combat run (15 days), no torpedo attacks, survived the war.

S-21: didn't participate in the war (in service since 18.07.1946)

S-51: 7 combat runs (93 days), 7 torpedo attacks (one successful - 03.09.1943, 70.47'/39.35', convoy 3 ships, 4 torpedos from 8 cables - German submarine chaser UJ-1202 "Franz Dankworth" 464 brt was sunk by one torpedo), survived the war.

S-54: 4 combat runs (39 days), 1 unsuccessful torpedo attack, lost with 50 crewmembers around 07.-08.03.1944 (most probably exploded on mine of mine field NW-31).

S-55: 4 combat runs (35 days), 3 torpedo attacks (two successful - 29.04.1943, convoy 8 ships, 4 torpedos from 6 cables - German transport "Sturzsee" 708 brt with iron ore on board was sunk by one torpedo, 5 crewmembers were lost; and 12.10.1943, 70.59'/29.26', convoy 7 ships, 4 torpedos from 4 cables, German transport/depot ship "Ammerland" 5381 brt with 2500 tons of fodder and food supplies for Lapland force on board was sunk), lost with 52 crewmembers between 06.-23.12.1943 (most probably exploded on mine but the version of counter-attacks of German submarine chasers 08.12.1943 is also possible).
It should be mentioned that S-55 was heavily damaged (nose part of light hull was destroyed) by submarine chasers after her successful attack 29.04.1943, 90 depth charges were dropped during 3 hours; but S-55 returned to the home base successfully that time.

S-56: 8 combat runs (125 days), 12 torpedo attacks (four successful - 17.05.1943, 70.45'/29.27', convoy 10 ships, 4 torpedos from 10 cables - German tanker "Eurostadt" 1118 brt with 1280 tons of petrol on board was sunk and 12 crewmembers were lost, another torpedo hit transport "Wartheland" 3678 brt but didn't explode and only damaged the ship; 17.07.1943, 71.07'/28.22', 7 warships, 4 torpedos from 8 cables - German mine-sweeper M-346 551 tons was sunk by two torpedos and 32 crewmembers were lost; 19.07.1943, convoy 2 ships, 2 torpedos from 17 cables - German patrol ship NKi-09 "Alane" 466 brt was sunk and 21 crewmembers were lost; and 28.01.1944, 71.08'/28.17', convoy 20 ships, 2 torpedos from 6 cables - German transport "Heinrich Schulte" 5056 brt without cargos was sunk and 2 crewmembers were lost), 1 destruction of detected floating mine by artillery fire (11.04.1943), survived the war. The most effective Soviet torpedo submarine during the war.

S-101: 12 combat runs (211 days), 12 torpedo attacks (two + one successful - 29.03.1943, 70.49'/29.30', convoy 16 ships, 4 torpedos from 7 cables, German transport "Ajax" 2297 brt with 851 tons of fodder on board was sunk; 28.08.1943, 76.49'/69.42', 3 torpedos from 6 cables, German submarine U-639 769 tons with 47 crewmembers was sunk; and 14.06.1943, convoy 3 ships, 2 torpedos from 6 cables, German patrol ship V-6104 was damaged), 1 unsuccessful artillery attack, 1 destruction of detected floating mine (31.03.1943, 19 45mm shells were spent), survived the war (nicknamed "bomb catcher" as S-101 was strongly attacked many times by aircraft and submarine chassers (both Axis and Allies) achieved direct bomb hits even, but submarine survived and returned to the home base always).

S-102: 13 combat runs (211 days), 4 torpedo attacks (one successful - 14.01.1942, 70.33'/30.50', convoy 5 ships, 4 torpedos from 8 cables, German transport "Türkheim" 1904 brt with iron ore on board was sunk), survived the war.

S-103: 5 combat runs (73 days), 3 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, survived the war.

S-104: 5 combat runs (96 days), 3 torpedo attacks (two successful - 20.06.1944, 71.06'/27.47', convoy 16 ships, 4 torpedos from 12 cables, German submarine chaser UJ-1209 830 tons was sunk; and 12.10.1944, 70.55'/29.07', convoy 7 ships, 4 torpedos from 7 cables, German transport "Lumme" 1730 brt with 950 tons of portable barracks on board was sunk), survived the war.

Regards, BP

[BIGpanzer]

North Navy, medium submarines. Part III

ex-British submarines - received from Great Britain on account of war reparations from Italy. V-type:

V-1 (ex-S81 Sunfish, S-type): no combat runs, lost with 50 crewmembers around 27.07.1944 on the way to USSR (most probably because of emergency case but explosion on floating mine is also possible; the most common but unconfirmed version is the attack of RAF patrol bomber B-24 Liberator from 18th group 27.07.1944 by mistake).
Amendment: V-1 (ex-S81 Sunfish, S-type): no combat runs, lost with 50 crewmembers 27.07.1944 on the way to USSR (most probably in the point 64.34'/01.16' because of attack of patrol bomber B-24 Liberator from 86th Squadron of RAF Coastal Command by mistake - V-1 was 80 miles away from her assigned area [despite of presence of British liaison staff on board] and she began to dive when the British aircraft came in sight instead of staying on the surface position and firing signal rockets as instructed, but emergency case or explosion on floating mine is also possible).
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... 50#1176950

V-2 (ex-P42 Unbroken, U-type): 3 combat runs (21 days), 2 torpedo attacks (one successful - 12.10.1944, 71.09'/27.57', convoy 3 ships, 4 torpedos from 18 cables, German submarine chaser UJ-1220 500 tons was sunk), survived the war.

V-3 (ex-P43 Unison, U-type): 2 combat runs (12 days), no torpedo attacks, survived the war.

V-4 (ex-P59 Ursula, U-type): 1 combat run (7 days), 2 torpedo attacks (one successful - 20.10.1944, 71.06'/27.47', convoy 6 ships, 2 torpedos from 3 cables, German submarine chaser UJ-1219 830 tons with 46 crewmembers was sunk, 2 men were rescued), survived the war.

Regards, BP

[BIGpanzer]

North Navy, large submarines.

D-type, I series:

D-1 "Dekabrist" ("Decembrist"): 2 combat runs (31 days) during the Winter war, lost 13.11.1940 (pre-Great Patriotic war loss) with 55 crewmembers in Motov Bay during deep-sea tests after performed current repair [large searches in the point of tragedy found oil spots, two life rings, first-aid kit, fragments of isolating cork and small wooden bars, also mine-sweeps/metals detector detected possible submarine hull at the bottom, depths 216-250 m; most probably, some emergency of repaired mechanisms took place on board, D-1 dived beyond depth limit and was crashed by pressure].
Interesting that D-1 performed several diving records during 1930s (for example, 44-day Arctic run in autumn 1938 when 1001 miles from 5842 miles were passed underwater and submarine had totally 13 days of submerged run including the whole 1 day without air renewal).

D-3 "Krasnogvardeets" ("Red guardsman"): 8 combat runs (138 days), 12 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, 1 successful (probably) anti-aircraft combat (12.08.1941, German air raid against Olenia Bay, shot down fighter Bf 110C from Stab/ZG76 by 45mm gun), 2 destructions of detected floating mines by artillery fire (08.03.1942, 03.05.1942), lost with 53 crewmembers between 10.-30.06.1942 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Bantos-A [10.06.1942] or Sperre-III).
Interesting that mines of Bantos-A were installed by German mine-layers "Brummer" and "Cobra" 20.03.1942 which were unsuccessfully attacked by D-3 one week before that.

To be continued (submarines of K-type).
Regards, BP

[BIGpanzer]

North Navy, large submarines (part II).

K-type, XIV series:

K-1: 16 combat runs (196 days), 1 unsuccessful torpedo attack, 8 mine layings (seven ships were sunk by mines and one damaged - 08.11.1941, 70.56'/25.43', German transport "Flottbek" 1930 brt, 13 crewmembers were lost; 26.12.1941, 69.55'/20.04', Norwegian transport "Kong Ring" 2034 brt with 269 German soldiers-vacationists on board, only 8 crewmembers from 38 and 12 Germans were rescued; 08.04.1942, 70.06'/20.59', German transport "Kurzesee" 754 brt with food supplies on board, 3 from 12 crewmembers were lost; 23.05.1942, 70.17'/21.21', German transport "Asuncion" 4626 brt with 2454 tons of food supplies on board, 2 crewmembers were lost; 12.09.1942, 70.43’/25.58’, German transport “Robert Bornhofen” 6643 brt with coal on board, 1 crewmember was lost; 06.12.1942, 70.56’/26.02’, German patrol ship V-6116 “Ubier” 308 brt; 06.12.1942, 70.56’/25.47’, German patrol ship V-6117 “Cherusker” 308 brt, 57 crewmembers and 8 soldiers-vacationists were lost with both patrol ships, 6 men survived; 17.02.1943, 69.58’/21.03’, German transport “Moltkefels” 7863 brt was damaged). Lost with 72 crewmembers between 09.09.-28.09.1943 (most probably because of emergency case).
Amendment: the reasons of loss - emergency case or explosion on mine(s) laid by "Admiral Hipper" 26.09.1942 off Novaya Zemlya.

K-2: 7 combat runs (115 days), 4 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, 3 artillery attacks (one ship was probably damaged – 12.09.1941, 76.36’/30.43’, Norwegian transport “Lofoten” 1571 brt lost motion and got flood after several direct hits [some sources don’t confirm direct hits], 26 100mm shells were spent till the submarine detected German aircraft and dived), 2 mine layings (one ship was destroyed by mine – 29.11.1942, off the Varangerfjord, German transport “Akka” 2646 brt was heavily damaged and burnt, ran aground, abandoned by the crew and wasn’t repaired till the end of the war). Lost with 68 crewmembers between 26.08.-08.09.1942 (most probably exploded on mine of mine fields Karin, Sperre-III or Bantos-A).

K-3: 10 combat runs (123 days), 5 torpedo attacks (two successful – 05.02.1943, 70.53’/29.20’, 7 warships, 4 torpedos from 14 cables, German submarine chaser UJ-1108 “Elbe” 462 brt was sunk, 5 crewmembers were lost; and 12.02.1943, off the Kongsfjord, convoy 6 ships, 6 torpedos from 12 cables, German transport “Fechenheim” 8116 brt was heavily damaged by one torpedo, ran aground, towed to the port 01.1944 and scuttled as deemed beyond repair), 1 successful artillery combat (after torpedo attack against convoy 03.12.1941 the submarine was counter-attacked by German submarine chasers UJ-1403, UJ-1416 and UJ-1708, Soviet captain decided to surface from 83 m depth and to engage in combat – UJ-1708 “Faröer” 470 brt with the whole crew [50 men] was sunk in the point 70.54’/23.46’ and UJ-1416 was heavily damaged by direct hits of 2 100mm and 2 45mm shells, 39 100mm and 47 45mm shells were spent by K-3 from 20-30 cables during that combat), 1 mine laying (one ship was sunk by mine – 30.01.1942, 71.06’/25.00, Norwegian small transport “Ingøy” 327 brt with post and packaged cargo on board, 7 men from 23 crewmembers and passengers survived). Lost with 68 crewmembers around 21.03.1943 (most probably, sunk by depth charges from German submarine chasers UJ-1102, UJ-1106 and UJ-1111 after unsuccessful torpedo attack against convoy, but explosion on mine of mine fields Ursula or NW-10 is also possible).

K-21: 12 combat runs (163 days), 9 torpedo attacks (Amendment: all unsuccesful) (one successful probably – 20.02.1943, Is. Vogen, group of motorboats at the berth, 4 torpedos from 13 cables, several Norwegian motorboats were sunk), 2 artillery attacks (both successful – 21.01.1942, 71.09’/24.35’, Norwegian fishing motorboat F-223 N “Ingø” 15 brt with the whole crew was sunk, 2 100mm shells were spent from 0.7 cables; and 12.04.1943, 69.25’/15.47’, 6 motorboats, Norwegian fishing seine-netter “Froey” 40 brt with 9 crewmembers was sunk, fishing motorboats “Havegga”, “Baren” and “Oistein” were damaged with 1 killed and 4 wounded crewmembers, 7 crewmembers were captured from damaged and abandoned motorboat “Skrein” 70 brt, 44 100mm shells were spent), 1 unsuccessful ramming attack against submarine, 6 mine layings (two ships were sunk by mines – 21.11.1941, 70.39’/23.38’, Norwegian transport “Bessheim” 1781 brt with German soldiers-vacationists on board, 8 men were lost; and 09.07.1942, 70.39’/23.38’ German submarine chaser UJ-1110 527 brt, 25 crewmembers and 21 soldiers-vacationists were lost). Survived the war.
Amendment:The torpedo attack of K-21 against motorboats in Vogen port wasn't successful according to Adm Norwegen, Adm Polarkueste. Germans noticed torpedo explosions mentioned by captain Lunin in combat report but they thought that was explosion of floating mine close to the port. Most probably, torpedos hit the sea bottom or littoral sludge conglomeration as it happened quite often during the attacks in shoal Norwegian fjords

K-22: 8 combat runs (112 days), 5 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, 3 artillery attacks (two successful – 11.12.1941, 71.13’/23.36’, Norwegian lighter T29 SA “Alphar” with towed motorboat F76 G “Borgar” 60 brt together were sunk, 2 of their crewmembers were rescued, 20 100mm and 54 45mm shells were spent from 12 cables; and 19.01.1942, 70.49’/29.20’, cabotage ship “Vaaland” 106 brt with post and packaged cargo on board was sunk and 1 its crewmember was lost, and aground wrecked transports “Andromeda” (German) 658 brt and “Mimona” (Norwegian) 1153 brt were completely destroyed, 48 100mm shells were spent from 20 cables), 1 mine laying. Lost with 77 crewmembers around 07.02.1943 (most probably exploded on mine of mine field Sperre-III but emergency case is also possible).

K-23: 5 combat runs (72 days), 2 unsuccessful torpedo attacks, 2 artillery attacks (one + one successful - 26.11.1941, 70.25’/22.00’, Norwegian fishing trawler “Start” was lightly damaged and 7 German soldiers on board were killed/wounded by shell fragments, 15 100mm shells were spent from 16 cables; and 19.01.1942, 70.59’/26.43’, Norwegian transport “Sørøy” 506 brt with packaged cargo on board was burnt and sunk, 2 of its crewmembers were lost, 31 100mm shells were spent from 10 cables), 3 mine installations (one ship was damaged by mine and one was sunk – 05.11.1941, German mine-sweeper M-22 685 brt was heavily damaged, 10 crewmembers were lost; and 18.02.1942, Norwegian transport “Birk” 3664 brt (used by Germans for ore transportation) was sunk, 26 from its crewmembers were lost). Lost with 71 crewmembers 12.05.1942 (surfaced submarine was counter-attacked by German submarine chasers UJ-1101, UJ-1109, UJ-1110 and bomber Ju 88 from KG 30 after unsuccessful torpedo attack against convoy [2 transports + 6 warships], got at least one direct hit of 88mm shell during 1.5-hour artillery combat, dived and she was sunk by the following 99 depth charges during 6.5-hour pursuit – oil spots, small wrecks and pieces of paper with Russian texts were found by UJ-1109 in the point of sinking).

To be continued (mine-laying large submarines of L-type)

Regards, BP

[Juha Tompuri]

I would like to summarize at least the info about actions of Soviet submarines during the Great Patriotic war (just shortly as I have no time for detailed descriptions of combat runs and often enemy counter-attacks with depth charges during them, also cases of submarine damages) - this is described as much detailed as possible at the moment by Platonov and Morozov already).

As interesting your list is, one must also keep in mind that it's based on Russian research, and some losses and claims seem not to be very well known to them.

K-21: 12 combat runs (163 days), 9 torpedo attacks (one successful probably – 20.02.1943, Is. Vogen, group of motorboats at the berth, 4 torpedos from 13 cables, several Norwegian motorboats were sunk), 2 artillery attacks (both successful – 21.01.1942, 71.09’/24.35’, Norwegian fishing motorboat F-223 N “Ingø” 15 brt with the whole crew was sunk, 2 100mm shells were spent from 0.7 cables; and 12.04.1943, 69.25’/15.47’, 6 motorboats, Norwegian fishing seine-netter “Froey” 40 brt with 9 crewmembers was sunk, fishing motorboats “Havegga”, “Baren” and “Oistein” were damaged with 1 killed and 4 wounded crewmembers, 7 crewmembers were captured from damaged and abandoned motorboat “Skrein” 70 brt, 44 100mm shells were spent), 1 unsuccessful ramming attack against submarine, 6 mine layings (two ships were sunk by mines – 21.11.1941, 70.39’/23.38’, Norwegian transport “Bessheim” 1781 brt with German soldiers-vacationists on board, 8 men were lost; and 09.07.1942, 70.39’/23.38’ German submarine chaser UJ-1110 527 brt, 25 crewmembers and 21 soldiers-vacationists were lost). Survived the war.

Wasn't the Tirpitz also claimed to have been hit?
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=126564

9 torpedo attacks (one successful probably – 20.02.1943, Is. Vogen, group of motorboats at the berth, 4 torpedos from 13 cables, several Norwegian motorboats were sunk)

AFAIK no verification from the Norwegian side to this claim.

Regards, Juha

[BIGpanzer]

Juha Tompuri wrote:
As interesting your list is, one must also keep in mind that it's based on Russian research, and some losses and claims seem not to be very well known to them.

Thanks, this list is based on the most modern sources at the moment (as the base I use Russian books and articles by Prof. Platonov and Dr. Morozov indeed, but every loss/victory I also tried to check personally by myself using different German sources I have and online submarine forums, a hard job but extremelly interesting to find almost full correspondence or additional details, for example some info about lost German crewmembers of sinking transports, also it is nice to heard thanks here for my all-night efforts; any even small doubts of the posted info are prohibited ). Some losses and claims not be be known for historians indeed at the moment, so in my list I post only victories confirmed by both sides and the most possible reason of submarine losses [on the other hand, in such cases German/Finnish/Romanian claims are checked, of course, taking into consideration Russian archive info].
There were quite many cases when Soviet captain saw the hit through the periscope [much more common sound control caused mistakes very often because of enemy depth charges or torpedo self-explosion before/after target] but there is no any info about successful attack [or detection of attack even] in enemy archives - so called "conditionally successful attacks" by Morozov and not mentioned here [as well as in his final list of victories, of course]. For example, if we are talking about Arctic - Soviet submariners performed 259 torpedo and 14 artillery attacks during the war but only the results of 187 and 13, correspondingly, were completelly checked using the archive info from the enemy side; so the amount of corresponding victories [sinking of single ships which lost with full crew in the area or possible damages of transports/warships in convoys] can be increased as the research is always going further. Would like to help to add more victories? Nevertheless, Morozov doesn't believe that the list of Soviet victories will increase too much, but several ships can be added.

JT wrote:
Wasn't the Tirpitz also claimed to have been hit?
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=126564

I don't pay attention to unconfirmed claims here, I've mentioned there that according to modern sources - unsuccessful attack [Germans even didn't notice the submarine and her attack and IIRC got the info about it from the British/Soviet news after "Tirpitz" returned to the home base, no pursuit of K-21 also]. Even according to the original Lunin's report [I posted it in the link above, about K-21] - he wasn't very sure that his torpedos hit "Tirpitz" but thought and reported that escort destroyer could be hit according to sound control. Four torpedos were launched by K-21 from 18-20 cables against "Tirpitz" [at 18:01], in 135 sec two explosions were detected by Soviet acoustic (most probably, torpedos didn't reach the target because of significant error in determination of course of the fleet), at 18:31, 18:32 and 18:38 the long explosions (20 sec each) were detected (depth charges against British submarine - BP), at 19:05 Lunin investigated the surface with periscope and saw no any warships already.
Another interesting subject of investigation of that combat run that K-21 was attacked 08.07.1942 on the way to home base by unknown submarine (3 torpedos were detected by Soviet signalman and acoustic 1-1.5 cables from K-21) but it is unclear which German submarine tried to attack K-21 that time in that area.

JT wrote:
BIGpanzer wrote:
9 torpedo attacks (one successful probably – 20.02.1943, Is. Vogen, group of motorboats at the berth, 4 torpedos from 13 cables, several Norwegian motorboats were sunk)
AFAIK no verification from the Norwegian side to this claim.

That is why I wrote probably (almost single unclear case of the result of torpedo attack in the present list) - I couldn't find any detailed info about this in archive data and German articles I have, Platonov described the case as probable in his final table - Lunin saw three bursts at the berth in periscope in 90 sec after launching but torpedos could also hit the berth itself not motorboats in that case. Nevertheless, when seven Norwegian fishmen were captured by K-21 from "Skrein" 12.04.1943 [see above] they were asked about such a case and they answered that they heard about losses of several motorboats of Vogen Is. because of strange unexpected explosions in the port. Morozov described this case as "no info from German/Norwegian side" and doesn't include it in his table of victories.
Interesting that the most famous and quite correct site about German and other submarines (http://www.uboat.net) mentiones the successful artillery attack of K-21 against Norwegian motorboats 12.02.1943 - http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5126.html
There are no any info about such attack in all other sources, to say more that day the emergency case happened on board of K-21 according to her log-book [shortly - short-circuit fire of switching station No.5 of diesel engine took place, engine compartment was evacuated and air-locked closed until fire stopped, and the motionless submarine was repaired by crew during the whole day in the open sea, only 13.02 the diesels and electric systems were completelly repaired].

Regards, BP