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Soviet submarine Baltic Sea campaign in 1943 | |||||||
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Part of the Baltic Sea campaign of the Eastern Front of World War II | |||||||
Ruotsinsalmi, part of the anti-submarine defense | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Germany Finland | Soviet Union | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
2 minelayers Anti-submarine boats | 5 submarines | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
none (Riilahti sunk as aftermath) | 4 submarines lost |
The Soviet submarine Baltic Sea campaign in 1943 was launched by the Soviet Navy to harass the strategic iron ore traffic from neutral Sweden to Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front during the WWII. Other operations were launched by Allies, especially by the Royal Navy. The offensive was a repetition of the previous campaign in 1942 but resulted in a failed outcome.
The past Soviet submarine offensive in 1942 resulted in heavy losses for the Soviets but achieved to sink some ships and caused delays and concern for the Germans. This was achieved despite the presence of over 13000 defensive mines. [1] Preparations were made in winter 1942 to prevent the intrusion of Soviet submarines in the open Baltic for the following year. A decisive element of the Axis blockade was laying a double anti-submarine net, named "Walrus" system, across the Gulf of Finland from Porkkala (Finland) to Naissaar (Estonia). [2] Additionally, the German Navy laid 7,293 other new mines, while Finland laid 1,965 mines, in addition to the existing ones. [3]
At the beginning of the year the Soviets could engage in offensive four Stalinets-class submarines, nine Shchuka class and three Malyutka class. ShCh-323 was the first vessel to attempt passing the blockade but was sunk by mines on 30 April 1943 (five survivors). ShCh-303 failed to pass the nets and returned to Lavansaari after encounters with German vessels. ShCh-408 was detected and sunk by Finnish minelayer Ruotsinsalmi with depth charges, while ShCh-406 suffered the same fate by Finnish minelayer Riilahti and German small boats. [4] [5]
After the failures of the Shchuka-class, the Soviets attempted to breakthrough with the more powerful S-9 [6] and S-12: [7] both of them never returned and were lost to mines in August 1943, marking an end of the Soviets' attempt to penetrate the blockade.
The Finnish minelayers Ruotsinsalmi and Riilahti has been actively engaged in the campaign, sinking one submarine each. On 23 August 1943, during another anti-submarine patrol, Riilahti was sunk by soviet motor torpedo boat TK-93.
No Soviet attempt to break the Axis blockade achieved success: no ship was sunk by Soviet submarines in the Baltic Sea during 1943, making the outcome of the offensive a decisive Axis success. [5]
The Baltic Sea campaigns were conducted by Axis and Allied naval forces in the Baltic Sea, the Gulf of Bothnia, the Gulf of Finland and the connected lakes Ladoga and Onega on the Eastern Front of World War II. After early fighting between Polish and German forces, the main combatants were the Kriegsmarine and the Soviet Navy, with Finland supporting the Germans until 1944 and the Soviets thereafter. The Swedish Navy and merchant fleet played important roles, and the British Royal Navy planned Operation Catherine for control of the Baltic Sea and its exit choke point into the North Sea.
The Shchuka-class submarines, also referred to as Sh or Shch-class submarines, were a medium-sized class of Soviet submarines, built in large numbers and used during World War II. "Shchuka" is Russian for pike. Of this class, only two submarines entered service after 1945, although they were launched before the war.
The Black Sea Campaigns were the operations of the Axis and Soviet naval forces in the Black Sea and its coastal regions during World War II between 1941 and 1944, including in support of the land forces.
Louhi was a Finnish Navy minelayer. The ship was originally constructed for the Imperial Russian Navy but was taken over by the Finns during the Russian Civil War. She had originally been named Voin, but was renamed as M1 in Finnish service. In 1936 she was given the more personal name Louhi, following the procedure of all other major ships in the Finnish navy.
Shch-317 was a Shchuka-class submarine of the Soviet Navy. Her keel was laid down by A. Marti in Leningrad on 23 July 1934. She was launched on 24 September 1935 and commissioned on 29 September 1936 in the Baltic Fleet.
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The Soviet Navy launched the Soviet submarine Baltic Sea campaign in 1942 to harass the strategic iron-ore traffic from neutral Sweden to Nazi Germany during World War II. The Soviet Union and the German Reich fought each other on the Eastern Front (1941-1945) during the war. The Allies also launched other operations - especially involving the Royal Navy - against the traffic.
The Gulf of Finland U-boat campaign lasted in the Gulf of Finland during the World War II against the Soviet Union between summer 1944 and spring 1945. During the campaign Finland switched sides and joined the Allies.
Submarine warfare in the Black Sea in World War II during 1942 involved engagements between primarily submarines of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet attacking Axis merchantmen defended by Romanian and German naval warships. These engagements were a part of the Black Sea campaigns between Axis and Soviet naval forces.
Submarine warfare in the Black Sea in World War II during 1943 involved engagements between submarines of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet attacking Axis merchantmen defended by Romanian and German naval warships, as well as and German U-boats attacking Soviet merchants on the eastern Black Sea. These engagements were a part of the Black Sea campaigns between Axis and Soviet naval forces.
Submarine warfare in the Black Sea in World War II during 1944 involved engagements between submarines of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet attacking Axis merchantmen, defended by Romanian and German naval warships, as well as German U-boats and Romanian submarines attacking Soviet merchants on the eastern Black Sea. Before the conclusion of the campaign, Romania joined the Allies after King Michael's Coup. These engagements were a part of the naval Black Sea campaigns.
The Soviet submarine Baltic Sea campaign in 1941 was launched by the Soviet Navy at the early stage of Operation Barbarossa. The offensive was hampered by the quick German ground advance and the retreat of Soviet naval vessels from the main Baltic harbors.
The Soviet submarine Baltic Sea campaign in 1944 was launched by the Soviet Navy to harass enemy shipping and naval military assets of the Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front during World War II.
The Soviet naval Baltic Sea campaign in 1945 was launched by the Soviet Navy to harass enemy shipping and naval military assets of Nazi Germany on the Eastern Front during World War II. Both submarines and surface units of the Soviet Navy were employed. The campaign scored successes during Operation Hannibal.
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Shch-421 was a Shchuka-class submarine of the Soviet Navy. She served in the Northern Fleet during World War II. She was led by commander Nikolai Lunin, before he was replaced by his second-in-command Fyodor Vidyayev.
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