Submarine warfare in the Black Sea campaigns (1943)

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Submarine warfare in the Black Sea in World War II
Part of the Black Sea Campaigns of the Eastern Front of World War II
Shch-209&Komintern.jpg
Shch-209 alongside the Soviet cruiser Komintern
Date1943
Location
Western and Eastern Black Sea
Result

Inconclusive

  • Limited Soviet success
Belligerents
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg  Germany
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg  Italy
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg  Soviet Union
Commanders and leaders
Flag of Romania.svg Unknown Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg Unknown
Strength
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 6 U-boats
Flag of Italy (1861-1946) crowned.svg 5 midget-submarines
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Anti-submarine forces
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 29 submarines
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg Anti-submarine forces
Casualties and losses
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 4 merchants sunk
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1 tanker sunk
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 6 barges sunk
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1 damaged
Flag of Germany (1935-1945).svg 1 tug sunk
Flag of Romania.svg 1 merchant sunk
Flag of Romania.svg 1 barge sunk
Flag of Bulgaria.svg 1 merchant sunk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 3 submarines sunk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 2 minesweeper sunk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 1 damaged
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 2 patrol boat sunk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 2 landing crafts sunk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 1 merchant sunk
Flag of the Soviet Union (1936 - 1955).svg 1 tanker lost
Flag of Turkey.svg 3 neutral Turkish vessels sunk

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.

Contents

Background

As during the first 1941 campaign and the following year campaign, the Soviet Navy sent submarines against the Axis supply lines along the western coast of the Black Sea. Once again, Axis defenses primarily consisted of Romanian-laid fields of mines. At the beginning of the year the Soviet navy had 18 operable submarines (and 11 on refit), and organized them into "wolf packs" of groups of 3 with an attempted coordination with aircraft (though reports were often late). At first Soviet results were reduced due to effective German interception and the shallow drafts of many targets, however better results were scored after the summer with introduction of new torpedo fuses. [1] German U-boats of the 30th U-boat Flotilla operated on the eastern site of the Black Sea, attacking Soviet targets.

Engagements

Outcome

Soviet submarines have been estimated to have sunk 20 targets (34,000 GRT) while suffering less losses: a better result compared to the campaigns of 1941 and 1942. [39] This improvement forced the Germans to create a proper anti-submarine warfare unit: the 1. Unterseebootsjagdflottille, operating since June 1943 with 18 converted trawlers supported by BV-138 flying boats. [40]

See also

References