Black Sea Campaigns (1941-44)
Encyclopedia
The Black Sea Campaigns are 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, and non-combat operations.
The Black Sea Fleet
was as surprised by Operation Barbarossa
as the rest of the Soviet Military. The Axis forces in the Black sea consisted of the Romanian and Bulgarian Navies together with German and Italian units transported to the area via rail and Canal. Although the Soviets enjoyed an overwhelming superiority in surface ships over the Axis, this was effectively negated by German air superiority and most of the Soviet ships sunk were destroyed by bombing. For the majority of the war, the Black Sea Fleet was commanded by Filipp Oktyabrskiy
, its other commander being Lev Vladimirsky
.
All of the major Soviet shipyards were located in the Ukraine (Nikolayev) and Crimea (Sevastopol
) and were occupied in 1941. Many incomplete ships which were afloat were evacuated to harbors in Georgia which provided the main bases for the surviving fleet. These ports such as Poti
, however had very limited repair facilities which significantly reduced the operational capability of the Soviet Fleet.
consisted of four destroyers (two Mărăşti-class
, two Regele Ferdinand-class
), six fleet torpedo boats, three submarines (Delfinul/The Dolphin
, Rechinul/The Shark and Marsuinul/The Sea Hog), five midget submarines (CB class
), two minelayers and seven motor torpedo boats.
was neutral during World War II, the Axis
could not transfer warships to the Black Sea via the Bosphorus. However, several small ships were transferred from the North Sea via rail, street and canal networks to the Danube
. These included six Type IIB U-boats
of the 30th U-boat Flotilla which were dis-assembled and shipped to Constanza
in 1942. The Germans also transported 10 S-boats (Schnellboote) and 23 R-boats
(Räumboote
) via the Danube and built several armed barges in the captured Nikolayev Shipyards in Mykolaiv
.
The Italian Regia Marina
(Royal Navy) dispatched a small force to the Black Sea. The force dispatched included six CB class midget submarine
s and a flotilla of Torpedo Armed Motorboats
(Motoscafo Armato Silurante, or MAS
). The MAS were commanded by Francesco Mimbelli
and were based in Yalta
.
on 26 June. During this operation, the destroyer leader Moskva was lost to mines while evading fire from coastal batteries. The Black Sea Fleet supplied the besieged garrison in Odessa and evacuated a significant part of the force (86,000 soldiers, 150,000 civilians) at the end of October, but lost the destroyer Frunze and a gunboat to Stuka
s in the process. The Black Sea Fleet played a valuable part in defeating the initial assault on Sevastopol. In December, there was an amphibious operation against Kerch
which resulted in the recapture of the Kerch Peninsula. A naval detachment including the cruiser Krasny Krim remained in Sevastopol to give gunfire support. Soviet submarines also raided Axis shipping on the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts, sinking 29000 LT (29,465.5 t) of shipping.
in May and the Soviets could not prevent a landing across the Kerch strait in the Taman Peninsula in September. The remainder of the Black Sea Fleet evacuated to harbors in the Caucasus which had very limited facilities. Soviet submarines were active in the western part of the Black Sea where they attacked Axis shipping; unfortunately, this included sinking the refugee ships Struma and Cankaya.
All of these ships suffered from poor maintenance due to a lack of facilities.
Operations initially consisted of several offensive operations by the Soviets including the defence of Malaya Zemlya
in Novorossiysk
and some coastal bombardments and raids.
As the war was going badly for the Axis on other fronts, the Germans began to evacuate the Kuban Bridgehead in September. This was successfully accomplished. Kharkov and two destroyers—Sposobny and Besposchadny—were sunk by Stukas while raiding the Crimea. As a result of this loss, Stalin insisted on personally authorizing the use of any large ships. The Kerch-Eltigen Operation
followed in November.
for details)
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
and its coastal regions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
between 1941 and 1944, including in support of the land forces, and non-combat operations.
The Black Sea Fleet
Black Sea Fleet
The Black Sea Fleet is a large operational-strategic sub-unit of the Russian Navy, operating in the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea since the late 18th century. It is based in various harbors of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov....
was as surprised by Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
as the rest of the Soviet Military. The Axis forces in the Black sea consisted of the Romanian and Bulgarian Navies together with German and Italian units transported to the area via rail and Canal. Although the Soviets enjoyed an overwhelming superiority in surface ships over the Axis, this was effectively negated by German air superiority and most of the Soviet ships sunk were destroyed by bombing. For the majority of the war, the Black Sea Fleet was commanded by Filipp Oktyabrskiy
Filipp Oktyabrskiy
Filipp Sergeyevich Oktyabrskiy was a Soviet naval commander and admiral . Hero of the Soviet Union . Began service on the Baltic Fleet in November 1917. From March, 1939 up to April, 1943 and in March, 1944 - November, 1948 he was a commander of the Black Sea Fleet and headed its actions during...
, its other commander being Lev Vladimirsky
Lev Vladimirsky
Lev Anatolevich Vladimirsky , was a Soviet naval officer and an Admiral .He joined the Red Army as a volunteer during the Russian Civil War and fought against Islamic insurgents in Turkestan, later volunteering for service in the navy from 1921.Vladimirsky graduated from the M. V...
.
All of the major Soviet shipyards were located in the Ukraine (Nikolayev) and Crimea (Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
) and were occupied in 1941. Many incomplete ships which were afloat were evacuated to harbors in Georgia which provided the main bases for the surviving fleet. These ports such as Poti
Poti
Poti is a port city in Georgia, located on the eastern Black Sea coast in the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti in the west of the country. Built near the site of the ancient Greek colony of Phasis, the city has become a major port city and industrial center since the early 20th century. It is also...
, however had very limited repair facilities which significantly reduced the operational capability of the Soviet Fleet.
Soviet naval strength
On 22 June 1941, the Black Sea Fleet consisted of:| Ship Type | Number | Note/class |
|---|---|---|
| Battleship | 1 | Parizhskaya Kommuna |
| Cruisers | 5 | 2 Kirov-class cruiser Kirov class cruiser The Kirov-class cruisers were six vessels built between 1935 and 1944 for the Soviet Navy: Kirov, Voroshilov, Maxim Gorky, Molotov, Kalinin, and Kaganovich. After the first two ships, armor protection was increased and subsequent ships are sometimes called the Maxim Gorky class... s, , and |
| Destroyer Leaders | 3 | Leningrad-class destroyer Leningrad class destroyer The Leningrad-class destroyer leaders were built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1930s. They were inspired by the contre-torpilleurs built for the French Navy. They were ordered in two groups of three ships each, the first group was designated Project 1 and the second Project 38... and Tashkent-class destroyer Tashkent class destroyer The Tashkent Class were a group of destroyer leaders built for the Soviet Navy just before World War II. Only one ship was completed.The first ship, Tashkent was ordered under the second Five Year Plan, from the Italian OTO company of Livorno in 1935. She was considerably larger and more capable... |
| Destroyers (Modern) | 11 | 6 Type 7 Gnevny class destroyer The Gnevny class were a group of destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the late 1930s - early 1940s. They are sometimes known as the Gremyashchiy class destroyer and the Official Soviet Designation was Project 7... , 5 Type 7U Soobrazitelny class destroyer The Soobrazitel'nyi class were destroyers built for the Soviet Navy in the early 1940s. The Soviet designation was Type 7U or Ulutshenyi . The ships fought in World War II. They were modified versions of the Gnevny class destroyers. The design was finalised in 1936 after initial disappointments... , |
| Destroyers (old) | 4 | Novik type |
| Submarines | 44 | |
| Escort Vessels/Gunboats | 2 | |
| Mine warfare vessels | 18 | |
| Motor Torpedo Boats | 84 | |
Romanian Navy
The Royal Romanian NavyRomanian Naval Forces
The Romanian Navy is the navy branch of the Romanian Armed Forces; it operates in the Black Sea and on the Danube.-History:-Development of the Romanian Navy:The Romanian Navy has been founded in 1860 as a river flotilla on the Danube...
consisted of four destroyers (two Mărăşti-class
Marasti class destroyer
The Mărăști class were a group of destroyers built in Italy for the Romanian Navy. The ships fought in both world wars but for different owners and had a complex history.-History:...
, two Regele Ferdinand-class
Regele Ferdinand class destroyer
The Regele Ferdinand Class was two destroyers built in Italy for the Romanian Navy, which fought in World War II.-History:Following the end of World War I and the re-purchase of two Mărăşti class destroyers from Italy, the Romanian Government decided to order two more modern destroyers from the...
), six fleet torpedo boats, three submarines (Delfinul/The Dolphin
NMS Dolphin
NMS Dolphin, is a Romanian submarine that served in the Black Sea during the Second World War. It was the first submarine bought by the Romanian Navy...
, Rechinul/The Shark and Marsuinul/The Sea Hog), five midget submarines (CB class
CB class midget submarine
The CB class was a group of midget submarines built for the Italian Navy during World War II.-Design:The boats were designed as coast defence units with diesel electric propulsion. There was a mini conning tower to aid navigation...
), two minelayers and seven motor torpedo boats.
Germany and Italy
As TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
was neutral during World War II, the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
could not transfer warships to the Black Sea via the Bosphorus. However, several small ships were transferred from the North Sea via rail, street and canal networks to the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. These included six Type IIB U-boats
German Type II submarine
The Type II U-boat was designed by Germany as a coastal U-boat, modeled after the CV-707 submarine, which was designed by the Dutch dummy company NV Ingenieurskantoor voor Scheepsbouw den Haag and built in 1933 by the...
of the 30th U-boat Flotilla which were dis-assembled and shipped to Constanza
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
in 1942. The Germans also transported 10 S-boats (Schnellboote) and 23 R-boats
R boat
The R boats were a group of small minesweepers but used for several purposes during the Second World War.A total of 424 boats were built for the Kriegsmarine before and during World War II. The German Navy used them in every theatre including the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea...
(Räumboote
R boat
The R boats were a group of small minesweepers but used for several purposes during the Second World War.A total of 424 boats were built for the Kriegsmarine before and during World War II. The German Navy used them in every theatre including the Baltic, Mediterranean and the Black Sea...
) via the Danube and built several armed barges in the captured Nikolayev Shipyards in Mykolaiv
Mykolaiv
Mykolaiv , also known as Nikolayev , is a city in southern Ukraine, administrative center of the Mykolaiv Oblast. Mykolaiv is the main ship building center of the Black Sea, and, arguably, the whole Eastern Europe.-Name of city:...
.
The Italian Regia Marina
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
(Royal Navy) dispatched a small force to the Black Sea. The force dispatched included six CB class midget submarine
CB class midget submarine
The CB class was a group of midget submarines built for the Italian Navy during World War II.-Design:The boats were designed as coast defence units with diesel electric propulsion. There was a mini conning tower to aid navigation...
s and a flotilla of Torpedo Armed Motorboats
MAS (boat)
Motoscafo Armato Silurante , commonly abbreviated as MAS was a class of fast torpedo armed vessel used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II...
(Motoscafo Armato Silurante, or MAS
MAS (boat)
Motoscafo Armato Silurante , commonly abbreviated as MAS was a class of fast torpedo armed vessel used by the Regia Marina during World War I and World War II...
). The MAS were commanded by Francesco Mimbelli
Francesco Mimbelli
Francesco Mimbelli was an Italian Naval officer who fought in World War II.-Crete:Mimbelli was a commander of a Torpedo boat destroyer flotilla which fought in the Battle of Crete he was responsible for defending a convoy to Crete in the face of superior British forces.-Black Sea:He was also the...
and were based in Yalta
Yalta
Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...
.
Operations in 1941
The Soviets began the war in the Black Sea by a bombardment of ConstanțaConstanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
on 26 June. During this operation, the destroyer leader Moskva was lost to mines while evading fire from coastal batteries. The Black Sea Fleet supplied the besieged garrison in Odessa and evacuated a significant part of the force (86,000 soldiers, 150,000 civilians) at the end of October, but lost the destroyer Frunze and a gunboat to Stuka
Junkers Ju 87
The Junkers Ju 87 or Stuka was a two-man German ground-attack aircraft...
s in the process. The Black Sea Fleet played a valuable part in defeating the initial assault on Sevastopol. In December, there was an amphibious operation against Kerch
Kerch
Kerch is a city on the Kerch Peninsula of eastern Crimea, an important industrial, transport and tourist centre of Ukraine. Kerch, founded 2600 years ago, is considered as one of the most ancient cities in Ukraine.-Ancient times:...
which resulted in the recapture of the Kerch Peninsula. A naval detachment including the cruiser Krasny Krim remained in Sevastopol to give gunfire support. Soviet submarines also raided Axis shipping on the Romanian and Bulgarian coasts, sinking 29000 LT (29,465.5 t) of shipping.
Operations in 1942
Operations in 1942 were dominated by the Siege of Sevastopol. During the winter, Soviet warships including the only battleship Parizhskaya Kommuna provided fire support and supply missions near Sevastopol. The Soviets continued supply missions until 27 June, losses were heavy and included the cruiser Chervonnaya Ukraina, destroyer leader Tashkent and six modern destroyers. The cruiser Voroshilov and destroyers tried to intervene without success in the Battle of the Kerch PeninsulaBattle of the Kerch Peninsula
Battle of the Kerch Peninsula was a World War II offensive by German and Romanian armies against the Soviet Crimean Front forces defending the Kerch Peninsula, in the eastern part of the Crimea. It was launched on 8 May 1942 and concluded around 18 May 1942 with the near complete destruction of...
in May and the Soviets could not prevent a landing across the Kerch strait in the Taman Peninsula in September. The remainder of the Black Sea Fleet evacuated to harbors in the Caucasus which had very limited facilities. Soviet submarines were active in the western part of the Black Sea where they attacked Axis shipping; unfortunately, this included sinking the refugee ships Struma and Cankaya.
Operations in 1943
In 1943, the Black Sea Fleet was reduced to the following ships:- Battleship Sevastopol
- Four cruisers (two Kirov class, Krasniy Krim and Krasniy Kavkaz)
- Destroyer leader Kharkov
- Five modern and three old destroyers
- 29 submarines
All of these ships suffered from poor maintenance due to a lack of facilities.
Operations initially consisted of several offensive operations by the Soviets including the defence of Malaya Zemlya
Malaya Zemlya
Malaya Zemlya was a Soviet uphill outpost on Cape Myskhako that was recaptured after fierce, bloody battles with the Germans during the Battle of Caucasus, on the night of 4 February 1943...
in Novorossiysk
Novorossiysk
Novorossiysk is a city in Krasnodar Krai, Russia. It is the country's main port on the Black Sea and the leading Russian port for importing grain. It is one of the few cities honored with the title of the Hero City. Population: -History:...
and some coastal bombardments and raids.
As the war was going badly for the Axis on other fronts, the Germans began to evacuate the Kuban Bridgehead in September. This was successfully accomplished. Kharkov and two destroyers—Sposobny and Besposchadny—were sunk by Stukas while raiding the Crimea. As a result of this loss, Stalin insisted on personally authorizing the use of any large ships. The Kerch-Eltigen Operation
Kerch-Eltigen Operation
The Kerch–Eltigen Operation was a World War II amphibious offensive made in November 1943 by the Red Army as a precursor to the Crimean Offensive with the object of defeating and forcing the withdrawal of the German forces from the Crimea...
followed in November.
Operations in 1944
By early 1944, the Soviet surface fleet was practically nonoperational due to a poor state of repair. Most of the offensive work was carried out by small vessels and the Soviet Naval air force. The land situation had significantly deteriorated for the Axis. The area around Odessa was liberated in March trapping the Axis forces in the Crimea. The last Axis forces near Sevastopol surrendered on 9 May 1944 and a considerable number of men were evacuated. (See Battle of the Crimea (1944)Battle of the Crimea (1944)
The Crimean Offensive — known in German sources as the Battle of the Crimea — was a series of offensives by the Red Army in the effort to liberate Crimea from the German Wehrmacht occupation...
for details)