German Naval Air Defense results in open water

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Thorsten Wahl
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Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:17 pm

German Naval Air Defense results in open water

Post by Thorsten Wahl »

Recently I have collected some data on the performance of german naval air defense
Here are the information collected (from primary documents; war diaries and special reports)

Utsira 21 th June 1940
Scharnhorst
4 waves
a) first wave 16:05 - 6 Swordfish with torpedoes
3 crashes observed(therof 2 proof) several damaged
all torpedoes missed

b) second wave 16:30 combined high and low altitude bombing attack 5 Bomber
2 crashes observed (all proof) second crash several hits by 10,5 and 3,7 cm in addition assistance by own CAP

c) third wave 17:05 combined high and low altitude bombing attack 9 Bomber in three formations
2 crashes observed by 10,5 and 3,7 cm in additon assistance by own CAP

d) fourth wave high altitude attack from above the clouds barrage fire no hits observed

ammunition expenditure
906 X 10,5 cm
1256 X 3,7 cm
2385 X 2 cm

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Tirpitz and fifth destroyer flotilla (Ihn, Schoemann and Z 25)
venture towards Bear island 6th to 9th march 1942
9 th march 0800 clear view, cloud cover decreases
contact holder aircraft detected no aircraft cover for Tirpitz available
full ahead to the Vestfjord (distance about 50 nautical miles)
one reconnaissance plane started
only one destroyer(Ihn) available as AA cover

at around 0930 detection of about 20 torpedo carrying aircraft heading towards Tirpitz by recon plane
From 1015 - 1024 repeated approaches of several swarms of aircraft (three to six each) total count 25 aircraft
3 aircraft shot down several damaged

ammunition expenditure
15 cm X 33 (barrage fire)
10,5 cm X 345
3,7 cm X 897
2,0 cm X 3372

additional 1 aircraft shot down by destroyer

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Prinz Eugen during "Zauberflöte" (Return of the cruiser after torpedohit in the stern) accompanied by the destroyers Paul Jacobi and Z25 and the torpedoboats T11 and T12, about 50 nautical miles westward from Kristiansand on 17 th May 1942
own CAP by six Me 109
combined attack of more than 30 aircraft
approach of the enemy was directed by aircraft search radar, these radar emissions had been detected above visual limits with passive detectors at ranges above 50 km

1915 radio message attack order for seven enemy squadrons intercepted by B-Dienst
1957 shooting down of a contact holder by CAP
1958 approach of a single aircraft
~2008 large number of low flying aircraft at 40 km visual distance detected, they were approaching in a triple dwars line about 800 m long composition mixed torpedo and bombing aircraft
~2016 distance 20 km split of formation for a pincerattack
speed of attacking aircraft (85m/s - 120m/s)

2021 aircraft downed by 10,5 cm
2022 aircraft downed by 10,5 cm
2023 aircraft downed by 10,5 cm own CAP also attacks the same target
2024 aircraft downed by 3,7 and 2,0 cm
2024 aircraft downed by 10,5 cm
2028 attack over
around 2028 aircraft downed by board aircraft

ammunition expenditure Prinz Eugen
4 x 20,3 cm barrage fire
361 x 10,5 cm
486 x 3,7 cm
2082 x 2,0 cm

the report mentions that the heavy AA performed as usual (including Firecontrolequipment)
little effect visible for light AA hits noted

T12 reports two aircraft downed

PS Results of the channel dash will follow
further response on british accounts are very welcome
Meine Herren, es kann ein siebenjähriger, es kann ein dreißigjähriger Krieg werden – und wehe dem, der zuerst die Lunte in das Pulverfaß schleudert!
dunmunro
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Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:25 am
Location: Langley BC Canada

Re: German Naval Air Defense results in open water

Post by dunmunro »

Thanks for that info - very interesting.
Thorsten Wahl
Senior Member
Posts: 919
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:17 pm

Re: German Naval Air Defense results in open water

Post by Thorsten Wahl »

Prinz Eugen during Channel dash "Operation Cerberus"
1200 whether
wind south-west 5
sea state 2-3
cloudy
visibility to the east 3-5 nautical miles to the british coast about 8 - 10 nautical miles

1344 four aircraft from aft 10,5 cm opens fire
until 1348 three torpedoaircraft (swordfish) shot down ammunition expenditure 10,5 x 50 under central firecontrol
open fire at 90 hm stop fire at 50 hm

visibility conditions becam worser
1455 several two and four engined bombing aircraft approaching, CAP downed 1 aircraft bombs fall far
1511 six Spitfire fought by CAP
1520 two bomber fly over ship L-Flak and S-Flak opens fire several hits observed one aircraft shot down additionally own CAP at the enemy, ammunition expenditure 10,5 x 21
1530 detonation on Scharnhorst ship stopped
1542 airwarning many bombers from westerly directions
1602 Scharnhorst back on track southerly course
1608 one Spitfire as contact holder
since 1612 rain very low visibility
1615 one bomber L-Flak fire
1638 Scharnhorst hits mine
1641 bomber detected S Flak fires
1648 enemy ships detected one cruiser three destroyers
ammunition expenditure 20,3 x 110 two ships hit one in sinking condition extremly worse visibility
1710 bomber astern is shot
1718 bomber sightet
1725 several bombers sighted
1736 several bomber sighted
1739 bomber sighted
1742 bomb impact 500 m away
1745 bomb impact 1000m away
1746 bomber sighted series of 6 bombs thrown 50 - 150 m away L flaks fires several hits observed
1752 bomber sighted S and L flak fires severel small hits bomber downed
1754 bomber sighted
1758 Bmber sighted
1800 rain low clouds visibility less then 2 nautical miles
1851 bomber sighted
1853 bomb impacts nearby
1920 aircraft about the ship detected
1922 nightfall


dissatisfied with effect of 2 cm AA on several aircrafts, series of hits observed but without result
Meine Herren, es kann ein siebenjähriger, es kann ein dreißigjähriger Krieg werden – und wehe dem, der zuerst die Lunte in das Pulverfaß schleudert!
dunmunro
Senior Member
Posts: 4394
Joined: Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:25 am
Location: Langley BC Canada

Re: German Naval Air Defense results in open water

Post by dunmunro »

It would be great to also correlate this data against Luftwaffe fighter claims and with RAF/FAA losses.
Thorsten Wahl
Senior Member
Posts: 919
Joined: Mon Apr 27, 2009 4:17 pm

Re: German Naval Air Defense results in open water

Post by Thorsten Wahl »

indeed

addition to the event at
1344
four aircraft from aft 10,5 cm opens fire
until 1348 three torpedoaircraft (swordfish) shot down ammunition expenditure 10,5 x 50 under central firecontrol
open fire at 90 hm stop fire at 50 hm
one fighter shows smoke trail hit probably by other ship or CAP
Meine Herren, es kann ein siebenjähriger, es kann ein dreißigjähriger Krieg werden – und wehe dem, der zuerst die Lunte in das Pulverfaß schleudert!
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