German Naval Air Defense results in open water
Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2015 10:28 am
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
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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