Lfd. Nr.: 7325
| Seegebiet: | Ostsee |
| Datum / Zeit: | 22./23./24.05.1943 |
| Ort des Gefechts: | bei Lavansaari |
| Angreifer: | MO-207. MO 303 |
| Gefechtsbericht A: | 23 May 1943: A group of Finnish patrol boats attacked the Soviet MO-207 (OLt. N. Kaplunov) and MO-303 (Lt. V. Tityakov), both MO-4 class. Despite being outnumbered, the Soviets managed to break the attack, even if on MO-207 the commander was killed and 3 sailors wounded. Finnish suffered damage on their flag-ship VMV-17, suffering 1 killed and 1 wounded. (Old soviet sources wrongly claimed the sinking of Finnish motor torpedo boat Raju. Finnish sources wrongly claim the sinking of 2 Soviet patrol boats.) [1] |
| erkannte Gegner: | finnische Patroullenboote |
| alliierte Erfolge: | VMV-17 beschädigt |
| alliierte Verluste: | keine |
| tatsächliche Gegner: | VMV-8, VMV-9, VMV-10, VMV-11, VMV-17 |
| Gefechtsbericht B: | VMV 17 belonged to the Escort Flotilla during the Winter War and to the Motor Torpedo Boat Flotilla, and the 1st and 2nd Patrol Flotillas during the Continuation War. She was damaged by Soviet vessels MO207 and MO303 with gunfire on 22 May 1943, while on patrol. Two men were killed and one wounded, however she managed to not sink [2] -- MO-303 [lieutenant V. Tityakov] and MO-207 [senior lieutenant N. Kaplunov] performed patrol mission between Kronstadt-Lavansaari during the night 24.05.1943, providing guard for convoy and submarine Shch-406, which should run soon. Suddenly 5 enemy motor-boats were detected, and 2 Soviet patrol motor-boats stopped their engines to remain invisible. When the distance decreased up to 20-25 cables both "MO" gave the full speed and opened fire; 45mm shell from nose gun of MO-207 hit the stern of one enemy motor-boat and it abandoned combat order. Suddenly 8 more enemy motor-boats were detected 2-3 cables from the first group. Two Soviet patrol motor-boats "MO" had the combat with the first group [5 enemy motor-boats] from the distance 50-80 m, firing with 45mm guns and MGs. Enemy motor-boats replied with strong fire - several 20mm shells hit MO-303 and its steersman tried to ram closest enemy target, nose 45mm gun of MO-303 fired 2 shells from the very close distance. That enemy motor-boat tried to disappear at smokescreen. The first group [5 motor-boats] separated and 2 "MO" attacked the 2nd enemy group [8 motor-boats]. MO-207 was damaged by several hits from 20mm shells [which also damaged 45mm gun], steersman A. Ivchenko was killed but lieutenant I. Lobanovsky [second in command] took his place. DShK gunner T. Bazhenov was wounded in the legs but he loaded cartridge belts for the 2nd DShK of gunner A. Frolov. One enemy patrol boat noticed the decrease of fire from MO-207 and tried to decrease the distance, but Soviet artillerymen could make one shot from damage 45mm gun from close distance anf hit deck-house of enemy motor-boat, which stopped. All other enemy motor-boats began to press both "MO" towards north coast where enemy coastal batteries could open fire. M)-207 was hit by additional 20mm shells - its commander N. Kaplunov was killed and second in command I. Lobanovsky was heavily wounded [lost his leg], engine compartment was damaged. MO-303 was also heavily damaged - wounded crewmembers and destroyed nose 45mm gun. Both Soviet patrol boats made the last attempt to attack and could break through the combat order of enemy motor-boats, the shell from rear gun of MO-303 could hit the fuel tank of enemy motor-boat during that attack. Independently both heavily damaged MO [almost all survived crewmembers were heavily wounded] could return back to their base - during 30 min combats with 13 enemy motor-boats one of them was sank [Finnish MTB "Raju"] and another [patrol boat] was heavily damaged" [3]. |
| Ausgewertete Quellen: | 1) http://wio.ru/fleet/mo.htm ; 2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VMV-class_patrol_boat ; 3) https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=1061216 (Link) ; |
| Letzte Änderung: | 28.06.2025 |