Schnellboote in Sicily July-August 1943

[Platon Alexiades]

Hello,

I am interested in operations of the Sicilian Campaign. Unfortunately, I do not have access to the KTBs of 3rd and 7th Schnellboot Flotillas for this period. I know that seven boats of the 3rd Flotilla sailed from Porto Empedocle at 2245 hours on 9 July but could not get through to attack the Allied beachheads and had to withdraw to Palermo. Can anyone please identify the seven boats and how far did they go toward the beachheads before turning back?

Many thanks,

Platon

[Zerstörerfahrer]

Hallo Platon,

Aufgabe der 3- S-Flottille war es, am 09.07. um 22.45 Uhr aus Porto Empedocle auszulaufen und nach Augusta durchzubrechen. Auf diesem Weg sollten auftretende Feindstreitkräfte angriffen werden. Vor der Licata-Bucht traten starke MGB-Verbände auf, vor denen kehrt gemacht und der Durchbruch nach Westen angetreten wurden.
Beteiligt waren S 30, S 33, S 36, S 54, S 55, S 58 und S 61.

Grüße
René

[Platon Alexiades]

Hello René,

Many thanks for the quick answer. Regarding the 7th Flotilla: I have S 151, S 152, S 153, S 154, S 155, S 156 operating in Sicily at the time. I believe they sailed from Cagliari for Messina on 10 July 1943 but I am not sure of exactly when and if all six boats were involved. S 157 and S 158 were not operational? 3rd and 7th Flotilla sailed together from Messina at 2230 hours on 11 July and went as far south as CN 3255.

Although boats from both flotillas operated in Sicilian waters in July-August 1943, claiming several torpedo hits, do you have any confirmation of a success?

Best regards,

Platon

[Zerstörerfahrer]

Hallo Platon,

mir liegt kein KTB der 7. S-Flottille für diesen Zeitraum vor.
Aber unser Mitglied Urs hat für die Schnellboote eine wirklich umfassende Datenbank angelegt. Dort kannst du in den einzelnen Lebensläufen die benötigten Infos finden. Siehe hier: https://historisches-marinearchiv.de/projekte/s_boote/beschreibung.php
Oben findest du den Link zu den Lebensläufen und die Datenbank über die Erfolge der S-Boote, diese kann auch nach Monat, Jahr und Kriegschauplatz gefiltert werden.

Grüße
René

[Darius]

Hallo zusammen,

ich bin mal Teile von DEFE3/607 + 608 durchgegangen und habe paar Schnippel zu den S-Booten ausgeschnitten.
Evtl. nichts Neues.




Darius

[Darius]

2. Teil:




Darius

[Darius]

3. Teil:




Darius

[Darius]

4. Teil:




Darius

[Darius]

5. und Rest:




Darius

[Platon Alexiades]

Hello René and Darius,

Many thanks to you both for your input. It is a pity that the 7th Flotilla KTB is lost for this period. I will try to contribute to the Schnellboote pages in the future. Darius: special thanks for the DEFE3 extracts which you have assembled. I hope I can return the favour some time.

Best regards,

Platon

[Darius]

I hope I can return the favour some time.

Do ut des




Darius

[Urs Heßling]

hi, Platon,

how far did they go toward the beachheads before turning back?

According to the KTB, the boats turned around in naval grid CN 3145, i.e. south-west of Licata

greetings, Urs

[Urs Heßling]

hi, Platon,

3rd and 7th Flotilla sailed together from Messina at 2230 hours on 11 July and went as far south as CN 3255.

No.
3rd flotilla entered Salerno 11/2230 for loading of torpedoes.
The operation must have taken place in the night 12/13 July.
KTB 3rd flotilla refers to KTB 7th flotilla (regrettably not available) for description of that action, as SO 7th flotilla was the Senior officer in tactical command
Participating boats
- 3rd flotilla: 3 boats, S 30, S 36, S 55 (all others inoperable)
- 7th flotilla: 4 boats, S 151, S 152, S 154 (damaged in action). S 155

Regarding the 7th Flotilla: I have S 151, S 152, S 153, S 154, S 155, S 156 operating in Sicily at the time.

It is a pity that the 7th Flotilla KTB is lost for this period.

There`s, however, just one page from the technical diary (KTB Maschine). It lists for the 2nd peroid (half) of July, 1943, the following boats as inoperable (aKB)
- S 153, Toulon, since 29.04.43, Shipyard maintenance (Werftliegezeit)
- S 156, Toulon, since 05.07.43, Shipyard maintenance (Werftliegezeit)
- S 158, Toulon, since 22.06.43, Shipyard maintenance (Werftliegezeit)
and
- S 157, Toulon, since 18.07.43, Shipyard maintenance (Werftliegezeit)
- S 151, Toulon, since 16.07.43, Shipyard maintenance (Werftliegezeit)
- S 154, Toulon, 16.07 - 23.07, repairs
Fully operational:
- S 152
- S 155
- S 154 (since 23.07)

greetings, Urs

[Platon Alexiades]

Hello Urs,

Many thanks for your answer.

You mention 3rd Flotilla arriving at Salerno at 2200/11. Is this from the KTB of 3rd Flotilla? Darius (see his post page 453) seems to indicate that four boats (S 30, S 36. S 55 and S 58) arrived at 1045/11. Is this an error in translation of the ULTRA message?

It is quite difficult to reconcile all the movements from different sources!

Best regards,

Platon

[Urs Heßling]

hi, Platon,

You mention 3rd Flotilla arriving at Salerno at 2200/11. Is this from the KTB of 3rd Flotilla?

yes, it is, a copy from BA/MA at Freiburg

Darius (see his post page 453) seems to indicate that four boats (S 30, S 36. S 55 and S 58) arrived at 1045/11. Is this an error in translation of the ULTRA message?

No, it is correct
The four boats arrived at Salerno 11/1045. S 58 was then declared non-operational (aKB) due to failure of the starboard engine.
As there was no fuel available at Salerno, S 30, S 36. and S 55 departed 11/1230 and went to Naples to refuel (1600-2030). The boats left Naples 11/2030 and were back at Salerno at 11/2230

It is quite difficult to reconcile all the movements from different sources!

just see, i.e., the vita of S 55
I tried (!) to cover all the movements ...

greetings, Urs