Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Non-firearms open discussion.
Post Reply
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Curly1 »

Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
Ketchman
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 1144
Joined: December 24th, 2011, 4:36 pm
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Ketchman »

Very very cool Curly.
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Curly1 »

I thought so too Ketch, what at time capsule, wish we knew the story behind the sinking.
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
Ketchman
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 1144
Joined: December 24th, 2011, 4:36 pm
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Ketchman »

If those guns could only talk. Looked like a hell of a fight.
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Curly1 »

A member on the gunboards posted a translation of part of the vid in the link.

Little history lesson starts at 3.03:
"There were total 7 such armored boats made. It was Project S-40. They were equipped with two 500 hp engines. Highly maneuverable with low water displacement. Construction of this particular vessel BK-31 started in Zelenodolsk in 1941 and by spring 1942 it was launched into water. However its trip was very short. Already in October 1942 it was met by heavy German artillery shelling and sank not far from Krasnoslobodsk. Judging by everything found on the boat the crew was fighting fearlessly until the end trying to save the vessel along with the wounded.
Following the sequence of events we can certainly say that the captain got killed among the first ones while being in the deck house along with two other crew members who were returning fire at the time. When the artillery shell hit the deck house the vessel was in full ahead position. Explosion threw the captain thru the hatch down to the engine room. That's were his remains were found. It's believed that the remains found in the engine room belong to be a captain since next to the remains was found a nagant revolver and captain was the only one who was allowed to have a handgun on the vessel. Also that's were the remains of captain's uniform were found."
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
Ketchman
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 1144
Joined: December 24th, 2011, 4:36 pm
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Ketchman »

Very interesting translate. However I thought I remembered seeing a TT33 along with 7.62x25 ammo pictured as being recovered in which case El Capitan had not the only sidearm on the boat !
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Curly1 »

Additionl info posted on GB


The boat had 11 rifles, 8 PPSH, 1 DT machine gun, 60 hand granades and thousands rounds of ammo. That's what they found when the vessel was lifted up. No wonder they gave hell to Germans
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
Ketchman
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 1144
Joined: December 24th, 2011, 4:36 pm
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Ketchman »

Wish I had all that. :roll:
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
User avatar
Curly1
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 2529
Joined: September 20th, 2011, 11:35 pm
Location: Upstate NY

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Curly1 »

Ketchman wrote: December 15th, 2017, 5:16 pm Very interesting translate. However I thought I remembered seeing a TT33 along with 7.62x25 ammo pictured as being recovered in which case El Capitan had not the only sidearm on the boat !

They could have been ferrying wounded or replacements that included an officer.
Laugh Hard and Often.

Gary
Ketchman
Elite member
Elite member
Posts: 1144
Joined: December 24th, 2011, 4:36 pm
Location: Wyoming, USA

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by Ketchman »

I had not thought of that, good point.
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
ReyBrentwood
Junior member
Posts: 15
Joined: December 7th, 2017, 6:18 am
Location: Tampa, Florida

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by ReyBrentwood »

Curly1 wrote: December 16th, 2017, 2:41 pm
Ketchman wrote: December 15th, 2017, 5:16 pm Very interesting translate. However I thought I remembered seeing a TT33 along with 7.62x25 ammo pictured as being recovered in which case El Capitan had not the only sidearm on the boat !

They could have been ferrying wounded or replacements that included an officer.
Seems like a very valid reason. Yup, that might be it.
Firearm Beginner and Photographer at Petstreetmall, we're your pet supplies experts.
User avatar
papabear
Global moderator
Global moderator
Posts: 2080
Joined: January 22nd, 2006, 1:16 am
Location: Madisonville, Kentucky

Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad

Post by papabear »

Curly,
Great post on the BK-31 patrol boat, pics really neat!
Post Reply