Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
Laugh Hard and Often.
Gary
Gary
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
Very very cool Curly.
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
I thought so too Ketch, what at time capsule, wish we knew the story behind the sinking.
Laugh Hard and Often.
Gary
Gary
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
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.
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
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."
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
Gary
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
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.
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
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
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
Gary
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
Wish I had all that.
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
They could have been ferrying wounded or replacements that included an officer.
Laugh Hard and Often.
Gary
Gary
Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
I had not thought of that, good point.
Close enough for Government work will get you dead, ask any Vet.
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Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
Seems like a very valid reason. Yup, that might be it.
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Re: Patrol Boat BK-31 recovered in Stalingrad
Curly,
Great post on the BK-31 patrol boat, pics really neat!
Great post on the BK-31 patrol boat, pics really neat!