BATTLE OF BALTIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 7

BATTLE OF BALTIC

SOVIET "SEAHUNTERS" fa' NO RESPITE FORfTHE HUNS (By A. DMITRIEV) MOSCOW. In the Baltic Sea one day recently two Soviet patrol boats sighted five enemy vessels on the horizon, and although they were outnumbered better than two to one the Soviet ships decided to attack. The leading enemy boat, scared by the determined attack of the Soviet "seahunters," turned tail and ran for its own coast Two others suffered direct hits from Russian shells and ceased fire; the remaining two fled. The daring Soviet vessels suffered no injury as a result of the action. While the above encounter was being staged, two more "seahunters," patrolling the waters in the Gulf of Finland, sighted four enemy patrol boats in the distance making for the Russian coast. After a fierce 40minute struggle the German boats were driven off. This was the beginning of a normal night's activities on the Baltic Sea, where the fighting goes on uninterruptedly, giving the Baltic sailors, marines and airmen only rare intervals of respite. The Avar has wiped out the boundary between day and night. Here is a short report of the activities of one of the most ordinary days in this sector of the Baltic front. In Ring of Exploding Shells The anti-aircraft gunners on Commander Tarshklevich's ship, keeping a sharp lookout on the horizon, suddenly spied a group of Junkers 88's on their way to bomb Soviet military targets. The alarm was sounded and the guns were turned on the Nazi raiders. When the Junkers were adopting their formation in preparation for the bombing attack they suddenly found themselves inside a ring of exploding shells. Smoke began to pour out of one of the raiders, and shortly it burst into flames and fell into the sea. The others immediately scattered in different directions. Later a large formation of Messerschmitts appeared over the horizon, and Soviet Baltic airmen took to the skies to intercept it. One Russian plane, manned by Captain Romanov and Sergeant Chernyshev, accounted for three of the Messerschmitts, while his fellow airmen bagged three more and sent the rest scattering. At the same time, one group of Soviet bombers carried out a raid on the Bay of "S," while another formation attacked important railway junctions of "L" and "K." In still another assault the famous airmen i of guards, Colonel Preobrazhensky J s unit (they were the first Soviet flyers to raid Berlin) dealt Nazi aerodromes a number of blows despite the heavy ack-ack of ground defences. Meanwhile, Soviet marines launched an attack which invited heavy German shelling in an effort to stop the charge. However, naval gunners cleared the way for the marines to advance by silencing several Nazi artillery and mortar batteries. One German shell.started a fire on the canvas sheet covering an ammunition stack, but the Russians quickly extinguished the blaze, and prevented the dump from blowing up. Soviet Submarine Efßciency In another sector the Nazis set up a three-gun battery not far from the Soviet defences, but a Russian's ship's gunners, shooting like snipers, wiped out the battery. German losses that one day in the Baltic Sea were very high. A 7000ton transport was torpedoed by a Russian vessel commanded by Captain Melnikov, and a short time later a 12,000-ton Nazi transport was sent to the bottom. Commanders and crews of Soviet submarines are the favourites of the Baltic fleet. There is no limit to the courage and endurance of these men, who are so modest about their exploits. At a friendly get-together as guests on board a destroyer, sailors of Submarine SH-320, commanded by Captain Ivan Vishnevsky, wearer of the Order of the Red Banner, told their comrades that on one trip they had been attacked by German bombers, patrol boats and destroyers, but nevertheless had beaten them off and sank three transports totalling 20.000 tons. "I had every confidence in my men and equipment," said Captain Vishnevsky. "I knew the risk I was taking, for after an attack at close quarters a submarine is in a dangerous situation. Still I knew that the crew of my submarine could take to the depths in one-quarter of the time officially laid down. Faith in our own strength and endurance and a desire to take vengeance on the enemy ensured us victory. _ These are the events of just one day in the life of a Baltic sailor — Auckland Star and N.A.N.A.