Axis losses on 11.5.1944 off Chersones

[Miroslav Morozov]

Hello, friends!

I try to make order with the soviet air attacks – claims on 11.5.44 off Chersones. The soviet side made during the day 23 air strikes only by the naval aviation and some by 8th air army planes. Does somebody help me with any details about damages and sinkings of the vessels?
1. Romania – Esteemed Victor wrote that the ship took damage on 07.52. What kind of planes did this?
2. Danubius – As I know the ship with the cargo of ammo blew up after a bomb hit about 07.53. Is this correct?
3. Tisza – Received a bomb hit on the morning, might be a 50-kg HE bomb from U-2 night bomber. Can somebody help me with the correct time and the details of the damage?
4. Regele Ferdinand – By the soviet dates the ship of that type was damaged by a group of Il-2 about 10.35. Is this correct?
5. Helga – The ship received some bomb hits during all day, about 10.00 was abandoned by the crew, sunk on the shallows latter.
6. Uj-110 – Probably damaged by strafing from A-20s on 14.48.
Did I forget about somewhat?
Thank you in advance.

Miroslav Morozov (Moscow)

[Victor]

1. Romania was hit by bombs, but the type of bomber is not specified. In that very critical situation it was probably the last thing to be noted. One thing is certain. They were not torpedo-bombers.
2. I found a mention of it being hit at 08:00
3. Between 13:30 and 17:30 the Tisza escorted by NMS Stihi, one R-boot and 4 MFPs was attacked two times. First by several aircraft, which did not achieve anything and then by two waves of aircraft, which managed to hit the Hungarian ship. It was towed by an R-boot from the Dacia convoy. An ensign on the NMS Regina Maria, which passed by the Tisza in the other direction, mentioned that they first spotted the damaged cargo at 16:12 after it was attacked by the formation of six aircraft they saw earlier. So I guess it was hit sometime before that, probably between 15:30 and 16:00
4. I found a mention of Regele Ferdinand being hit by splinters from bombs at 08:00. It had 10 dead and several wounded from the soldiers being evacuated. Around 10:30 it was bit by a bomb below the water line, which did not explode. However, it punctured one of the fuel tanks. Fortunately it ran out of fuel close to Constanta and was towed into the harbor.
5. Helga was hit by bombs at 10:10
6. I could not find a mention of the hour when it was damaged

The Geisereich was also hit by bombs that day, but I do not know the hour.

[Miroslav Morozov]

Hello, Victor!

Many thanks for the information.
By my research Danubius and Romania were hit by 5 Il-4 (made the attack on 07.44) or 6 Il-2 (07.53), Regele Ferdinand by 13 Il-2 (10.35), Tisza probably by 4 Pe-2 (15.00), Geisereich by 5 Il-4 (15.40).
Do you know the kind of Tisza damages?

Regards,
Miroslav

[Victor]

No, I do not know the damages the Tisza suffered. Ask Csaba Becze by PM. He said he published an article about the Hungarian ships in the Black Sea during WWII.