When the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union commenced in June 1941, Bulgaria did not declare war on the Soviet Union, nor did it make any contribution to the land invasion. The country however did offer naval support to the Axis, allowing Axis warships to use Bulgarian ports[1] and even use three of its torpedo boats (including Drazki) to escort Romanian warships as they laid mines along the Bulgarian coast in October 1941.[2] These actions made the Bulgarian coast a target for the Soviet Black Sea Fleet.
The engagementedit
The Bulgarian submarine chasers were of the American SC-1 type.
On 1 December 1941, several Soviet submarines, including the Shchuka-classShch-204 (Captain Gricenko), were sent on a patrol along the Axis coastline. On 6 December, Shch-204 was spotted near Cape Emine, 20 miles off Varna, by Bulgarian Arado Ar 196 aircraft. The Bulgarian submarine chasersBelomorets and Chernomorets soon arrived at the scene and together with the aircraft attacked the Soviet submarine with depth charges, soon sinking her with all hands (Shchuka-class submarines had a crew of 38).[3][4][5]
Aftermathedit
The result of this engagement was the most significant Bulgarian naval victory of the Second World War, and Shch-204 was the only Allied submarine sunk by the Bulgarian Navy. Through this victory, the Bulgarian Navy demonstrated its availability and capability of working together with its German and Romanian counterparts in the Black Sea for the defence of Axis coastlines and convoys.[6]
Alternate accountedit
Non-Bulgarian sources describe the loss of Shch-204 due to a mine on the same day (6 December 1941).[7] According to the Russian author M. Morozov, the submarine chasers were located in Burges at the time of the attack, for work on engines. An alternate version of the sinking due to a Romanian mine is also dismissed. Russian sources blame the loss to a German He 59seaplane or to a Bulgarian Ar 196 seaplane.[8]
Referencesedit
^Hayward, Joel S. A. Stopped at Stalingrad: The Luftwaffe and Hitler's Defeat in the East, 1942–1943, University Press of Kansas, 1998
^Donald A Bertke, Gordon Smith, Don Kindell, World War II Sea War, Volume 4: Germany Sends Russia to the Allies, p. 323
^Donald A Bertke, Gordon Smith, Don Kindell, World War II Sea War, Volume 5: Air Raid Pearl Harbor. This Is Not a Drill, p. 63
action, december, 1941, action, december, 1941, confrontation, between, bulgarian, soviet, navies, black, during, world, taking, place, near, bulgarian, coast, cape, emine, part, black, campaigns, 1941, 1944, date6, december, 1941locationcape, emine, miles, va. The action of 6 December 1941 was a confrontation between the Bulgarian and Soviet navies in the Black Sea during World War II taking place near the Bulgarian coast at Cape Emine Action of 6 December 1941Part of the Black Sea campaigns 1941 1944 Date6 December 1941LocationCape Emine 20 miles off Varna BulgariaResultBulgarian victoryBelligerents Bulgaria Soviet UnionCommanders and leadersUnknownCaptain Gricenko Strength2 submarine chasers supported by aircraft1 submarineCasualties and lossesNone1 submarine sunk38 killed Contents 1 Background 2 The engagement 3 Aftermath 4 Alternate account 5 References 6 External linksBackground editWhen the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union commenced in June 1941 Bulgaria did not declare war on the Soviet Union nor did it make any contribution to the land invasion The country however did offer naval support to the Axis allowing Axis warships to use Bulgarian ports 1 and even use three of its torpedo boats including Drazki to escort Romanian warships as they laid mines along the Bulgarian coast in October 1941 2 These actions made the Bulgarian coast a target for the Soviet Black Sea Fleet The engagement edit nbsp The Bulgarian submarine chasers were of the American SC 1 type On 1 December 1941 several Soviet submarines including the Shchuka class Shch 204 Captain Gricenko were sent on a patrol along the Axis coastline On 6 December Shch 204 was spotted near Cape Emine 20 miles off Varna by Bulgarian Arado Ar 196 aircraft The Bulgarian submarine chasers Belomorets and Chernomorets soon arrived at the scene and together with the aircraft attacked the Soviet submarine with depth charges soon sinking her with all hands Shchuka class submarines had a crew of 38 3 4 5 Aftermath editThe result of this engagement was the most significant Bulgarian naval victory of the Second World War and Shch 204 was the only Allied submarine sunk by the Bulgarian Navy Through this victory the Bulgarian Navy demonstrated its availability and capability of working together with its German and Romanian counterparts in the Black Sea for the defence of Axis coastlines and convoys 6 Alternate account editNon Bulgarian sources describe the loss of Shch 204 due to a mine on the same day 6 December 1941 7 According to the Russian author M Morozov the submarine chasers were located in Burges at the time of the attack for work on engines An alternate version of the sinking due to a Romanian mine is also dismissed Russian sources blame the loss to a German He 59 seaplane or to a Bulgarian Ar 196 seaplane 8 References edit Hayward Joel S A Stopped at Stalingrad The Luftwaffe and Hitler s Defeat in the East 1942 1943 University Press of Kansas 1998 Donald A Bertke Gordon Smith Don Kindell World War II Sea War Volume 4 Germany Sends Russia to the Allies p 323 Donald A Bertke Gordon Smith Don Kindell World War II Sea War Volume 5 Air Raid Pearl Harbor This Is Not a Drill p 63 Antony Preston Warship 2001 2002 p 88 Mikhail Monakov Jurgen Rohwer Stalin s Ocean going Fleet Soviet Naval Strategy and Shipbuilding Programs 1935 1953 p 265 Antony Preston Warship 2001 2002 p 88 1 ShCh 204 on uboat net 2 ShCh 204 on sovboat ruExternal links editShch 204 on wrecksite eu Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Action of 6 December 1941 amp oldid 1122412741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
