Availability of the Russian tanker Kreml present in the Black Sea in mid November 1942

In a memorandum dated Berlin, Germany 24 November 1942 of the Oberkommando der Kriegsmarine 3. Abteilung Seekriegsleistung was the Soviet merchant fleet in the Black Sea described. The majour source used for the memorandum were interrogations of prisoners of war. It became clear that in the Russian Black Sea harbours just 26 cargo ships with a total tonnage of 69,656 gross registers tons and 9 tankers with a total gross register tonnage of 45,790 ton were lying. Of this ships were however no more as 7 cargo ships (totally 18,998 BRT) and 3 tankers (14,45 BRT) available for tasks, the other ships were too damaged and regarded the present time not expected to be repaired on short notice.

Kreml, 7,661 tonsgross register tonnage, lying at Batum, Georgia, Damaged. (1)

Note

1. Call sign UOWD, gross tonnage 7,761, under deck 6,784 ton, net tonnage 4,111 ton, built by States Shipbuilding Yard Marti, Nikolaev, Ukraine, dimensions 446.0 x 56.1 x 34.2 feet. Homeport Tuapse.

Sources

Bundesarchiv RM45-V-85.

Lloyds Register 1939.