Rannikkolaivaston Esikunta, Sotapäiväkirja 4.9.1939-13.3.1940

War Diary of the Coastal Fleet Headquarters 4.9.1939-13.3.1940

This War Diary is translated from the digitized copies in National archives digital archive. The Number of the War Diary is SPK 2847. The notes are presented in chronological order, which is not exactly the same as in the archives. Some notes that could not be read clearly have been left away.

November 1939

Date Time Incidents, orders given and received, despatches, actions Method for delivering order, receiver
1.11.39 06.15 Uusimaa departed from Föglö.
07.00 Submarine Vetehinen departed from anchorage.
08.20 Louhi departed from Lohmi.
09.30 Vetehinen arrived in Turku.
09.55 Mineship Louhi arrived in anchorage.
10.00 Meeting of headquarters officers, where all branches were ordered to proceed with change of anchorage.
15.40 Gunboat Turunmaa arrived in Helsinki.
17.23 1 Kirov class ship came in sight in grid square 2043, course east, speed 26 knots.
18.00 Order to move anchorage to Högsåra distributed, execution will be ordered later.
02.11.39 07.50 M.l. Poseidon will continue voyage at 01.15 from Nyhamn.
08.55 March order for Coastal Fleet at 11.00
08.55 M.l. Poseidon arrived in anchorage.
09.15 (Picked up message from Jurmo) 3 unknown sweepers or guard vessels came in sight southeast from Utö at 07.45, course northwest.
09.30 (Picked up) vessels in previous message are Finnish.
11.00 Coastal Fleet departed.
11.55 Jurmo hears humming sound at 11.13 (Picked up).
13.50 Air alarm given in Maarianhamina.
16.45 Anchored in Högsåra, where depot ship Suomen Joutsen had arrived at 15.30 in tow of tug Primus. Gunboat Hämeenmaa positioned to guard winter lane of Vänö.
18.30 Submarine Vetehinen arrived in anchorage.
19.00 Mine sweeper flotilla arrived in anchorage.
20.30 Turunmaa reported that it has tied up in Lappohja.
21.00 Gunboat Uusimaa arrived in anchorage.
21.15 Submarine Ikuturso departed at 20.00 from Turku.
03.11.38 01.00 Submarine Ikuturso arrived in anchorage.
07.00 ML Poseidon passed Coastal Fleet on its way to east.
13.30 Hämeenmaa has raised anchor.
13.45 Hämeenmaa anchored to mouth of Sedersund.
13.55 A signal from Borstö was heard; In bearing 250o shooting with heavy artillery.
15.10 Unknown destroyer came in sight near Flötjan on Swedish territorial waters at 13.35.
15.12 Hästö-Busö close guard boat heard light artillery fire at 13.40.
16.08 Tug Harmaja departed at 14.30 to Hanko.
04.11.39 15.00 VMV 17 arrived in Högsåra anchorage.
05.11.39 16.30 Turunmaa departed from Lappohja to Helsinki.
22.30 Turunmaa arrived in Helsinki.
06.11.39 07.30 VMV 9 arrived in anchorage.
13.00 Commander of Patrol boat flotilla reported that VMV 9 had touched ground near Fungskär 5.11. at 23.00. A small leak was found. Boat was sent to Turku. Phone message about the incident was sent to MeVE.
22.50 A log barge arrived from Turku.
07.11.39 08.30 Rautu departed to Taalintehdas.
10.10 Rautu signalled: Tied up in Taalintehdas at 09.35.
11.30 Jurmo signalled air alarm, direction was not determined.
12.20 Gunboat Hämeenmaa departed from anchorage.
13.55 Rautu arrived in anchorage and touched ground. No damages.
14.20 Signal controller informed that German training ship has stopped merchantmen in grid square 8345 at 14.20.
09.11.39 08.03 Louhi departed from Lohmi at 07.30.
10.35 Louhi arrived in anchorage.
12.00 VMV 9 departed from Turku.
16.30 Louhi moved away from anchorage.
16.30 VMV 9 arrived in anchorage.
16.40 Submarine Vetehinen arrived in anchorage.
10.11.39 07.10 Mineship Louhi departed from anchorage.
10.00 VLv amd PLv departed for exercises in Hanko area.
15.00 Anchored off Dynamite Factory.
15.45 Discussion with Hanko Sector about setting of logs in Lappohja roadstead.
11.10.39 09.00 Coastal Fleet departed from Furunäs and sailed route Tulliniemi, Russarö, Morgonlandet, Örö, Högsåra. On the route formation practices and testing of light artillery weapons.
14.10 Coastal Fleet arrived in Högsåra.
12.11.39 12.30-
12.40		 3 air warnings from Turku radio station. All originally from Kotka Sector.
13.11.39 07.00 From Ilmarinen was seen that ammunition barge had become free because of wind and drifted to west shore of Kasnäs. Tug Porin Karhu towed barge back to inner anchorage. No damages were seen.
11.35 Lt-cmd. Hollming from Turku sent information given by Nauvo police chief that coal barge of Coastal Fleet located in Nauvo has drifted 100 m but there is no danger and no damages has happened.
14.00 VMV 17 arrived in Turku.
15.20 Turunmaa departed from Helsinki to Kotka.
17.00 Sweeper Kiiski arrived from Turku.
18.20 Turunmaa tied up in Emäsalo.
21.37 Radio message from Helsinki Naval Base: By the command of Naval Headquarters all reservists who came in in September will be given permission. Permission is not obligatory. Change of men going to permission and new men will be done in Turku. Asking need of personnel of different branches in all units and time table of change.
14.11.39 08.10 Sweeper Kuore departed to Turku.
08.10 Turunmaa departed from Emäsalo to Kotka.
12.00 Porin Karhu departed to Turku.
12.45 Turunmaa arrived in Kotka.
15.30 VMV 9 arrived in anchorage.
17.00 Escort Aura has departed from Helsinki to Turku at 15.10.
17.30 Nauvo police chief Fager reported that coal barge P52 in Nauvo had drifted 13.11.39 to shore. So far no damages have been noticed.
16.11.39 08.00 Coast defence ship Ilmarinen, gunboat Uusimaa, sweeper Rautu, Primus and 3 A-boats departed from anchorage to Turku for crew change and supply and mounting of machine guns for A-boats and Primus.
11.55 Gunboat Turunmaa departed from Kotka to Kirkkomaansaari.
12.15 Gunboat Uusimaa arived in Turku.
12.30 Coast defence ship Ilmarinen, sweeper Rautu and 3 A-boats arrived in Turku.
14.45 Gunboat Turunmaa arrived in Kirkkomaansaari.
Tug Primus arrived in Turku.
17.11.39 10.00 Turunmaa departed from Kirkkomaansaari to Kotka.
13.40 Sweeper Rautu departed from Turku.
14.20 Turunmaa arrived in Kotka at 11.50.
18.00 Rautu arrived in Högsåra.
18.11.39 08.05 Turunmaa departed from Kotka to Hamina via Pukkio.
11.00 Coast defence ship Ilmarinen departed from Turku to Pansio.
12.30 Ilmarinen tied up in Pansio.
15.30 Ilmarinen departed from Pansio.
17.15 Coast defence ship Ilmarinen anchored off Prostvik nortwest from Nauvo.
19.11.39 08.00 Ilmarinen departed from Prostvik.
10.30 Coast defence ship Ilmarinen arrived in Högsåra and connected to the telephone network.
14.00 Gunboat Uusimaa departed from Turku.
17.30 Gunboat Uusimaa arrived in anchorage. 19.11.39 a photographer of Suomi-Filmi has taken pictures from Navy by permission of General Headquarters.
20.11.39 08.15 A-boat A43 departed to Turku.
09.25 Ino coast guard station reported that battleships Marat and OR were moving west near Ino. Speed 16 knots.
09.26 Tug Katajaluoto touched ground and got a leak north from Lövö while enroute from Högsåra to Taalintehdas.
11.00 The following sweepers of Turku Sector tied up in Högsåra pier: Oiva, Vienti, Nyyrikki, Förby II, Reposaari I, Vulcan, Värtsilä II, Vetäjä IV and Attu 1.
13.00 Sergeant Saartola departed with Katajaluoto to Turku.
15.30 Turku Sector sweepers left the anchorage.
21.11.39 7 Board of Navigation ship Turku left the anchorage.
07.30 Submarine Iku-Turso departed to Turku.
22.11.39 07.15 Sweeper Porin Karhu departed to Taalintehdas to assist in excercises of LSMeP transport detachment.
07.30 Coast defence ship Väinämöinen left the anchorage.
07.40 The anchor of coast defence ship Väinämöinen dropped accidentally. The repairs will take 3 days.
07.45 Gunboat Hämeenmaa departed.
08.30 VMV 15, Apu, Murtaja and Bore II passed the anchorage.
12.00 Sweepers Särki and A43 arrived in anchorage from Turku.
12.30 Sweeper Primus arrived in achorage with water barge and left immediately with naphta barge to Hanko.
12.30 LSMeP transport detachment passed the anchorage.
16.30 Sweeper Porin Karhu arrived in anchorage.
17.30 Väinämöinen and Hämeenmaa reported that they have arrived in Turku.
23.11.39 08.00 Submarine Vetehinen and sweeper Vilppula departed from anchorage to Turku.
09.10 Gunboat Turunmaa departed from Kotka to Emäsalo.
12.00 Sweeper Porin Karhu departed to practice shooting.
15.00 Sweeper Porin Karhu returned from practice shooting.
15.10 Mineship Louhi has anchored in Lohmi at 13.30.
16.10 Gunboat Uusimaa tied up in Helsinki at 15.10.
16.30 Tug Primus has returned to anchorage.
24.11.39 13.05 Submarine Iku-Turso arrived in anchorage.
25.11.39 10.00 VMV 1 departed to Turku for repairs.
12.00 VMV 9 departed to Hanko for Hanko Sector use.
15.00 VMV 12 departed to take civil guard personnel to Örö.
16.45 VMV 12 returned Högsåra.
26.11.39 10.40 Vilppula reported to be in Föglö.
11.15 Vetehinen departed from Turku at 08.30.
13.00 Vetehinen arrived in anchorage.
13.04 VMV 17 arrived in anchorage.
15.05 VMV 8 arrived in anchorage.
18.00 Tug Katajaluoto arrived in anchorage.
20.30 Lt.cmd. Virkki ordered to take responsibility of depot ship Suomen Joutsen because of storm.
27.11.39 14.50 Vilppula departed from Flisö.
15.35 Sweeper Vilppula tied up in Degerby.
16.05 Gunboat Hämeenmaa departed from Turku.
16.30 VMV 6 arrived in anchorage.
18.15 Hämeenmaa stopped and anchored in Melö because of poor visibilty.
19.50 Hämeenmaa departed from Melö.
22.10 Gunboat Hämeenmaa arrived in anchorage.
28.11.39 07.30 Väinämöinen departed from Turku.
08.00 Sweeper Vilppula departed from Degerby.
12.30 Väinämöinen arrived in Hogsåra.
15.15 Notice from LSMePe: General Headquarters has ordered strongest readiness in anti aircraft and air surveillance duties.
17.15 Sweeper Vilppula arrived in Hogsåra.
18.24 Phone message No 946 from MeVE: Commander of Naval Forces gives right to Sector Commanders and Coastal Fleet commander to adjust anti aircraft readiness depending on time and weather. Remind that air attacks can be expected.
29.11.39 11.00 LSMpE and Commander of LSIp informed that air activity, also at higher altitudes 2000-4000 m, is possible.
11.30 Tug Katajaluoto departed to Hanko with ammunition barge in tow.
11.45 Sweeper Rautu arrived in anchorage towing a barge.
12.40 MeVE informed that a German special ship has arrested a ship east from Storbrundet in Sweden at 11.18.
16.00 Coast Guard ship Aura arrived in anchorage.
19.00 Vilppula departed from anchorage to Helsinki.
19.10 Tug Katajaluoto arrived from Hanko towing barge Grete. Tug Rauma will take barge tomorrow to Pansio.
22.00 The Board of Navigation accomodation ship Klas Horn arrived in tow of a tug, also 5 echo sounding boats.
30.11.39 00.28 Information through LSMePE: The Soviet Union has cut diplomatic relations with Finland 29.11.39 at 22.30. Phone message
01.20 Turku IPAK informed through LSMePE that air surveillance stations had been set to alram readiness No 1, even enhanced.
07.00 Vilppula arrived in Helsinki.
08.35 Lågskär gave air alarm.
09.33 Report: 3 two-engined planes at 09.16 south from Helsinki. Course west.
09.45 Order given in anchorage: Departure readiness 30 minutes.
10.15 Lt.col. Lehonkoski from LSMePE informed in phone discussion with lt.cmd. Tamminen that war has started in the morning. Air activities has been in many places.
11.25 Air alarm. 3 planes from east altitude 2500-3000 m flew over coastal defence ships and dropped 6-10 bombs who fell in water 200 m west from Ilmarinen. No damages. Bomb splinters rained on deck. Bombing was serial bombing at 100 m intervals. Fire was opened about 10-15 seconds before bombs fell and it seemed to disturb the planes or they changed direction when aiming. Following shots were fired: Ilmarinen 105 mm 30 and 40 mm 18, Väinämöinen 105 mm 38 and 40 mm 10. It looked like that one of the planes was slightly damaged as it turned away from the formation and flew directly to the sea.
12.30 Departure to Lohmi and lt. Auvinen transferred as commander of Mobile Base that shall move to Nauvo.
15.40 Arrival in Lohmi anchorage.
18.00 Meeting by commander of Coastal Fleet and flotilla leaders. Because of bombings it was decided to keep on the move on daytime (low speed to save fuel) and to avoid detection of anchorage. Unanimous decision. (Commander of coastal defence ships had himself made same conclusion). A trip to Vådskär area was decided for the next day and agreements were made on scattering etc. To Commander of Coastal Fleet arrived order at 16.49 that preliminary order part 68, numbers 71, 81, 86, 87a and 87b will be executed. The task was given to Louhi with Uusimaa as escort. The task will be completed in two parts, following night 71 and 81 and the rest on the next night. Mark light No 11 and Utö lane to open sea and Lillharu were asked to be lighted on the coming night. Uusimaa will come to Föglö waters around Lågskär for the coming night.
Asked from LSMePE that moving of all civil persons in the archipelago during nights will be forbidden and a preliminary notice must be made when the Fleet is in anchorage. A report was got that 8 planes had searched for us. It is evident that at first comes a scouting patrol with small bomb load giving the location to maín bomber force. Decision to move was so supported.
21.35 2 Helsinki submarines will be stationed east from Bengtskär. This means that the operating area of Coastal Fleet submarines in east is limited to Bengtskär.
22.02 Asked for light artillery supply, 300 AA cartridges.
22.15 Starting from 06.00 departure readiness 30 minutes.
October 1939 November 1939 December 1939



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