Battle of the Bay of Viipuri
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Vyborg Bay was a battle in the Finnish
-Soviet
Continuation War
(1941-1944).
and Kuuterselkä already on June 15. This forced Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus to withdraw to the still incomplete VKT-line
. Though Soviet advance forces managed to capture Viipuri
on June 20 the main offensive got stuck into stubborn Finnish defense in Tali-Ihantala
region. Despite heavy fighting and use of fresh reserves the VKT-line
bend but did not break forcing the Leningrad Front to seek alternate routes past the Finnish defenses. Leningrad Front followed roughly the same plan as in Winter War
and made plans for a crossing of the Viipuri Bay.
under Leonid Govorov
's command. Attack across Viipuri Bay was assigned for the Soviet 59th Army (Korovnikov) for which the 43rd Corps (Andrejev) was subordinated to. Infantry forces involved in the offensive were the 124th and 224th Rifle Divisions with 80th Rifle Division kept in reserve. Only few tanks were assigned to support the offensive. Several artillery regiments were assigned for the offensive and it was also supported by the aviation of the Baltic Fleet
. Light naval forces of the Soviet Baltic Fleet
as well as the 260th Naval Infantry Regiment supported the offensive
supported the defensive operations.
islands preventing Soviet naval forces from gaining access to the Viipuri Bay. Soviet Baltic Fleet
landed small assault force on the islands but Finnish garrison managed to keep the bridgehead contained. Regardless of the this Finnish HQ decided that it would be impossible to keep the troops in the islands supplied given Soviet air supremacy and withdrew the forces from the islands unopposed. This opened route for the Baltic Fleet
to get safely to the Viipuri Bay.
Battles in the Viipuri Bay started on June 30 with Soviet 224th Rifle Divisions attempt to capture islands of Teikari and Melansaari. Finnish forces on the islands repulsed the attacks causing heavy losses to the Soviet troops. Renewed Soviet attack on the July 4 met success in the islands near Uuras
but the attempt to land on Teikari was again repulsed with very heavy Soviet losses.
Finnish Navy
supported by several German AFP gunbarges made on July 4 - July 5 several raids to the Viipuri Bay in an attempt to disrupt the Soviet landings on the islands. Heavy Soviet resistance from shore artillery, numerous MTB
s and from Soviet air forces forced the naval forces to withdrew without reaching the intended target area. Though none of the ships sunk the most of the ships suffered crew casualties and were heavily damaged and required immediate repairs effectively forcing Finnish naval forces to withdraw from the battle.
Parts of the Soviet 124th Rifle Division captured the islands of Teikari and Melansaari on July 5 - July 6. Fighting on the other islands closer to the northern shore continued until July 8 when Soviet 124th and 224th Rifle Divisions attempted landings on the northern shore of the Viipuri Bay. The defending German 122nd Division easily repulsed the attempts. Soviet 59th Army moved to defense after these attempts and fighting on the Viipuri Bay winded down.
as well as the crossing at Viipuri Bay blocked the Leningrad Front turned its attention to the still undecided battles raging at Äyräpää-Vuosalmi
region.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
-Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
Continuation War
Continuation War
The Continuation War was the second of two wars fought between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II.At the time of the war, the Finnish side used the name to make clear its perceived relationship to the preceding Winter War...
(1941-1944).
Background
Soviet offensive against Finns started on June 10 and managed to broke through Finnish defensive lines at ValkeasaariBeloostrov
Beloostrov , from 1922 to World War II—Krasnoostrov , is a municipal settlement in Kurortny District of the federal city of Saint Petersburg, Russia, located on the Sestra River, Karelian Isthmus, and a key station of the Saint Petersburg-Vyborg railroad since 1870 at the junction of Saint...
and Kuuterselkä already on June 15. This forced Finnish forces on the Karelian Isthmus to withdraw to the still incomplete VKT-line
VKT-line
The VKT-line or Viipuri–Kuparsaari–Taipale line was a Finnish defensive line on Karelian Isthmus during the Continuation War, spanning from Viipuri through Tali and Kuparsaari along the northern shore of Vuoksi River, Suvanto and Taipaleenjoki to Taipale on the western shore of Lake Ladoga, using...
. Though Soviet advance forces managed to capture Viipuri
Vyborg
Vyborg is a town in Leningrad Oblast, Russia, situated on the Karelian Isthmus near the head of the Bay of Vyborg, to the northwest of St. Petersburg and south from Russia's border with Finland, where the Saimaa Canal enters the Gulf of Finland...
on June 20 the main offensive got stuck into stubborn Finnish defense in Tali-Ihantala
Battle of Tali-Ihantala
The Battle of Tali-Ihantala was part of the Continuation War , which occurred during World War II. The battle was fought between Finnish forces—using war material provided by Germany—and Soviet forces...
region. Despite heavy fighting and use of fresh reserves the VKT-line
VKT-line
The VKT-line or Viipuri–Kuparsaari–Taipale line was a Finnish defensive line on Karelian Isthmus during the Continuation War, spanning from Viipuri through Tali and Kuparsaari along the northern shore of Vuoksi River, Suvanto and Taipaleenjoki to Taipale on the western shore of Lake Ladoga, using...
bend but did not break forcing the Leningrad Front to seek alternate routes past the Finnish defenses. Leningrad Front followed roughly the same plan as in Winter War
Winter War
The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...
and made plans for a crossing of the Viipuri Bay.
Soviet
Soviet forces that took part in to the battle were part of the Soviet Leningrad FrontLeningrad Front
The Leningrad Front was first formed on August 27, 1941, by dividing the Northern Front into the Leningrad Front and Karelian Front, during the German approach on Leningrad .-History:...
under Leonid Govorov
Leonid Govorov
Leonid Aleksandrovich Govorov was a Soviet military commander. An artillery officer, he joined the Red Army in 1920. He graduated from several Soviet military academies, including the Military Academy of Red Army General Staff. He participated in the Winter War as a senior artillery officer.In...
's command. Attack across Viipuri Bay was assigned for the Soviet 59th Army (Korovnikov) for which the 43rd Corps (Andrejev) was subordinated to. Infantry forces involved in the offensive were the 124th and 224th Rifle Divisions with 80th Rifle Division kept in reserve. Only few tanks were assigned to support the offensive. Several artillery regiments were assigned for the offensive and it was also supported by the aviation of the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
. Light naval forces of the Soviet Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
as well as the 260th Naval Infantry Regiment supported the offensive
Finnish
Initially forces responsible for the defense were 22nd Coastal Artillery Regiment (RTR 22) of the Eastern Bay of Finland Coastal Brigade (Enkainen) under command of the Commander of the Finnish Navy and parts of the Cavalry Brigade (Tähtinen) under Finnish V Corps (V AK). Later both 22nd Coastal Artillery Regiment as well as the newly arrived German 122nd Division (Breusing) were subordinated to Finnish V Corps. Large portion of the Finnish NavyFinnish Navy
The Finnish Navy is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS" simply short for "Finnish Navy Ship"...
supported the defensive operations.
Fighting
Initially Viipuri Bay islands were on fairly strong position with the Finnish garrison on the KoivistoKoivisto
Koivisto has many meanings.Persons named Koivisto:* Anu Koivisto, Finnish backstroke swimmer* Mauno Koivisto, Finnish president, Ph.D.* Jussi V. Koivisto, Finnish economist, Ph.D.* Tom Koivisto, Finnish ice hockey player...
islands preventing Soviet naval forces from gaining access to the Viipuri Bay. Soviet Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
landed small assault force on the islands but Finnish garrison managed to keep the bridgehead contained. Regardless of the this Finnish HQ decided that it would be impossible to keep the troops in the islands supplied given Soviet air supremacy and withdrew the forces from the islands unopposed. This opened route for the Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet
The Twice Red Banner Baltic Fleet - is the Russian Navy's presence in the Baltic Sea. In previous historical periods, it has been part of the navy of Imperial Russia and later the Soviet Union. The Fleet gained the 'Twice Red Banner' appellation during the Soviet period, indicating two awards of...
to get safely to the Viipuri Bay.
Battles in the Viipuri Bay started on June 30 with Soviet 224th Rifle Divisions attempt to capture islands of Teikari and Melansaari. Finnish forces on the islands repulsed the attacks causing heavy losses to the Soviet troops. Renewed Soviet attack on the July 4 met success in the islands near Uuras
Vysotsk
Vysotsk is a coastal town and a seaport in Vyborgsky District of Leningrad Oblast, Russia, located on the Karelian Isthmus, on the eastern shore of the Bay of Vyborg, southwest of Vyborg and northwest of St. Petersburg. It hosts a base of the Russian Baltic Fleet and an oil terminal...
but the attempt to land on Teikari was again repulsed with very heavy Soviet losses.
Finnish Navy
Finnish Navy
The Finnish Navy is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS" simply short for "Finnish Navy Ship"...
supported by several German AFP gunbarges made on July 4 - July 5 several raids to the Viipuri Bay in an attempt to disrupt the Soviet landings on the islands. Heavy Soviet resistance from shore artillery, numerous MTB
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s and from Soviet air forces forced the naval forces to withdrew without reaching the intended target area. Though none of the ships sunk the most of the ships suffered crew casualties and were heavily damaged and required immediate repairs effectively forcing Finnish naval forces to withdraw from the battle.
Parts of the Soviet 124th Rifle Division captured the islands of Teikari and Melansaari on July 5 - July 6. Fighting on the other islands closer to the northern shore continued until July 8 when Soviet 124th and 224th Rifle Divisions attempted landings on the northern shore of the Viipuri Bay. The defending German 122nd Division easily repulsed the attempts. Soviet 59th Army moved to defense after these attempts and fighting on the Viipuri Bay winded down.
Aftermath
In costly battles the 124th and 224th Rifle Divisions of the Soviet 59th Army managed to capture the islands dominating the Viipuri Bay but failed to gain bridgehead on the northern shore of the bay. With both the initial attempt at Tali-IhantalaBattle of Tali-Ihantala
The Battle of Tali-Ihantala was part of the Continuation War , which occurred during World War II. The battle was fought between Finnish forces—using war material provided by Germany—and Soviet forces...
as well as the crossing at Viipuri Bay blocked the Leningrad Front turned its attention to the still undecided battles raging at Äyräpää-Vuosalmi
Battle of Vuosalmi
The Battle of Vuosalmi — the main bulk of it — lasted from July 4 to July 11, 1944. It was fought during the Continuation War , a part of World War II, between Finland and the Soviet Union....
region.