Planing a Sea-based Infantry offensive is hard work, all the more so when it is your very first outside training where the enemy is actually supposed to be in a position to defend itself in the beaches.
So it was no surprise that the sunset of July 13th saw Naval Commissar Nikolai Kuznetsov checking and re-checking maps, plans and recon reports over and over again, sitting in his room at the flagship
Sovietsky Soyuz, while it and it's fleet patrolled the Baltic
For a moment, that's what what he told himself. That it had happened because he had been too busy with his Commissariat affairs. It didn't last long though, before Admiral Kuznetsov admited to the facts. For someone to managed to sneak up behind him and his two-carrier cover, it had to be someone more skilled than him. That and the composition of the approaching fleet told him the enemy was Grand Admiral Alfred Saalwächter, and his already legendary
Bismarck.
The sun would set completely before either fleet was in range of the other, and when the crew of the Soviet Battleships was still preparing their guns, the experience of the German Admiral and Sailors showed.
The
Bismarck was the first to fire, and with remarkable accuracy, all of it's shells landed on the
Volya, producing a frightening explosion.
By having their flagship open a battle firing on the newest of the largest Soviet Battleships, a clear message was being sent by Saalwächter: "We're not afraid of you, we can take on anything you've got". The pride of the Red Fleet was being openly challenged by the Kriegsmarine.
It was a challenge Admiral Kuznetsov would only be too eager to accept.
However, he was no fool. He knew the sort of Legend had grown around the
Bismarck since it's commissioning, he knew the raid in the Arctic Sea inspired much fear on the Soviet sailors, and he knew they were only rookies compared to the German sailors, trained against the Royal Navy itself.
Kuznetsov couldn't allow this battle to be over the
Bismarck's success or failure. He had more and better ships under him, and he'd show the World - and his men - no single Battleship, no matter how legendary, could rule the waters alone.
And so the Soviet ships were ordered to fire on everything
but the Kriegsmarine's monster.
Three hours later, Admiral Kuznetsov's strategy proved to be a winning one, as the German fleet ran away, leaving behind only a sinking
Admiral Scheer.
Heavy Cruiser Admiral Scheer, spy photo from the Navy Intelligence Archives
Of course, Victory had come with a price, as a very battered
Volya and it's mostly injured crew could tell. Three hours under the
Bismarck's fire had left her essentialy useless for combat operations. A speedy return to the safety of Leningrad was ordered, where there would be hospitals for the wounded, and a small parade for the victorious crews.
Still, from that night onwards, the Red Fleet's reputation was restored, and every soviet citizen would knew - the Germans can be defeated anywhere!
Together, the Red Army and Red Fleet will destroy the fascist invader!
But, symbolic and this victory was, the Bismarck and his sister were still roaming the Seas...