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Quite a few people have approached me to start a new thread about the battle of Kursk. A little reluctantly I have agreed.
So what were the main features in the air battle, how did it progress, what were its outcomes. What were the precursors that led to the battle. I would suggest that we limit our discussion from the last days of Stalingrad, through to the battles in November, but the focus should be the battle in July.
However, I would also be interested to hear peoples views about the air battle if Mansteins ideas had been adopted and the battle had occurred in late May. Would the outcome of the air battle have been any different?
And finally, what might have happened, if the germans had not undertaken the battle at all, simply fortifyiong and waiting for the Russians to attack? Would it have been possible foir them to wear down the Russians to the peace table if they had not been so rash as to attack them again in 1943.......
Anyway, hold on, here we go...enjoy guys
According to David Glantz the German 6th Air Fleet began the battle with only two thirds of the required aviation fuel reserve. I think actual combat results prove his point. The Luftwaffe provided good support at first. As the battle progressed the Luftwaffe sortie rate fell off for lack of fuel.
will you chaps be making reference to this work at all ?
Amazon.com: Kursk: The Air Battle, July 1943 (9781903223888): Christer Bergstrom: Books
good luck this could be a very fine thread if handled appropriately.
Parsifal and all hopeful you will be able to use these two pages of interesting and intelligent information. Some food for thought, we must remember the Hs 129 unit flew in low barely over the earth and with this type of flying it was impossible to accurately confirm "kills". Of course we have discussed Rüdels bogus claims over and over again.
Tank Busting Aircraft at Kursk - The Dupuy Institute Forum
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What about German, does someone else can provide other numbers?
Does anyone have any detailled information regarding Russian air strength and missions regarding this conflict on or immediately after July 11, 1943? Russia managed to stage counter offensive operations from a line at Orel. These were countered by German forces. What might have become a complete collapse and route was nullified by Ju-87 operations. I wonder of the presence of the Soviet 2nd and 17th air armies in the area at the time?