Pipewrench -> RE: OT: the convoys (9/1/2011 8:56:22 AM)
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ORIGINAL: pompack Yes, but virtually all of that came by way of Iran with the balance (especially a/c) coming via Vladavostok and the "Air Bridge" via Nome. The Murmansk convoys may have been necessary as political gestures but they were relatively ineffective as providers of any of this war material. Hmmm? My sources have that differently but no worries pompack. [;)] edit: to clarify with apologies, The lend lease in 41 and 42 thru the northern ports played a key role. By the end of 42 the soviets had re-tooled and had straightened out the supply lines and rail system . As the German armies withdrew from the passes of the Caucasus and receded westward round the Black Sea, the task of supplying Russia through the Persian Corridor increased in intensity. Good reads if your interested..... http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/persian/chapter01.htm#b1 http://www.o5m6.de/northern.html ------------------ Through the Murmansk Run, the United States supplied the Soviet Union with 15,000 aircraft, 7,000 tanks, 350,000 tons of explosives, and 15,000,000 pairs of boots. American boots made a difference on the Eastern Front, especially during the harsh winters. http://www.usmm.org/ww2.html This supply route was absolutely vital to the Russians if they were to hold out against the Nazi offensive. Without the Allied ships that made the voyage with products from the American war arsenal, the Russians may well not have beaten back the German invasion. The only other deep water route to Russia terminated in the Persian Gulf ports, but the rail lines and roads that ran from the Gulf to the interior of Russia would, because of their length and their limited capacity, have been unable to carry the vast amount of munitions and food needed by the Russians. All other supply routes were under German control. Ships had to make the Murmansk run to keep Russia in the war. http://www.armed-guard.com/ag79.html [image]local://upfiles/33731/65E9429A11A143788FE8AFBC57A3D29E.gif[/image]
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