Posts from February 1940

Halder records aircraft situation

Air Force (Report by Lt. Col. Vorwald, Chief, Air Force Org. Sec.): Reconnaissance, 30 Staffeln. Henschel 126! (Me 109). Me 110? 1941 Me 210.

Planes: Long-range reconnaissance 10 Staffeln, Do 17 P **. Ju 88, one chain *** per month.

Fighters: 26 Gruppen. 1 April, 29 Gruppen (42 Gruppen) 28 are Me 109 E! Endurance one hour.

One Night-FighterGruppe (Arado 68); coast protection.

Long-range fighters: 8 Gruppen Me 110. More than doubled (21 Groups!). 2 Gruppen Me 109 will be equipped with Me 110.

Monthly rate of losses: 20%. Wider range as of April.

Bombers: 44 Groups. By 1 April, 3 more. (No change!)

Of these,

  • 13 Gruppen are He 111 (longer range). Bombs up to 500 kg.
  • 11 Gruppen * P (range 500 km less). Bombs up to 500 kg.
  • 2 Groups for sowing air mines.
  • 12 Groups Do 17/Z (good for ground support).
  • 8 (at present 3) Ju 88, partly suitable for sowing mines; also 1,000 Kg bombs.
  • 1 CondorGruppe**: heavy cargoes, big mines

Dive bombers. 10 Gruppen, Ju 87. No change. In 1941 this type will be supplaned by Me 210. Range of craft in two Gruppen extended by jettisonable wing tanks. Screaming attachment. Close-support Gruppe 1 (123) former dive-bombers.

Air transport: 6 Gruppen, Ju 52; available at any time but must be brought together from schools.

(In addition two Gruppen are available on short advance notice.)
Increase possible only at the expense of bombers. Total in existence 1,100 in Transport Staffeln of Corps and in Flying Schools.

Navy: 20 Staffeln (six also suitable for overland flying).

AAA:

  • 1 12.8 cm Btry. (trial Btry.). Will not go into production before fall. 1941, Muzzle velocity 905 m, ceiling 14,000 m, horizontal range 21,000 m.
  • 19 10.5 cm Btrys. and 2 Replacements Btrys. By 1 Apr., 6 more, by 1 Oct. 21 more Btrys.
  • 622 8,8 cm Btrys. (including 17 which ill be discarded 1 Apr.). Between April and October more Btrys. will be delivered. 1 October 622 Btrys. and 15 Replacement Transfer Btrys.
  • 3,7 cm Btrys., later 9 more (1 Apr.), plus 20 Btrys. by 1 Oct.
  • 391 2 cm Btrys., plus 14 single-barrel Btrys, 11 more on 1 Apr., plus 20 more by 1 Oct.
  • 150 cm searchlight: 181 Btrys., plus 4 moe on 1 Apr and 21 more by 1 Oct.
  • Barrage Balloon Btrys.: 9, plus 3 by 1 Apr., plus 12 more by 1 Oct.