Submarine warfare in the Black Sea campaigns (1941–42)

Submarine warfare in the Black Sea in World War II during 1941 and 1942 involved engagements between primarily Romanian and Bulgarian naval warships and Soviet submarines of the Black Sea Fleet, as well as Axis merchantmen. These engagements were a part of the naval Black Sea campaigns between Axis and Soviet naval forces.

1941
On 9 July, the Romanian gunboat Stihi Eugen informed the Romanian torpedo boat Năluca and motor torpedo boats Viscolul and Vijelia that the periscope of an enemy submarine was sighted near Mangalia. In the ensuing battle, the Soviet Shchuka-class submarine Shch-206 was attacked by Năluca, at first with 20 mm rounds and then with depth charges, eventually being sunk with all hands. According to Romanian sources, a second submarine was also sunk by the two motor torpedo boats.

On 11 August, the Romanian submarine NMS Delfinul was unsuccessfully attacked by the Soviet M-class submarine M-33 near Constanța.

On 15 August, the Romanian merchant Peles was torpedoed and sunk by Soviet submarine ShCh-211 north east of Cape Emine, in Bulgarian waters, while Italian tanker Superga was missed during the same attack.

On 16 August, Soviet submarine ShCh-211 attacked once more close Cape Ermine, but missed Romanian merchant Ardeal.

On 14 September, Bulgarian merchant Chipka, sunk on a mine laid by Soviet submarine L-4, close Varna.

On 19 September, Bulgarian auxiliary minesweeper W-2 sunk close Cape Galata on a mine laid by Soviet submarine L-4 or L-5.

On 5 October, the Romanian destroyer Regina Maria was unsuccessfully attacked by the Soviet Leninets-class submarine L-4 near Mangalia.

On 26 October, Soviet small submarine M-35 attacked on surface a convoy of German barges with gunfire: SF-25 was sunk and SF-36 was heavily damaged and driven ashore off Sulina.

On 3 November, The Turkish sailing vessel Kaynakdere was sunk with gunfire by Soviet submarine Shch-214 close Cape Igneada.

On 5 November, The Italian tanker Torcello was torpedoed and sunk by Soviet submarine Shch-214 close Cape Igneada.

On 6 November, the Romanian destroyer Mărășești was unsuccessfully attacked by the Soviet S-class submarine S-33 near Mangalia.

On 6 December, the Soviet submarine Shch-204 was spotted by Bulgarian Arado Ar 196 reconnaissance aircraft near Varna. The Bulgarian submarine chasers Belomorets and Chernomorets, together with the aircraft, attacked and sunk the submarine with depth charges.

On 18 November, Turkish merchant "Yenice" was torpedoed and sunk in Bulgarian waters by Soviet submarine ShCh-215.

On 10 October, Romanian auxiliary minlayer Regele Carol I sunk close Cape Galata on a mine laid by Soviet submarine L-4 or L-5.

On 29 November, Soviet submarine ShCh-211 torpedoed and sunk close Cape Ermine the Italian tanker Superga.

On 17 December, near Jibrieni, the Soviet submarine M-59 attacked an Axis convoy consisting of the Hungarian cargo ships Kassa and Kolozsvár and the Bulgarian cargo ship Tzar Ferdinand, escorted by the Romanian Regele Ferdinand-class destroyers Regele Ferdinand and Regina Maria, Romanian gunboats Stihi Eugen and Sublocotenent Ghiculescu, and Romanian torpedo boats Sborul and Smeul. The attack failed, with M-59 being depth-charged by Regele Ferdinand and sunk with all hands.

1942
On 1 October, near Cape Burnas, the Soviet M-class submarine M-118 attacked and sank the German transport ship Salzburg, which was carrying on board 2,000 Soviet prisoners of war. After attacking, the submarine was located by a German BV138C flying boat, and the Romanian gunboats Sublocotenent Ghiculescu and Stihi Eugen were sent to the scene. The two Romanian warships attacked the Soviet submarine with depth-charges, sinking her with all hands.

On 10 or 11 October, the Romanian cargo ship Carpați was torpedoed and sunk near Sulina by the Soviet submarine Shch-216.

On 14 October, the Soviet submarine M-32 unsuccessfully attacked the Romanian destroyer Regele Ferdinand near Cape Burnas, the submarine being subsequently depth charged and damaged by the Romanian torpedo boat Smeul.

On 21 October, the Soviet submarine M-35 torpedoed and heavily damaged the German tanker Le Progress near Crimea, the ship being subsequently scuttled.

On 14 November, the Soviet submarine L-23 attacked a convoy consisting of the Romanian destroyers Regele Ferdinand and Regina Maria and the German tanker Ossag near the Bosphorus. The submarine launched three torpedoes, which struck and damaged Ossag.

On 8 December, the Soviet Dekabrist-class submarine D-5 attacked and sank the Turkish sailing vessel Kociboglu near the Bosphorus.

On 11 December, Shch-212 was sunk by a Romanian minefield near Snake Island, along with all of her crew of 44. In mid-December, M-31 was possibly sunk by one of the Romanian minefields near the island as well. The two mine barrages protecting the island were laid on 29–30 October and 5 November 1942 by the Romanian minelayers Amiral Murgescu and Dacia, together with the Romanian destroyers Regina Maria and Regele Ferdinand, the Romanian flotilla leader Mărăști, the Romanian gunboat Stihi Eugen and four German R-boats.

On 26 December, the Soviet submarine L-6 unsuccessfully attacked a Romanian supply convoy, the convoy escorts in return damaging her lightly with depth charges.