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Soviet petrol octane content?

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by Kai-Petri, Sep 24, 2020.

  1. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    During the eastern campaign German units were unable to utilize captured fuel, as they had during the campaigns of 1939 and 1940. The octane content of Soviet petrol was simply too low for German vehicles.It could be used only after the addition of benzol in complex installations constructed specifically for that task??

    Stopped at Stalingrad by Haywayd

    Anyone else heard of this?
     
  2. ARWR

    ARWR Active Member

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    The slate of Soviet crude oils available to their refineries was what is today classified as Arabian Light and rather sour ( a lot of sulphur). Given the refining technology available at the time it was fine for producing fuel oils (diesels) and ordinary performance petrol but uneconomic if higher octane fuel was required. Accordingly Soviet vehicles were engineered to run on lower octane fuel. Additives had to be added for example to produce aviation spirit. This is why Lease Lend Aviation spirit brought in across the Pacific was so important to the Soviets even before the US entered he war.

    Increasing German dependence on oil derived from coal produced a similar problem with a need for additives and Germany needed all of her chemical production know how.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
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  3. Kai-Petri

    Kai-Petri Kenraali

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    On 11 September 1941 Generaloberst Halder recorded in his diary the eastern forces would need 29 trainloads of fuel per day throughout October and twenty throughout November if they were to carry on the offensive.However, the OKW insisted it could only supply 75% of the amount requested throughout October and only 15% of that required throughout November. ( As it turned out, the OKW failed to supply even those quantities.)

    Stopped at Stalingrad By Hayward
     
  4. Takao

    Takao Ace

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    AFAIK, the Soviets produced a wide range of AVGAS(mid 70s-91 octane).I was under the impression that most trucks ran on 40-45 octane, with tanks being somewhat higher.
     
  5. ARWR

    ARWR Active Member

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    Indeed their distillate columns were capable of producing such a range but with the feed stock available from the fields that they had the proportion (ie quantity) of the higher octane fuels they could produce was low. And in producing them they would have to sacrifice the greater quantity of lower grade fuel they could produce. The task of a refinery scheduler was always difficult and even with the latest algorithms still is but it must have been near impossible then. "well comrade I can squeeze a bit more fuel out for the air craft but it means a lot less for the tanks - your choice"
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
  6. ARWR

    ARWR Active Member

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    The supply of aviation spirit from the US to the USSR really was vital and is sometimes overlooked. It was normally carried across the Pacific in Soviet flagged and registered tankers, through Japanese controlled waters to Vladivostok from where it travelled on via the Trans Siberian Railway.Despite Barbarossa the USSR and Japan maintained their non aggression agreement ironically originally concluded after pressure from Hitler and Ribbentrop.
    Some Soviet goods flowed the other way including tinned fish some of which after crossing Canada and the Atlantic ended up in British rations!
     

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