Arctic Ocean Military Flotilla

Arctic Ocean Military Flotilla – the establishment of A.O.M.F. was started by the order of July 19, 1916, and completed to a large extent by September 1916. The objective of A.O.M.F. was to ensure continuous operation of the sea lanes linking Russia with its Entente allies. A stretch of Barents Sea from the Norwegian border to Kara Strait and the White Sea were in A.O.M.F.’s operational zone. Ships of Kola Bay and Arkhangelsk defense units, ships transferred from other fleets, or acquired abroad were incorporated into A.O.M.F. The Flotilla Commander was the Commander in Chief of Arkhangelsk and the Barents Sea defense area at the same time. The flotilla was based in Aleksandrovsk, Arkhangelsk, and Iokanga. By the end of 1917 A.O.M.F. included Chesma battleship (former Poltava), Askold and Varyag cruisers (the latter was undergoing repairs in Liverpool together with two destroyers before being illegally captured by the British), six destroyers, three submarines, up to 10 minesweepers, Ussuri...