Arctic Sea Flotilla

The Arctic Ocean Flotilla (AOF) (Russian: Флотилия Северного Ледовитого океана, or Flotiliya Severnogo Ledovitogo okeana), was a Russian military flotilla stationed in Aleksandrovsk- today's Polyarny at the mouth of the Kola Gulf, Iokanga, and Arkhangelsk.

In July 1916, the formation of the AOF began and by September was dominantly complete. By the end of 1917 the AOF comprised the battleship Chesme, cruisers Askold and Varyag, 6 destroyers, 3 submarines and other ships. The AOF's operational zone included the Barents Sea from the Norwegian border to the Kara Gates and the White Sea. Its mission was to secure uninterrupted the sea lines of communications connecting Russia with its Entente allies.

After Bolshevik Russia's withdrawal from World War I, the flotilla comprised approximately 90 combatant and auxiliary ships. In August 1918, the best ships of the AOF were captured by the interventionists and the White Army. The rest of the ships were intentionally put out of commission or destroyed.

This article includes content derived from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969–1978, which is partially in the public domain.

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