The Northern Fleet was created much later than the Baltic, Black Sea and Pacific. The importance of the polar theater of operations increased significantly in the early thirties of the XX century. Advances in aviation and shipbuilding made it possible to draw a conclusion about the priority importance of protecting territories in which military operations were previously impossible.
People’s Commissar of Defense of the USSR Klim Voroshilov in April 1933 signed an order to transfer the squadron consisting of the destroyers Kuibyshev and Uritsky, two submarines and two watchmen to the polar zone. The caravan of ships was named EON-1 (special mission). Ships formed the basis of the military flotilla formed in Murmansk. In August, the large-scale construction of a new naval base in the city of Polar began.
In 1935, the Northern Flotilla began combat training. Within a short period of time, in just two years, many long-distance crossings were made, in particular to Novaya Zemlya and along the Northern Sea Route, experience was gained in ice-diving of submarines, naval aviation aerodromes were built, and domestic and auxiliary infrastructure was organized. In May 1937, the Northern Fleet was created on the basis of the flotilla.
The thirties became the era of exploration of the Arctic. The expedition of I. D. Papanin was rescued with the active participation of sailors and North Sea pilots.
The Northern Fleet took part in the Winter Finnish War. The strategically advantageous location of the main base made it possible to block the enemy’s supply from the sea. The ports of Petsamo and Liinahamari were occupied by Soviet sailors.
Since June 1941, the importance of Soviet northern ports has increased significantly. Arkhangelsk and Murmansk accepted the help of the Allies, their protection became a vital task. Over the course of the four war years, more than one and a half thousand convoys passed through the Atlantic, each of which our ships met hundreds of miles, escorted to destination ports, repulsing the attacks of German torpedo bombers, submarines and bombers.
The Northern Fleet actively opposed the German Kriegsmarine forces. The Nazis lost in the polar latitudes more than six hundred ships and 1300 aircraft. Hero submariners Nikolai Lunin, Ivan Kolyshkin, Israel Fisanovich, Magomet Gadzhiev and many others did everything they could to win, sacrificing their lives if necessary. Severomorsk pilots Boris Safonov, Ivan Katunin, Peter Sgibnev covered their red-star wings with unfading glory in the Arctic sky.
Since the fifties, the Northern Navy has become not only oceanic, but also missile. The world's first ship ballistic launch was made in 1956 in the White Sea. Three years later, the North Severs adopted the K-3 “Leninsky Komsomol” submarine missile carrier. 1960 marked the world's first underwater launch of a ballistic intercontinental missile.
In 1962, the Northern Submarine Fleet conquered the pole. Rocket carrier "Leninsky Komsomol" took a surface position, breaking the hull of ice, and the sailors installed at a point with a coordinate of 90 degrees. w. flags of the USSR and the Navy.
In the second half of the seventies of the XX century, aircraft carriers were included in the Northern Fleet. The first of them was the Kiev cruiser, in 1991 the aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov took up combat duty.
Historical realities showed how shrewd was the creator of the Russian Navy, Peter the Great. More than three centuries ago, navigating the first Russian ships in northern waters, he prophetically understood the future strategic importance of the North in protecting the country.
Today, the area of responsibility of the Northern Fleet of Russia is the entire oceans. Basing in Severomorsk and Severodvinsk opens up opportunities for unlimited operational space.