Naval History Homepage and Site Search

 

 

2. WORLD WAR ONE - SHIPS to NORTH RUSSIA, and the NORTH RUSSIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE 1919


Links to main World War 1 pages:
-
Military & Naval Chronology
- Naval Operations - Merchant Navy
- Navy and Army Despatches
- Honours and Gallantry Awards
- Royal & Dominion Navy Casualties
- Warships & Auxiliaries of the RN
- Guide to Warship Locations
- Campaigns, Battles & Actions

HMS Cicala, river gunboat in North Russia (Yeoman of Signals George Smith, click to enlarge)

on to 3. World War 2 - up to Invasion of Russia

 
 

BACKGROUND TO RUSSIAN CONVOYS 1941-45

SHIPS TO NORTH RUSSIA .....

Shipping losses to Russia are usually associated with the Russian Convoys of 1941-45.

In fact 43 British-registered merchantmen bound to or from Archangel were lost between 1914-18;
more than the 36 British ships lost (out of an Allied total of 104) on the "Russian run" in World War 2!

Note

This page is part of a series leading up to the story of the World War 2 Russian convoys - return to World War 1, 1914-1918



 

..... and the NORTH RUSSIA EXPEDITIONARY FORCE 1919

Following the Armistice, the Allied attempt to assist the White Russians in their struggle against the Bolshevists as well as protect the vast amount of Allied supplies in North Russia led to the .......


above - Coastal Motor Boats (CMB's) with seaplanes on the riverbank


The main theatre and area of naval activity ......



Some of the Royal Navy forces taking part, especially coastal monitors, river gunboats, inshore 'tunnel' minesweepers, coastal motor boats (CMB's); also depot ship, ex-Q-ship HMS Hyderabad (below) ......


.... and the main losses on the River Dvina ...



Finally, my own grandfather's voyage in HMS Fox from Murmansk to Archangel, followed by service on ex-Russian paddle steamer, HMS Borodino, Senior Naval Officers ship at Topsa:




on to 3. World War 2 - up to Invasion of Russia
or return to Russian Convoys Contents

revised  27/7/11