Murmansk

Murmansk (ex. US Navy cruiser Milwaukee) – the first cruiser in the Northern Fleet. In March 1944, The US cruiser accompanied the caravan JW-58 bound for the Soviet Union and upon arrival at the Kola Bay it was given to the Soviet Navy as a result of the division of the Italian Navy. The cruiser was admitted to the US Navy in 1923 and was part of a squadron of the US Pacific Fleet. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it was selected to serve in the ocean patrol, first in the Caribbean, and then in the South Atlantic. The cruiser was of 10 thousand tons displacement, with a speed of 30 knots, had heavy artillery and torpedo armament. In July of 1944, M., after a number of voyages to the Barents Sea with both teams was finally handed over to the Soviet crew and became part of the Northern Fleet. In October 1944, M. led the military operation to escort the caravan RA-61. The presence of the cruiser M. in the Northern Fleet prevented the Germans from bombing the Kola Bay. After the...