After the failed offensive of the previous year, Soviets restrained for a further campaign until Finland signed the Moscow Armistice on 9 September 1944, ceasing war with Soviet Union and starting hostilities with Germany. This move, enabled the Soviet Navy to avoid the mine field barrages in the Gulf of Finland that caused heavy losses in 1942 and prevented success in 1943. Submarines ShCh-310, ShCh-318 and ShCh-407 were the first to operate in open Baltic from Finnish harbors and navigating out of the dangerous zones with aid of Finnish naval officers, they were soon followed by other 12 submarines. On 8 September, Soviet submarine M-96 sunk by mine in the Narva Bay. It was the only Soviet submarine loss in 1944.
Engagements
On 6 October, Soviet submarine ShCh-407 torpedoed and sunk German merchant Nordstern west of Klaipeda. On 8 October, Soviet submarine ShCh-310 torpedoed and sunk the German dredger Bagger 3 and shortly later torpedoed and sunk the German transport ship Ro-24, west of Ventspils. On 9 October, Soviet submarine S-13 damaged with gunfire the German fishing vessel Siegfried north of Danzig Bay. On 12 October, Soviet submarine S-4 torpedoed and sunk German fishing vessel Taunus off the Stolpebank. On 13 October, Soviet submarine S-4 torpedoed and sunk German tanker Terra north-east of Leba. On the same day, Soviet submarine Lembit torpedoed and sunk the German merchant Hilma Lau north-east of Bornholm. On 15 October, Soviet submarine Lembit torpedoed and sunk the German auxiliary minesweeper M-3619 Crabeels. On 10 November, Soviet submarine ShCh-309 torpedoed and sunk German merchant Carl Cords north-west of Ventspils. On 21 November, Soviet submarine L-21 after having laid a field of mines, attacked and sunk with torpedo the neutral Swedish passenger-ship Hansa north-west of Halskuk. On 28 November, Soviet submarine K-51 sunk with gunfire the German fishing boat Sollind. On 1 December, Soviet submarine K-51 sunk with gunfire the German fishing boat Saar. On 4 December, Soviet submarine ShCh-407 torpedoed and sunk German merchant Seeburg inside Danzig Bay On 7 December, Soviet submarine ShCh-309 torpedoed and sunk German merchant Nordenham north-west of Uzava. On 26 December, Soviet submarine K-56 torpedoed and sunk German merchant Baltenland off the Polish north coast. On 29 December, Soviet submarine K-56 torpedoed and sunk Swedish merchant Venersborg off Bornholm.
Minelaying operations
Between October and December 1944, the Soviet Navy employed also the three left submarines capable of minelaying operations in offensive actions, laying 77 mines. On 11 October, Submarine L-3 laid a field of mines off Cape Arkona. These mines hit the following ships:
On 11 October, Submarine Lembit laid mines off Kolberg. These mines hit the following ships:
On 23 October, German harbor tug Pioner-5 went missing. Most likely hit a mine of the field.
On 24 November, German auxiliary patrol vessel V-305 Halberstadt damaged
On 24 November, German fishing vessel Spreeufer sunk.
On 13 February 1945, German minesweeper M-421 sunk.
Another field laid on 3 December is not known to have scored successes. On 23 November, Submarine L-21 laid a field of mines off Stolpebank. These mines hit the following ships:
On the same day, German merchant Eichberg sunk.
On 24 November, German merchant Elie sunk
On 22 December, German merchant Eberhard sunk. Possible victory.
Outcome
Differently from the past offensives, no Soviet submarine was lost due mine or enemy action while a number of merchants and few German warships were sunk. While successful, the offensive begun too late to seriously interfere with the German naval evacuation of Revel between 18 and 23 September 1944.
