| Northern Fleet | |
|---|---|
| Russian: Северный флот Severnyy flot | |
 Northern Fleet's emblem | |
| Founded | June 1, 1733; The Great Soviet iteration: August 5, 1933 |
| Country |  Russia |
| Branch |  Russian Navy |
| Type | Fleet |
| Role | Nuclear deterrence; Naval warfare; Amphibious military operations; Combat patrols in the Arctic/Atlantic; Naval presence/diplomacy missions in the Atlantic and elsewhere |
| Size | c. 32 surface warships plus additional support ships/auxiliaries c. 33+ active submarines |
| Part of |  Russian Navy |
| Garrison/HQ |
|
| Anniversaries | May 11th |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Decorations |  Order of the Red Banner |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Adm.[1] Aleksandr Moiseyev |
| Notable commanders | Adm. Vladimir Vysotskiy Adm. Feliks Gromov Adm. Ivan Kapitanets Adm. Vladimir Chernavin Adm. Semyon Lobov Adm. Vladimir Kasatonov Adm. Arseniy Golovko |
| Insignia | |
| Ensign |  |
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| on RT Documentary official YouTube channel (in English) | |
 Submarines of the Northern Fleet: The Beast Division – Part 1 on YouTube | |
| Submarines of the Northern Fleet: Beast Division – Part 2 on YouTube |
The Northern Fleet (Russian: Северный флот, Severnyy flot) is the fleet of the Russian Navy in the Arctic.[2]
According to the Russian ministry of defence: "The Northern Fleet dates its history back to a squadron created in 1733 to protect the territories of the Russian Empire, sea trade routes and fisheries in the White Sea near the coast of the Kola Peninsula. The order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy of 25 May 2014 determined 1733 as the year of foundation of the Northern Fleet, and June 1 as its annual holiday".[3]
In its modern iteration, the Arctic Ocean Flotilla of the former Imperial Navy evolved into a full fleet of the Soviet Navy in 1933 as the Northern Flotilla. After being awarded the Order of the Red Banner in 1965, it was officially known as the Red Banner Northern Fleet. During the Soviet era the Northern Fleet operated more than 200 submarines, ranging from diesel-electric to nuclear-powered ballistic missile classes.
On 1 December 2014 the fleet became the core element of the newly established Northern Fleet Joint Strategic Command, including all Russian armed forces located in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Oblasts and on Russia's offshore islands along its Arctic coast. It is co-equal in status with Russia's Military Districts. The Northern Fleet is tasked with responsibility for operations and defense in the Arctic seas along Northern Russia, including the Barents Sea and Kara Sea, as well as the northwestern maritime approaches to Russia including the Norwegian Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
The Northern Fleet's headquarters and main base are located in Severomorsk, Murmansk Oblast, with secondary bases elsewhere in the greater Kola Bay area. The current commander is Admiral Aleksandr Moiseyev, who has held the position since May 2019. In June 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an executive order making the Northern Fleet an independent military-administrative entity, effective January 1, 2021.[4] That status was abolished on February 26, 2024 by a new presidential decree (effective since March 1, 2024) and fleet became part of the recreated Leningrad Military District.[5]
- ^ "Northern Fleet Commander appointed Admiral". Archived from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
- ^ Северный флот [Northern Fleet]. flot.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2016-06-23. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
- ^ "The Northern Fleet is 284 years of its history : Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation". Archived from the original on 2021-06-05. Retrieved 2021-06-05.
- ^ "The Arctic Grows in Importance as Russia Establishes New Military District". Warsaw Institute. 18 Jun 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Указ Президента Российской Федерации от 26.02.2024 № 141 ∙ Официальное опубликование правовых актов". publication.pravo.gov.ru. Retrieved 2024-03-08.