The squadron was formed as part of an initiative by the
Entente Powers to keep the
Russian Empire in the
First World War. One goal was to protect the large stockpiles of
Allied material that had begun stockpiling at the ice-free port at
Murmansk. Russia's continued involvement in the war was challenged externally by German advances into the East and internally by a strong antipathy to the war amongst the Russian population. This later factor had led to support for the
Bolshevik Revolution and had resulted in the
Russian Civil War. The squadron would remain in Russia throughout most of the Allied
North Russia Intervention, though it served no real role in this. The squadron returned to England in September 1919, shortly after the ratification of peace with Germany, with the signing of the
Treaty of Versailles. ==Admiral commanding==