Baltic amphibious warfare served a deep land offensive

The Baltic war involved Soviet, German, Finnish, and neutral Swedish interests in crowded waters where submarines, convoys, and coastal forces constantly overlapped. Soviet amphibious craft moved large numbers of troops without requiring a traditional blue-water fleet, as the Moonsund operation demonstrates. This employment fitted a doctrine of manoeuvre and deep offensive operations in which naval forces supported the army's seaward flank. After the Normandy landings, Germany shifted much of its remaining surface force to the Baltic to support its own flank, increasing the danger. Soviet commanders then had to choose between hunting German ships and staying close enough to protect the army. Their contribution to the land campaign mattered as much as the number of enemy ships sunk.