At the beginning of 1945 the Soviet Navy dispatched once again submarines alongside motor torpedo boats for coastal attacks but avoided the use destroyers and major warship.

[5] On 30 January, Soviet submarine S-13 under command of captain Alexander Marinesko torpedoed and sunk the large German liner Wilhelm Gustloff (25484 GRT) employed as transport ship for Operation Hannibal.

[8] On 10 February, Soviet submarine S-13 under command of captain Alexander Marinesko accomplished another significant success, torpedoing and sinking the large German liner General von Steuben (14660 GRT), like Gustloff also employed as transport ship for Operation Hannibal.

[12] On 11 April, Soviet submarine K-56 shelled and sunk the neutral Swedish fishing vessel Ramona (57 GRT) south of Utklippan.

[13] On 17 April, Soviet submarine L-3 torpedoed and sunk the German troop transport Goya (5230 GRT) employed for Operation Hannibal.

All the three Soviet minelaying submarines left to the Baltic Sea Fleet were employed for their intended purpose like the previous campaign.

[11] The field scored victories over German warships: On 30 March, Soviet submarine Lembit laid a field of mines off Wladyslawowo: the only known loss of this field occurred on 25 April with the sinking of German patrol vessel Vs-343[20] Fuel shortage restricted the number of German escort available for protecting ships and convoy and explain the Soviet success and the loss of a single Soviet submarine in action: while the campaign is not evaluated as a decisive victory (13 transports sunk, for 63000 GRT), submarine obtained some notable sinking.

[22] It is important to stress how despite being often erroneously described as noncombatant units, the ships actually possessed defensive anti-aircraft weapons and also carried military personnel (in addition to refugees).