An important element for the Soviet operation was the small island of Lavansaari, located in the Gulf of Finland and able to accommodate the incoming submarines from Leningrad (under siege) as final step before the attempt to penetrate the Axis minefields.

Despite neutrality during the WW2, Sweden agreed to the German request to laying extra fields of mines in Swedish waters.

[4] The Soviet offensive in October involved the larger number of submarines (16) but suffered heavier losses with half of the units lost in action, scoring less success.

Despite the heavy losses for few victories scored the Germans perceived the campaign as a threat due to the dwindling number of their transport ships and prepared stronger anti-submarine defenses for 1943.

Old Soviet sources overestimated the victories scored to 51 vessels sunk (400.000 tons)[1] All considered, the Soviet campaign was costly and managed to sink only a limited number of vessels but the operation accomplished in creating chaos in the Axis naval supply lines forcing alternate trade routes and investment in escort convoys (previously not assigned) and in greater anti-submarine defenses.