Orlov was born in Kherson and initially studied in the Legal faculty of St Petersburg University (although he did not complete his studies).

He joined the Baltic Fleet in 1916 and served as a navigating officer on the cruiser Bogatyr.

In 1918 he joined the Russian Communist Party (b) and In 1919-20 he was a political officer of the Baltic Fleet and fought against the forces of the white General Nikolai Yudenich in the defence of Petrograd.

Between 1926 and 1930 he commanded the Black Sea Fleet.

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