Both sides laid extensive fields of mines in the Irben Straits: German operations begun on 21 June 1941 (mines laid by S-boats) and others were laid on the next days; such mines caused early damage to the light cruiser Maxim Gorky and the destroyer Gordy two days later in the Irben Straits, while her sister ship Gnevny was sunk.
On 24 June it was Soviets turn to lay mines in the Irben Straits and this was accomplished by the destroyers Serdity, Stoyky and Storozhevoy, supported by the light cruiser Kirov and the destroyers Silny, Strashny, Grozyashchy and Smetlivy: over 500 mines were laid in the next two nights.
Soviet mines caused the loss of German S-boats S-43 and S-106 on 26 June, the following day other losses were suffered with the sinking of minesweeper R-205 and damage to M-201, R-202, R-203, R-53 and R-63.

The first direct clash between the opposing forces occurred on 27 June, when German S-boats S-31 and S-59 torpedoed and damaged, with heavy casualties, Storozhevoy.
The ship did not sunk despite losing her entire bow up to the (nautical) and returned to service after extensive repairs only on 19 September 1943, while the destroyer Smely was torpedoed by S-54 and later scuttled by the Soviet motor torpedo boat n°73.
Both sides laid extensive fields of mines in the Irben Straits: German operations begun on 21 June 1941 (mines laid by S-boats) and others were laid on the next days; such mines caused early damage to the light cruiser Maxim Gorky and the destroyer Gordy two days later in the Irben Straits, while her sister ship Gnevny was sunk. On 24 June it was Soviets turn to lay mines in the Irben Straits and this was accomplished by the destroyers Serdity, Stoyky and Storozhevoy, supported by the light cruiser Kirov and the destroyers Silny, Strashny, Grozyashchy and Smetlivy: over 500 mines were laid in the next two nights. Soviet mines caused the loss of German S-boats S-43 and S-106 on 26 June, the following day other losses were suffered with the sinking of minesweeper R-205 and damage to M-201, R-202, R-203, R-53 and R-63.
The first direct clash between the opposing forces occurred on 27 June, when German S-boats S-31 and S-59 torpedoed and damaged, with heavy casualties, Storozhevoy. The ship did not sunk despite losing her entire bow up to the (nautical) and returned to service after extensive repairs only on 19 September 1943, while the destroyer Smely was torpedoed by S-54 and later scuttled by the Soviet motor torpedo boat n°73.
Gulf of Riga campaign