HMS ''Orlionoch'' was a Russian tanker which was seized by the British
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
and used as
seaplane tender
A seaplane tender is a boat or ship that supports the operation of seaplanes. Some of these vessels, known as seaplane carriers, could not only carry seaplanes but also provided all the facilities needed for their operation; these ships are rega ...
in 1919.
She was originally known as the ''Orlenok'' and was in the Centro-Caspian Flotilla, the naval force of the
Centro-Caspian Dictatorship
The Centro-Caspian Dictatorship, also known as the Central-Caspian Dictatorship (russian: Диктатура Центрокаспия, ''Diktatura Tsentrokaspiya'') ( Azerbaijani: Sentrokaspi Diktaturası), was a short-lived anti-Soviet administ ...
. In March 1919, the British were concerned about
Bolshevik
The Bolsheviks (russian: Большевики́, from большинство́ ''bol'shinstvó'', 'majority'),; derived from ''bol'shinstvó'' (большинство́), "majority", literally meaning "one of the majority". also known in English ...
sympathies amongst the sailors of this flotilla, and disbanded it, integrating many of the ships into the
British Caspian Flotilla. The ''Orlenok'' was redubbed HMS ''Orlionoch'' and added to their force, providing a tender for
No. 266 Squadron RAF
No. 266 (Rhodesia) Squadron RAF was a squadron of the Royal Air Force.
History
First World War
The squadron was formed from Nos 437 and 438 Flights at Mudros, Greece on 27 September 1918 to carry out anti-submarine patrols in that area, flying Sh ...
. The Flotilla was disbanded in August 1919 British and HMS ''Orlionoch'' was transferred with the 266 Squadron aeroplanes to the
Caspian Flotilla of the White Movement The Caspian Flotilla of White Movement was a naval force of the White Movement during the Russian Civil War. It was also known as the Centro-Caspian Flotilla as it was at one stage under the command of the Centro-Caspian Dictatorship.
The fleet i ...
. She was renamed the ''Orlenok'' and continued to be used by them until late 1919.
References
{{reflist
Aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy
History of the Caspian Sea