'Freeman' was a British naval undertaking to move a token force of Free Norwegian troops to Murmansk in the northern part of the USSR for participation in the 'Petsamo-Kirkenes Strategic Offensive Operation' into German-occupied northern Norway, and also to return to the USSR some 11,000 Soviet prisoners of war who had been liberated in the fighting for Normandy in the aftermath of 'Overlord' (3/15 November 1944).

The troops and released prisoners were transported in the 21,560-ton Empress of Australia and 19,730-ton Scythia, and escort was provided by the escort carrier Campania, the heavy cruiser Berwick, and the destroyers Cambrian, Caprice, Cassandra, Saumarez, Scourge and Serapis.