Freebird
Master Sergeant
I recall the book mentions that several squadrons of Beaufighters, Hampdens and Hurricanes, with RAF (Hampdens were crewed by Australians) were sent to Murmansk. There can be only reason the Beaus were sent north....to provide NF protection for the port. They did not provide fighter cover for the convoys I know that.
During the winter Murmansk would have a month or two of darkness I believe, so that NF would be all the more important.