in the lead-up to the first world war, the royal norwegian navy mobilized. the mobilization was initiated on 2 august 1914 and initially completed on 5 august 1914. the norwegian torpedo boats were scattered along the coast from the oslofjord to trøndelag, and took the brunt of the neutrality protection duties. the main task of the royal norwegian navy's ships during the war was to confront foreign warships that approached norwegian territorial waters, and by their presence to try to discourage neutrality violations.