On 3 August 1915, "Moltke" was transferred to the Baltic with I Reconnaissance Group (AG) to participate in the foray into the Riga Gulf. The intention was to destroy the Russian naval forces in the area, including the pre-dreadnought , and to use the minelayer to block the entrance to Moon Sound with naval mines. The German forces, under the command of Vice Admiral Hipper, included the four and four s, the battlecruisers "Moltke", "Von der Tann", and "Seydlitz", and a number of smaller craft.