First Battle of Svensksund

First battle of Svensksund / Rochensalm
Part of Russo-Swedish War
Date August 24 (August 15 OS), 1789 Location Svensksund, (now Kotka, southern Finland) Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Russia
Commanders and leaders
Carl August Ehrensvärd Carl Olof Cronstedt	Prince Karl Heinrich of Nassau-Siegen Ivan Balle Count Giulio Litta
Strength
12 Archipelago frigates 5 Galleys 20 Gun yawls 4 Gun prams 4 Bomb vessels Auxiliaries ~ 5000 men	24 Larger ships 3 Bomb vessels 47 Galleys 30 Gun yawls 3 Cutters Auxiliaries 86 ships under the Russian sources[citation needed] Coastal fleet ~ 12000 men
Casualties and losses
5 archipelago frigates 2 galleys 10 gun yawls 30 auxiliaries 1500 men	1 galley 1 gun yawl 1100 men

The First Battle of Svensksund, also known as the First Battle of Rochensalm from the Russian version of the Finnish: Ruotsinsalmi, was a naval battle fought in the Gulf of Finland in the Baltic Sea, outside the present day city of Kotka, on August 24, 1789 during the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790).

Order of battle

Swedish fleet at Svensksund consisted of 1 light, shallow draft, frigate, 6 Turuma archipelago frigates, 1 Hemmema archipelago frigate, 3 Udema archipelago frigates, 1 Pojoma archipelago frigate, 20 gun yawls, 4 bomb vessels, 4 gun prams and 5 galleys. Without taking account the auxiliaries and transports the fleet had 5000 men. Swedish strength had been depleted since it had to defend the whole length of the coast since the open sea fleet had failed to defeat Russian fleet at Öland and was therefore unable to clear Porkkala region of Russian ships.

Russian coastal fleet consisted of a Frigate, 8 xebecs, 5 brigs, 3 bomb vessels, 18 galleys, 29 half-galleys, 12 gun yawls and 3 cutters with total of 12000 men without taking auxiliaries into account. In addition to the coastal fleet Russians were also supported by a squadron from open sea fleet commanded by Ivan Balle consisting of amongst other ships 3 frigates, 7 xebecs, and two dozen smaller ships.

First phase of the battle

Swedish fleet was well aware of the Russian numerical superiority and started creating blockades to the narrow passages on 23 August by scuttling some ships. This operation did not succeed as expected since the scuttled ships failed to blockade all the narrow passages. Action between main elements of Swedish archipelago fleet and Russian squadron led by Balle started at 10:00 on 24 August and the artillery duel continued for six hours before initial Russian attack from the south was beaten back with Russians losing three ships captured and several other badly damaged.

Second phase of the battle

Russian coastal fleet had meanwhile approached from the east and was probing its way through the Swedish blockade under fire. Decisive event happened at 16:00 when right wing of the Russian coastal fleet led by Giolio Litta managed to penetrate the narrow passage between Majasaari and Tiutinen which had not been blockaded by the Swedes. Battle which had started well for the defender now turned into attackers favor.

Russians captured turuma Sällan Värre which had run aground while defending the blockades and hemmema Oden which had come to its aid. After it became clear that Russians had beaten the blockade Swedish archipelago fleet withdraw into the safety of fortress at Svartholm. During the withdrawal several other ships were lost, turuma Björn Järnsida - which had been the flagship of Ehrensvärd at the start of the battle - run aground and after fighting nearly to the last man it had to struck its colors. Frigate af Trolle and turuma Ragvald were also captured along with 1 gun yawl. Swedish auxiliaries and transport vessels trapped to the north of island of Kotka were burned to prevent their capture.

Aftermath

Swedish losses in total were 3 turuma archipelago frigates, 1 hemmema archipelago frigate, 1 light frigate, 1 galley, 1 half-galley, 1 schooner, 9 gun yawls (or their equivalents) and 30 transport and auxiliary vessels. Total number of men died, wounded or captured during the battle was roughly 1500 in addition to a field hospital formed for 500 sick which Swedes were unable to evacuate in their hasty withdrawal. Russian losses were in the end only 1 galley and 1 gun yawl, both of which blew up. Russians managed to recapture all ships from Balle's squadron that Swedes captured early in the battle. Total number of casualties (KIA, WIA and captured) was 1100.

Though Russians had gained a clear victory they had failed to inflict decisive defeat on the Swedish archipelago fleet. Inactivity of the initially beaten Ivan Balle's squadron during the later phase of the battle allowed most of the Swedish fleet to reach the safety of Svartholma fortress and regroup for later battles.

Bibliography

• Mattila, Tapani (1983) (in Finnish). Meri maamme turvana [Sea protecting our country]. Jyväskylä: K. J. Gummerus Osakeyhtiö. ISBN 951-99487-0-8.