Battle of Grönvikssund

Part of Finnish War

Date	30 August 1808
Location	Finnish archipelago, near Kustavi 60°30′00″N 21°25′05″E / 60.500°N 21.418°E / 60.500; 21.418Coordinates: 60°30′00″N 21°25′05″E / 60.500°N 21.418°E / 60.500; 21.418
Result	Swedish victory

Belligerents

Swedish Navy

Imperial Russian Navy

Commanders and leaders

Lt. Colonel Johan Ludvig Brant
Major Sölfverarm
Captain Carl Ulrik af Klercker

Captain Selivanoff
Lieutenant Mjakin

Strength

35 Gun sloops

20 Gun sloops
4 Gun yawls

Casualties and losses

2 ships sunk

9 ships sunk

Finnish War

Pyhäjoki Siikajoki Revolax Sveaborg Pulkkila Lemo Nykarleby Vaasa Kokonsaari Lapua Rimito Kramp Sandöström Kauhajoki Alavus Karstula Grönvikssund Ruona and Salmi Ömossa Jutas Oravais Palva Sund Taivassalo Koljonvirta Hörnefors Sävar Ratan

The Battle of Grönvikssund was fought between Sweden and Russia during the Finnish War 1808-09.

Battle

Johan Ludvig Brant was tasked with defeating Russian coastal forces operating near Nystad (fi. Uusikaupunki). When he learned that roughly twenty Russian gun sloops or yawls had sailed from Nystad towards Turku he started chasing them. Swedish naval unit caught up with the Russians who upon noticing the approaching Swedes formed for battle. Swedish numerical superiority allowed them to attempt flanking maneuver around the island dominating the battle area, however Russians noticed it and managed to block the flankers.^[1]

As flanking had failed approached Swedish to close range however though outnumbered Russian force made fierce resistance and withdrew only slowly while maintaining unit cohesion. When he was running out of ammo Selivanoff had to order retreat at 19:00 when most of his ships had already been shot full of holes. Swedes gave chase to the retreating Russians but failed to catch them before nightfall and turned back.^[1]

Numerical superiority and favorable wind were important factors contributing to the Swedish victory. However Swedes' decision to avoid boarding actions probably saved Russians from even greater losses. Swedish victory forced Russians to postpone their plans for attacking Åland and instead of forming a landing force Russian coastal forces were used to protect supply convoys.^[1]

References

1 2 3 Mattila (1983) p.287-290

Bibliography

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

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