Great losses
The 1788-1790 war with Russia included many Naval battles, which in turn resulted in large scale losses which had to be replaced. It was not the fighting that claimed the lives of most boatswains, rather it was the diseases that spread in the Navy. The lack of hygiene, bad diet and cold, moist weather created an ideal breeding ground for diseases. In 1790 alone the Nagu villages had to provide 19 young men to replace the casualties of the previous year.
The gauntlet at Viborg
During the third year of the war, the Swedes launched an attack against St. Petersburg. But the attempt failed and the entire Swedish fleet was detained in the Gulf of Viborg. On July 3, 1790 the Swedish fleet carried out a successful breakthrough, which later became known as the Gauntlet at Viborg. The Russian Navy was under the command of Prince Karl of Nassau-Siegen and continued chasing after the Swedish archipelago fleet into the islands of Svensksund.
The Swedish Archipelago Fleet included 275 vessels and over 14 000 men at arms. This figure included 360 officers and 700 junior officers. The fleet was serviced by 1 200 men and 69 vessels in charge of support and medical transportation. The fighting force of the fleet consisted of 13 000 men and 206 vessels armed with 860 swivel guns and 450 heavy guns.
The Russian fleet was composed by 274 vessels with 18 500 men at arms. The Russian armament consisted of 850 to 1000 heavy guns and just as many swivel guns. July 8th the Russian fleet congregated at the southeastern entrance to the sound of Svensksund where the fleet commander, Nassau, divided it in four lines of battle.
The largest naval battle in the Baltic Sea
The attack began at 8 o’clock in the morning. The Russian fleet experienced great difficulties in fighting the Swedes’ strong positions. In addition, weather conditions were poor and the mobility of the narrow strait was limited, which meant that the Swedes could use their gunfire to a killing effect. Russia experienced a catastrophic defeat, loosing one third of the fleet. The Swedish losses were minimal and amounted only to 9 officers and 162 soldiers. Additional 14 officers and 108 soldiers were severely injured. A total of 6 Swedish ships were lost: The Udeman Ingeborg, 2 gun sloops and a gun boat sank. An mortar launch as well as a gun boat exploded.
Careful estimates of the Russian losses point at at least 9,000 men. Captured Russian officers reported to the Swedes that they themselves estimated 12,000 Russian losses. Between 50 and 80 Russian ships had been lost after the battle. Prince Nassau managed a narrow escape, but his flagship Catarina was taken as price by the Swedes. During the battle, the small Swedish gun sloops and gun boats were far more effective in coastal battles than the larger archipelago frigates. On July 22nd, victory was celebrated by the Swedes at the site of battle with Thanksgiving. Several officers were promoted and honorary swords were distributed. The Battle of Svensksund was the Baltic Sea’s largest naval battle and Sweden’s largest marine victory ever.
