Battle of Grönvikssund

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

Battle of Grönvikssund
Part of the Finnish War
Date30 August 1808
Location
Finnish archipelago, near Kustavi
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Swedish Royal Navy Imperial Russian Navy
Commanders and leaders
Lt. Colonel Johan Ludvig Brant
Major Sölfverarm
Captain Carl Ulrik af Klercker		 Captain Selivanov
Lieutenant Myakin
Strength
35 gun sloops
 20 gun sloops
4 gun yawls
Casualties and losses
2 ships sunk
225 killed or wounded[1]		 9 ships sunk
114 killed or wounded (incomplete)[1]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

References
  1. Hornborg 1955, p. 185.
  2. 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.
  • Hornborg, Eirik (1955). När riket sprängdes: fälttågen i Finland och Västerbotten, 1808-1809 (in Swedish). Stockholm: P. A. Norstedts och Söners Förlag.

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