Battle of Öland (1789)

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Battle of Öland
Part of Russo-Swedish War
Date 26 July (July 15 OS), 1789 Location Near Öland Island, Baltic Sea Result Indecisive
Combatants
Sweden	Russia
Commanders
Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland	Vasili Chichagov

Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790)
Hogland – Kvistrum Bridge – Öland – 1st Svensksund – Reval – Kronstadt – Vyborg Bay – 2nd Svensksund

The naval Battle of Öland took place on 26 July 1789 during the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790). There was another naval battle in 1676 called the Battle of Öland.

Contents 1 Origins 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 The rival fleets 4.1 Sweden 4.2 Russia 5 Sources & references

[edit] Origins

Having assembled 21 ships of the line and eight large frigates under his flag, Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland decided to intercept the Russian fleet near Oland Island.

[edit] Battle

The Swedish fleet came in contact with the Russians on July 26, 1789 just south of Öland. The Russians took the defensive position, with the Swedes making some indecisive attacks and firing at long range. Duke Karl would have won a signal victory but for the unaccountable remissness of his second-in-command, Admiral Per Liljehorn whose second division of the Swedish fleet did not reach the fighting in time, failing to follow orders to attack. Having met with strong resistance, the Swedes disengaged.

[edit] Aftermath

For three days the fleets manoeuvred within sight of each other, but finally the Swedes retreated to Karlskrona. The battle ended in a draw, but the Russians returned east.

Admiral Liljehorn was put to trial, convicted and barely escaped death as his life was spared by the government.

[edit] The rival fleets

[edit] Sweden

Wladislaff 76
Enighet 74
Götha Lejon 74
Kung Adolf Fredrik 74
Kung Gustaf III 74
Louise Ulrika 74
Sophia Magdalena 74
Fädernesland 66
Ära 64
Dristighet 64
Dygd 64
Försightighet 64
Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta 64
Manlighet 64
Ömhet 64
Prins Carl 64
Prins Fredrik Adolf 64
Tapperhet 64
Rättvisa 62
Wasa 62
Riksens Ständer 60
Grip 44
Uppland 44
Euredice 40
Fröya 40
Galathea 40
Minerva 40
Thetis 40
Zemire 40

[edit] Russia

Rostislav 100
Dvyenadtsat Apostolov 100
Knyaz Vladimir 100
Iezekiil 78
Kir Ioann 74
Mstislav 74
Pobyedoslav 74
Prints Gustav 74
Sv. Elena 74
Sv. Petr 74
Yaroslav 74
Boleslav 66
Deris 66
Izyaslav 66
Pamyat Evstafia 66
Rodislav 66
Svyatoslav 66
Viktor 66
Vysheslav 66

[edit] Sources & references

R. C. Anderson Naval Wars in the Baltic, 1522-1850.