Battle of Suomenlinna

The Battle of Suomenlinna (also known as Battle of Viapori) was fought between Russias and British/French forces.

Background

Constructed during the Swedish rule of Finland in the 18th century the fortress of Viapori (sv:Sveaborg, renamed in Finnish in 1918 as fi:Suomenlinna) was the main defensive installation in the Grand Duchy of Finland. After the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland had been moved from Turku to Helsinki in 1827 the value of Viapori only increased. However by the Crimean War the artillery of the fortress had already become obsolete. After the engagements of 1854 Russians (and Finns) expected attack against Viapori in 1855. The Small skirmishes had been fought along the coast between Russian and British/French forces in the early summer of 1855 only worsened the fear while bulk of the Russian fleet had become isolated and surrounded to the port and fortress of Kronstadt off the Saint Petersburg.

Battle

British and French naval forces consisting of 77 ships arrayed for the long expected battle on 6 August 1855. They formed into a battle line more than 3km of the shore beyond the range of the defender's obsolete artillery. Three days later the bombardment commenced. It continued for 47-48 hours all the while the attacker sat beyond the range of the defender. British and French bombarded only the fortress of Viapori and avoided firing at the town of Helsinki. While bombardment caused damage to the structures above the ground, including to several gunpowder magazines which exploded, bulk of the defenders forces survived unscathed with their weaponry intact leading into a stalemate with attackers guns being unable to defeat the defender and defenders guns being unable to reach the attacker. After the guns had silenced the ships remained on the site leading to growing fears of landing. However British and French forces landed troops neither to Viapori nor to Helsinki.

References

ATLAS Suomen historia ISBN 952-5312-80-1 (Strength, Casualties, Belligerents and Battle result)