Battle of Öland (1789)

For the 1676 battle, see battle of Öland.
Battle of Öland
Part of Russo-Swedish War

The battle of Öland
Date 26 July (15 July OS), 1789
Location Near Öland Island, Baltic Sea
Result Indecisive
Belligerents
 Sweden  Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland Vasili Chichagov
Strength
30 ships 18 ships

The naval Battle of Öland took place on 26 July 1789 during the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790).

Contents

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 the island of Öland.

Battle

The Swedish fleet came in contact with the Russians on 26 July 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.

Aftermath

For three days the fleets manoeuvred within sight of each other, but finally the Swedes retreated to the naval base at 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.

The rival fleets

Sweden

Wladislaff 76
Enigheten 74
Götha Lejon 74
Kung Adolf Fredrik 74
Kung Gustaf III 74
Louise Ulrika 74
Sophia Magdalena 74
Fäderneslandet 66
Äran 64
Dristigheten 64
Dygden 64
Försightigheten 64
Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta 64
Manligheten 64
Ömheten 64
Prins Carl 64
Prins Fredrik Adolf 64
Tapperheten 64
Rättvisan 62
Wasa 62
Riksens Ständer 60
Gripen 44
Uppland 44
Euredice 40
Fröya 40
Galathea 40
Minerva 40
Thetis 40
Zemire 40

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

Sources & references

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