Russian-Swedish war of 1788-1790 230 years ago, in August 1789, the Russian rowing fleet defeated the Swedes on the roadstead of the fortified city of Rochensalm. This victory was of great importance for the course of the campaign. The loss of the rowing and transport fleets forced the Swedish command to abandon the offensive on land.
V. M. Petrov-Maslakov. "First Battle of Rochensalm"
Operations of the rowing fleet in 1789
In the campaign of 1789, the victory over the Swedes was won not only by the naval fleet (the Elandian naval battle), but also by the rowing one. The command of the rowing fleet was transferred to Prince Karl of Nassau-Siegen. He was a French aristocrat with immense combat experience. Nassau-Siegen fought in the French army during the Seven Years War, then entered the navy and sailed around the world under de Bougainville's command. He became a participant in a number of military adventures in the French and Spanish service - an unsuccessful attempt to repel Jersey and the storming of Gibraltar from the British. He made friends with the Polish monarch Stanislav August and already as a Polish diplomat he met Potemkin and Catherine II.
With the beginning of the next Russian-Turkish war, he entered the Russian service. Received the rank of rear admiral and became the chief of the Dnieper rowing flotilla. In June 1788, a French nobleman, together with Rear Admiral John Paul Jones (Scottish sailor in the Russian service), defeated the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Ochakov (Defeat of the Turkish fleet in the Battle of Ochakov). For military successes, Nassau-Siegen received the rank of vice admiral. But later he quarreled with Potemkin and was recalled to Petersburg. In 1789 he was entrusted with a rowing fleet in the Baltic Sea.
The Russian rowing fleet managed to leave Kronstadt only on June 8, 1789. It consisted of 75 vessels (galleys, kayaks, double-boats, gunboats, etc.). The total crew of the fleet numbered over 10 thousand people. The Russian fleet consisted of four types of galleys: 25-, 22-, 20- and 16-canned galleys (a bank is a rowing bench). All types of galleys had two masts. The 25-pound galleys were armed with one 24-pound cannon, two 12-pounds, four 8-pounds, and twelve 3-pound falconets; 22-can galleys - one 24-pound cannon, four 12-pounds and twelve falconets; 20-can galleys - one 18-pound cannon, two 8-pounds, two 6-pounds and ten falconets; 16-can galleys - two 12-pounds, two 8-pounds and ten 3-pounds. Also, the rowing fleet had shebeks and halfshebeks, which were armed with 10-20 guns (18-, 12-, 8- and 6-pounders). Of the large ships, they also had rowing frigates. Light rowing boats included kayaks, double-boats, gunboats, etc. The kayaks were armed with one 18-pounder cannon, one 12-pounder stern cannon, and six falconets. The armament of the double-dinghy consisted of one bow and one stern 12 or 8-pound caliber and 8 falconets. The rowing gunboats were of three types - large, medium and small. Large boats were armed with one 18-pounder cannon and one 12-pounder stern cannon, and had four falconets on the sides. Medium boats had only one 24-pound cannon, small boats had one 16-pound cannon.
Entering the skerries and attaching 13 ships of the Vyborg detachment of Slizov to his squadron, Nassau-Siegen on July 3 approached the entrance to the Friedrichsgam Bay. Near the island of Kotka, there was a Swedish rowing flotilla under the command of Karl Ehrensverd. To strengthen the forces of Nassau-Siegen, a reserve squadron was formed under the command of Vice Admiral Cruz. It consisted of two battleships, two frigates, two bombardment ships and two auxiliary ships. Cruz delayed the preparation of the detachment with the exit, so he joined the rowing fleet only on August 4.
By this time, the Swedish army (rowing) fleet, consisting of 62 combat and 24 transport ships, was in two Rochensalm raids (Big and Small). The Swedish ships had over 780 guns, the total crew consisted of about 10 thousand people. The Swedish rowing fleet was armed with large rowing ships with powerful weapons - udem, poyema and turum (ships with sixteen pairs of oars, with twelve 3-pounder cannons). The ships were sufficiently seaworthy, sailing well and maneuverable. However, their speed was lower than that of the galleys. The Swedes also built three-masted Gemans, which were armed with 20-26 guns. Along with large rowing vessels for the army fleet, small vessels were built, armed with large-caliber guns - mortar and gunboats. Mortar launches were armed with one mortar, gunboats - one 12-pound cannon and several 3-pounder falconets. Swedish gunboats were armed with two 24-pound cannons. In the course of hostilities, the Swedes quickly replenished the army fleet with new ships and converted old ships, which made it possible to quickly make up for losses.
Prince Karl of Nassau-Siegen (1743-1808)
Swedish admiral Karl August Ehrenswerd (1745 - 1800). Source:
The defeat of the Swedish fleet
Both Cruz and Nassau were eager to attack the enemy and distinguish themselves. However, they could not outline the general plan of the operation, and quarreled. As a result, the Empress removed Cruz, and Major General Balle was appointed in his place. By August 12 (23), the Russian fleet approached Rochensalm. By the beginning of the battle, the Nassau squadron was armed with over 870 guns, the reserve squadron - over 400 guns. There were over 13 thousand people on the ships. According to the plan of the Prince of Nassau, Balle with 11 large and 9 small ships (over 400 guns in total) was to go to Rochensalm through the southern passage and bind the main enemy forces in battle. This was to facilitate the breakthrough of the main forces of the fleet through the Royal Gate. Making this decision, the Russian commander did not know that the Swedes had closed the way to the Rochensalm roadstead with the help of sunken ships.
The Swedish admiral put out all the large ships of the army fleet to defend the southern aisle. Small ships and transports were directed north into the depths of the skerries in the Kyumen Bay. To protect the Royal Gate, Ehrensverd ordered several transports to be flooded in the narrowest meta of the passage, making it impassable even for small rowing ships. There were also four bombardment ships defended here.
On August 13 (24), 1789 at 10 o'clock in the morning, the Balle detachment approached the Swedish ships that were defending the passage between the islands of Kotka and Kutula-Mulim. Ahead was the "Agile" packet boat, followed by the bombardier ships "Perun" and "Thunder", followed by the Shebeks "Flying", "Minerva" and "Bystraya". An artillery firefight began, which lasted for about five hours. During the battle, two Swedish gunboats were sunk. The battle was fierce. The ships of the Russian avant-garde were damaged, guns failed one after another, the crews suffered losses. Thus, the commander of the frigate "Simeon", Lieutenant-Commander G. Green, was wounded, the commander of the "Flying" shebeka, Lieutenant E. Ryabinin, the commander of the "Fast" shebeka, Lieutenant Sarandinaki, the commander of the bombing ship "Perun", Lieutenant-Commander "Senyavin" were wounded.
After the artillery battle, the Swedes decided to go on the attack, to board. Balle, whose ships had already used almost all the ammunition, ordered to retreat. However, the enemy managed to capture the Perun bombardment ship and the Hasty packet boat. In the Balle detachment at this time, they wondered where the ships of Nassau were, which were already supposed to attack the enemy from the rear.
Map source:
Meanwhile, in the north, a squadron of Nassau-Siegen and Rear Admiral Giulio Litta (an Italian aristocrat in the Russian service) reached the Royal Gate and found the passage blocked. At first they tried to find a passage between the numerous islets, but to no avail. Litta then ordered that the passage be cleared. The squadron remained under the fire of Swedish ships for a long time, while special teams of sailors, soldiers and officers, using axes and crowbars, tried to clear the passage. They worked for several hours with incredible dedication under enemy fire. At the same time, along another shallow passage, where most of the ships could not pass, several small rowing ships were able to get into the roadstead. Finally, at 7 o'clock in the evening, at the cost of great efforts and great losses, our sailors were able to break and pull apart the ships sunk in the Royal Gate. And this passage was able to pass the galleys.
Thus, at the most critical moment for the Balle detachment, which was threatened with complete defeat, the ships of the Prince of Nassau appeared in the rear of the enemy. The Swedes, already anticipating a victory over the Balle detachment, were confused, the blow from the Royal Gate came as a complete surprise to them. Nassau introduced more and more ships into battle, the Swedes retreated. The Russian and Swedish squadrons mixed. The stubborn battle lasted until 2 am. Russian galleys recaptured ships captured by the Swedes, and captured several enemy ships. So, our trophies were the Swedish rowing 24-gun frigate Avtroil, the admiral's 48-gun turum Biorn-Erxida, the Rogwald turum of the same type, the Selle-Vere turum, the Odin Udema and other vessels. The Swedes were completely defeated and retreated towards Lovise. When the outcome of the battle became clear, the Swedes burned down their transport flotilla, which was supplying the army.
Outcomes
The total losses of the Swedish fleet were 39 vessels. The Swedes lost about 1 thousand people killed and wounded, more than 1, 1 thousand prisoners. Russian losses of about 1200 people killed and wounded. During the battle, the Russian squadron lost two ships: a 22-can galley Tsivilsk (16 guns) exploded, and a gunboat perished. Another 25-can galley was badly damaged "Dnepr" (19 guns), it was returned to Kronstadt, but it was no longer subject to restoration.
For this victory, the naval commander of Nassau-Siegen received the highest Russian Order of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Ivan Balle - the Order of St. Anne, 1st degree, Giulio Litta - the Order of St. George, 3rd degree. All participants in the naval battle received silver medals, on one side of which was the image of Tsarina Catherine II, and on the other - the inscription: "For bravery in the Finnish waters on August 13, 1789".
The victory of the Russian rowing squadron led to the fact that the coastal flank of the Swedish army was open. After the battle, Nassau-Siegen suggested that the commander-in-chief of the Russian army, Musin-Pushkin, land a strong landing in the enemy's rear in order to cut off the escape route for the Swedish troops. At this time, the ground forces were to launch an offensive from the front. However, the Swedish king, realizing the threat, placed batteries in the most dangerous places and himself hastily retreated to Lovisa. Russian troops pursued the enemy.
A week later, Russian gunboats captured five enemy ships at the Neishloth fortress. Four more large Swedish landing boats were sunk. On this, the actions of the rowing fleet in 1789 ended.
Medal "For bravery on Finnish waters"
