Battle of Grönvikssund facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Grönvikssund
Part of the Finnish War
Date 30 August 1808 Location Finnish archipelago, near Kustavi Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Russian Empire
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	9 ships sunk 114 killed or wounded (incomplete)

The Battle of Grönvikssund was an important naval battle. It happened between Sweden and Russia during the Finnish War. This war took place from 1808 to 1809. The battle occurred on August 30, 1808. It was fought in the Finnish archipelago, near a place called Kustavi.

The Battle Begins

Lieutenant Colonel Johan Ludvig Brant led the Swedish forces. His mission was to defeat Russian ships along the coast. These Russian ships were operating near a town called Nystad. Brant found out that about twenty Russian gun sloops and yawls had sailed from Nystad. They were heading towards Turku. So, the Swedish naval unit started chasing them.

Swedish Forces Catch Up

The Swedish ships caught up with the Russians. When the Russians saw the Swedes coming, they got ready for a fight. The Swedish forces had more ships than the Russians. This gave them an advantage. They tried to go around an island to attack the Russians from the side. This move is called a flanking maneuver.

Russian Defense

However, the Russians noticed the Swedish plan. They quickly moved their ships to block the Swedish flankers. This meant the Swedish plan to attack from the side did not work. The Swedes then had to move closer to the Russian ships.

Fighting at Close Range

Even though the Russians had fewer ships, they fought very bravely. They put up a strong resistance. They slowly pulled back while keeping their ships together. This is called maintaining unit cohesion. It means their ships stayed organized.

Russian Retreat

The battle continued for some time. Captain Selivanov, who led the Russian forces, started running out of ammunition. By 7:00 PM, most of his ships had been badly damaged. They were full of holes from cannon fire. Because of this, Selivanov had to order a retreat.

The Chase Ends

The Swedes chased the retreating Russian ships. But they could not catch them before night fell. So, the Swedish ships turned back. The battle was over for the day.

Why Sweden Won

Several things helped the Swedes win this battle. They had more ships than the Russians. Also, the wind was blowing in their favor. This made it easier for their ships to move.

Avoiding Boarding Actions

The Swedes decided not to try to board the Russian ships. Boarding means soldiers jump onto enemy ships to fight hand-to-hand. This decision probably saved the Russians from losing even more ships and soldiers.

Impact of the Victory

The Swedish victory was important. It forced the Russians to change their plans. They had been planning to attack Åland, a group of islands. But after this defeat, they had to delay those plans. Instead of preparing for a landing, the Russian coastal forces were used for something else. They had to protect supply convoys. These convoys carried important supplies for the Russian army.