Battle of Sandöström facts for kids

The Battle of Sandöström was a naval battle fought between Sweden and Russia. It happened during the Finnish War (1808-1809). This battle took place in the Finnish archipelago, near the island of Kimito.

Quick facts for kids Battle of Sandöström
Part of the Finnish War
Date 2–3 August 1808 Location Finnish archipelago, near Kimito Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Sweden	Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Klas Hjelmstjerna Önnert Jönsson Sölfverarm	Lodewijk van Heiden Dodt
Strength
22 gun sloops	12 gun sloops 38 gun yawls
Casualties and losses
36 killed 93 wounded 12 ships damaged	121 killed 200 wounded 35 ships damaged

Why Did the Battle Happen?

The Swedish forces had tried to stop Russian ships near a city called Åbo (now Turku). They failed in earlier battles. So, the Swedes wanted to block Russian reinforcements.

The Swedish navy controlled the open sea. This forced Russian ships to use narrow waterways along the coast. The Swedes sent a group of small ships called gun sloops. Their job was to block a passage north of Kimito island. This passage was near a small island named Tallholmen.

Swedish Rear Admiral Klas Hjelmstjerna had to divide his ships. He wanted to prevent Russian ships from attacking from behind. He first gave Captain Sölfverarm 8 gun sloops. Later, he sent 4 more. Hjelmstjerna kept 14 gun sloops and 7 larger ships for himself. He also sent 4 gun sloops to block other waterways. Captain Sölfverarm knew his position was weak. He began to block the waterway north of Kimito.

The Fight Begins: Tallholmen

The first attempt by the Russians to get through happened on July 18. Six Russian gun sloops tried to pass the Swedes. They were not successful. This small fight became known as the Battle of Tallholmen.

A few days later, on July 21, another attempt was made. Around midnight, 30 Russian gun yawls attacked. These were led by Captain Login Geiden. Russian artillery and ground troops on the shore supported them. The Swedes were greatly outnumbered. Yet, they managed to retreat in an organized way.

No ships were sunk by either side in this skirmish. However, the Swedes had 46 soldiers killed or wounded. The Russians had 19 casualties, but their commander, Geiden, was badly hurt.

Battles of Tallholmen and Sandöström

The Main Battle at Sandöström

Captain Sölfverarm worked to make his defenses stronger. He built an artillery battery on an island. This island was in the middle of the narrow passage. The Swedes also got more help. Lieutenant Colonel Önnert Jönsson arrived with 10 more gun sloops. He took command of the Swedish forces.

The Russians also received reinforcements. They now had 50 armed vessels. On land, they had two artillery batteries and two field guns. They also had six companies of infantry soldiers.

The main Russian attack started on August 2 at 3:00 AM. The Swedish battery in the middle of the passage was very effective. It fired well, even under heavy attack. Several Swedish gun sloops had to pull back. But the Swedes managed to stop the first Russian attack. More attacks happened during the day. The Swedes still held their line.

Later, a stronger Russian attack broke through the Swedish line. This forced the Swedish ships to retreat. The artillery battery was left surrounded by Russian forces.

What Happened Next?

The Swedish retreat was orderly. The Russians could not take advantage of it right away. Rear Admiral Hjelmstjerna's reserve ships arrived. He could have counterattacked with fresh forces. The enemy had used most of their ammunition. But Hjelmstjerna chose to withdraw instead.

The battle itself was not a clear win for either side. However, the Russians achieved their main goal. They gained access through the coastal waterways. This allowed their coastal naval units to connect.

A Daring Plan: The Kimito Landing

While the naval battle was happening, another Swedish unit was busy. They were landing on the island of Kimito. This landing operation faced many delays. Its first goal was to help prevent the Russian fleet from passing the island. This goal was not met.

However, the Swedish commander, Colonel Axel af Pàlen, learned something interesting. The Russian commander, Friedrich Wilhelm von Buxhoeveden, was dining nearby. He was at a manor house in Vestankärr. Colonel af Pàlen decided to try and capture him!

Af Pàlen and his 150 men moved quietly. They reached the manor house without being seen. But as they moved to surround the building, Russian guards spotted them. The guards warned their commander. Buxhoeveden managed to escape. Soon, Russian reinforcements arrived. This forced the Swedish landing force to retreat.