Battle of Suomenlinna facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Suomenlinna
Part of the Åland War and the Crimean War
A British illustration of the attack
Date 9–11 August 1855 Location Suomenlinna, Grand Duchy of Finland Result Indecisive
Belligerents
Russian Empire Grand Duchy of Finland	French Empire United Kingdom
Commanders and leaders
Aleksei Sorokin [ru]	Richard Dundas Charles Pénaud
Strength
15,000 soldiers 1,500 cannons	77 ships
Casualties and losses
55 or 62 killed 199 or 204 wounded	Unknown

The Battle of Suomenlinna was a fight that happened from August 9 to 11, 1855. It was also called the Battle of Viapori or the Bombardment of Sweaborg. This battle took place between Russian defenders and a combined British and French navy. It was part of a bigger conflict known as the Åland War, which itself was connected to the Crimean War.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

The Fortress of Suomenlinna

The fortress of Viapori was built in the 1700s when Finland was ruled by Sweden. It was the main defense point in the area. Later, in 1812, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland moved to Helsinki. This made the fortress even more important.

However, by the time of the Crimean War, the cannons at the fortress were quite old. They were not as good as newer weapons.

Fears of an Attack

After some fighting in 1854, the Russians and Finns expected an attack on Viapori in 1855. Small battles along the coast earlier that summer made these fears worse. Most of the Russian navy was stuck and surrounded in the port of Kronstadt, near Saint Petersburg. This meant they couldn't help defend Viapori.

The Battle Begins

A map showing where the attacking ships were positioned.

On August 6, 1855, British and French naval forces got ready for the battle. They had 77 ships in total. They lined up more than 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the shore. This distance was important because it put them out of reach of the old cannons at the fortress.

Bombardment from Afar

Three days later, the attack began. The ships fired their cannons for about 47 to 48 hours straight. They shot around 18,500 cannonballs. The attackers stayed far away, so the defenders' guns couldn't hit them.

The British and French only fired at the Viapori fortress. They did not shoot directly at the town of Helsinki. The bombardment damaged buildings above ground. Several places where gunpowder was stored exploded.

A Stalemate

Even with all the damage, most of the defending soldiers were safe. Their weapons were still working. This led to a "stalemate," which means neither side could win. The attackers' guns couldn't completely defeat the defenders, and the defenders' guns couldn't reach the attackers.

After the firing stopped, the ships stayed in the same spot. This made people worry that troops would land on shore. However, the British and French forces did not land any soldiers at Viapori or Helsinki. Eventually, they left the area.