Battle of Öland (1789)


 * For the 1676 battle, see battle of Öland.

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

Background
The Swedish battlefleet had spent the winter at Karlskrona which was struck by relapsing fever epidemic during the stay. Epidemic had started from the capture of the Russian ships of line Vladislav during the Battle of Hogland in 1788. From the captured sailors the disease had spread widely into the fleet during its prolonged stay at Sveaborg in 1788 was carried with the fleet to Karlskrona later that year. Fitting ships for the sealing season proceeded very slowly and was greatly hindered by the losses suffered due to the illness to the crews. From December 1788 to September 1789 total of 26 249 were treated for sickness in naval hospitals at Karlskrona alone of whom 5 286 perished while the total death toll of the epidemics is assumed to be around 15 000 lives. By the end of June thousands of soldiers had to be sent from the infantry as reinforcements for the fleet. Regardless of the obstacles Admiral Otto Henrik Nordenskiöld who was responsible for refitting was able to ready fleet of 21 ships of the line and 8 frigates for sailing already for 6 June however without crews.

The Russian fleet had spent the winter of 1788-1789 in split into several elements at Copenhagen, Reval and Kronstadt. Together with newly built ships and effective repairs of ships damaged earlier the Russians were looking to be able to deploy around 40 ships capable to taking part to battle line with combined crew of roughly 30 000 men. Admiral Samuel Grieg who had commanded the Russian fleet at the Battle of Hogland had perished in the autumn 1788 and Admiral Von Dessin who had commanded the elements of the Russian fleet deployed to Copenhagen was removed from command. They were replaced respectively with Admirals Vasili Chichagov and Timofei Kozljaninov. The goal for the Russian naval operations in 1789 was to link together the separated fleet elements and then engage the Swedish fleet as soon as possible while meanwhile providing forces to uphold the blockades of the shipping routes along the Finnish coast.

Lack of crews prevented the Swedish fleet from any training or exercises and it was effectively confined to the docks. The fleet was finally able to set sail on 6 July despite that several ships were still undermanned, several lacking more than hundred men from their complements. Having assembled 21 ships of the line and 8 large frigates under his flag, Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland decided to intercept the Russian fleet near the island of Öland before the elements of the Russian fleet would be able to link up. Admiral Otto Henrik Nordenskjöld acted as flag-captain to the Duke Charles.

Battle
After setting sail the Swedish fleet patrolled the waters between Skåne, Rügen, Bornholm and Själland in the southern Baltic Sea. Fleet was still not clean from diseases (mainly the relapsing fever) and several small dispatch vessels were used for shipping healthy men to fleet while transporting ever growing number of sick back to Karlskrona. On 23 July did the Swedish fleet receive news that 35 ship strong Russian fleet had been seen outside of Gotland and finally at noon on 25 July were the first Russian ships sighted. Both fleets took northernly heading and Swedish tried to close in the distance.

The Russian fleet attempted to slip between the Swedes and Karlskrona but when it became clear that it would not succeed the Russians were content with just keeping distance to the Swedes. Winds were getting stronger which prevented either side from taking action later on 25 July 1789. On morning of 26 July fleets again sighted each other and Swedes again attempted to close in and engage the Russian but were unable to do so as the Russian fleet carefully avoided it. Further problem for the Swedes was that the rear-guard commanded by Admiral Per Liljehorn had become separated from the rest of the fleet and did not rejoin it despite of repeatedly being ordered to do so.

The Russian fleet continued evading the Swedish trying to slip between the Swedes and their home port. Finally by 1400 on 26 July had first ships reached the cannon range and started the battle. Varying winds forced battle to be paused between 1600 and 1800 but it was later commenced again. Fighting continued until 2000 when the Russian fleet turned towards east. Swedish fleet was unable to follow as the undermanned crews could not handle both guns and sails simultaneously. During the battle the fleets remained fair distance apart and the cannons were fired near their maximum ranges and thus had very little effect. Misfiring cannons and barrel explosions were the main cause of losses on both sides. During the fight three trailing ships of the Russian fleet were left separated from the rest of the fleet. Several Swedish ships were ordered to engage these stragglers but the Swedish ships turned away before even reaching the cannon range. Captains of the ships later claimed that they turned away from the Russian ships according to orders from Admiral Per Liljehorn who kept his ships away from the fight.

Swedes were able to receive reinforcements and ship out the sick on 28 July after which the Swedish turned again to chase the Russians but without success as the Russians repeatedly avoided engaging the Swedish fleet. Similar action was repeated on following days until on 30 July the continuously worsening sickness amongst the crews forced the Swedes to seriously consider returning to their base as roughly 2 500 men had gotten sick after the fleet had set sail. On 31 July the wind turned which was seen as favorable for arrival of the Russian squadron from Copenhagen. To avoid being caught between two Russian fleets the Swedish fleet started back towards Karlskrona. On the same day the Russian squadron from Copenhagen joined with the Russian fleet.

Aftermath
For three days the fleets maneuvered within sight of each other, but finally the Swedes retreated to the naval base at Karlskrona. Epidemic which still had not ended at Karlskrona then confined the Swedish fleet to its anchorage for most of the remainder of the year. The battle ended in a draw, but the Russians remained in control of the Baltic Sea.

Rank of admiral was stripped from Per Liljehorn already before the fleet had reached Karlskrona. Suspicions concerning Liljehorn arose after the debacle we was widely suspected of being bribed by the Russians. He was put to trial, convicted and barely escaped death as his life was spared by the government. The Russian Admiral Chichagov was also investigated for his inaction and avoidance of battle but was not found guilty since his orders explicitly stated that he should first to rendezvous with the Russian squadron from Copenhagen before engaging the Swedish fleet.

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