Russo-Swedish War Naval Battles

Background. King Gustav III attacked Russia in 1788, prompted by the Russo-Turkish War and the movement of the Russian Baltic Fleet. After the strategic failure at Hogland, tensions rose in Sweden. The First Battle of Svensksund in 1789 was a Swedish defeat. In 1790, Gustav attempted a landing near Vyborg, but the Swedish Navy was caught in the Bay of Viborg, setting the stage for the naval battles.

Battle of Reval. On 13 May 1790, the Swedish battle fleet under Prince Charles, Duke of Södermanland, attempted to eliminate Admiral Vasily Chichagov's Russian squadron wintering at Reval. The engagement took place off the port of Reval in the roadstead. The Swedish attempt failed, resulting in a defeat for the Swedish forces against the Russian squadron.

Second Battle of Svensksund. The Second Battle of Svensksund occurred on 9 and 10 July 1790 in the Gulf of Finland. The Russian coastal fleet, led by Karl Heinrich von Nassau-Siegen, attacked the Swedes. The Swedish naval forces dealt a devastating defeat to the Russian fleet, ending the Russo-Swedish War. Fighting continued until 09:00 on 10 July as Russian ships tried to escape.

Aftermath. The defeat at Svensksund encouraged Russia to negotiate with Sweden. The Treaty of Värälä was signed on 14 August 1790, ending the war. The conflict was considered mostly insignificant for the parties involved, as Catherine II viewed it as a distraction from other conflicts. Gustav III's domestic problems were only briefly solved by the war.