The naval Battle of Reval took place on 13 May 1790 (2 May OS) during the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790), off the port of Reval (now Tallinn, Estonia). Gustav IIIs Russian War, also known as the Russo-Swedish War, was fought between Sweden and Russia from June 1788 to August 1790. ... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... The Julian calendar was introduced in 46 BC by Julius Caesar and took force in 45 BC (709 ab urbe condita). ... 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... County Harju County Mayor Jüri Ratas Area 159. ... Charles XIII, Karl XIII, or Carl II, (1748-1818), king of Sweden and Norway, the second son of king Adolf Frederick of Sweden, and Louisa Ulrica of Prussia, sister of Frederick the Great, was born at Stockholm on October 7, 1748. ... Vasili Yakovlevich Chichagov (1726-1809) was an admiral in the Russian Navy and an explorer. ... Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... Combatants Sweden Russia Commanders Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland Samuel Greig Strength 15 ships of the line 17 ships of the line Casualties {{{notes}}} The naval Battle of Hogland took place on 17 July (July 6 OS) 1788 during the Russo-Swedish War (1788-1790). ... There was another naval battle in 1676 called the Battle of Öland. ... Combatants Sweden Russia Commanders Gustav III of Sweden Lieutenant-Colonel Carl Olof Cronstedt Prince Charles of Nassau-Siegen Strength 6 larger ships 16 galleys 154 smaller vessels ˜1,000 guns 12,500 men 35 larger ships 23 galleys 77 smaller vessels ˜1,200 guns 14,000 men Casualties 1 large... May 13 is the 133rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (134th in leap years). ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... Gustav IIIs Russian War, also known as the Russo-Swedish War, was fought between Sweden and Russia from June 1788 to August 1790. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1790 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... County Harju County Mayor Jüri Ratas Area 159. ...

Origins

Undaunted by the Swedish defeats and failures during 1789, the Swedish king, Gustav III sent the battlefleet under his brother Prince Karl, Duke of Södermanland, to eliminate Admiral Chichagov's Russian squadron, which had wintered in the harbour at Reval. 1789 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Gustav III (13 January 1746 (O.S.) (24 January 1746 (N.S.))–March 29, 1792) was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. ... Charles XIII, Karl XIII, or Carl II, (1748-1818), king of Sweden and Norway, the second son of king Adolf Frederick of Sweden, and Louisa Ulrica of Prussia, sister of Frederick the Great, was born at Stockholm on October 7, 1748. ...

General-Admiral Duke Karl approached Reval with 26 ships of the line and large frigates mounting a combined 1,680 cannon. Chichagov, preparing to meet the enemy in the harbour, formed a battle line made up of nine ships of the line and the frigate Venus.

Battle

The Russian fleet (9 ships of the line, 5 frigates) was anchored in a line going from Reval harbour towards the Wims mountain. The first line was comprised of nine ships of the line and frigates (the 100-gun battleships Rostislav and Saratov, 74-gun Kir Ioann, Mstislav, Sv. Yelena and Yaroslav, 66-gun Pobedonosets, Boleslav and Izyaslav and the 40-gun frigate Venus). In the second line, four frigates - Podrazhislav (32 guns), Slava (32), Nadezhda Blagopoluchiya (32) and Pryamislav (36). Two bomb-vessels were deployed on the flanks. The third line was composed of seven launches. A harbor (or harbour) or haven is a place where ships may shelter from the weather or are stored. ...

The Swedish fleet under the command of General-Admiral Duke Carl of Södermanland consisted of 22 ships of the line, four frigates and four smaller vessels. It entered the harbour and started passing by the anchored Russian ships. Admiral is a word from the Arabic term Amir-al-bahr (commander of the sea). ... Södermanland is the name of a geographical region in Sweden which can refer to: Sudermannia, or Södermanland - a historical Province of Sweden Södermanland County, or Södermanlands län - a current County of Sweden Part of Stockholm County, or Stockholms län - a current County of Sweden... Ships of the line were 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-rated ships in the rating system of the Royal Navy. ... Frigate is a name which has been used for several distinct types of warships at different times. ...

Due to the strong winds and inaccurate aiming most of the Swedish projectiles ricocheted past their targets. The Russian ships that were anchored within the protected area of the harbour were able to use their guns much more effectively. The ship of the Swedish General-Admiral, which could not be brought into the wind due to a rigging problem, was forced to drift towards Rostislav and received major damage from grapeshot. The 64-gun battleship Prins Karl, fifteenth the Swedish line, lost her rudder to Russian fire and had to strike her colours. A projectile is any object sent through space by the application of a force. ... Grapeshot was a kind of anti-personnel ammunition used in cannons. ... The worlds oldest depiction of a rudder. ... In the days when battle was conducted at close quarters, it was necessary for soldiers to be able to determine where, during the heat of battle, their regiment was. ...

The Duke of Södermanland directed the battle from the frigate Ulla Fersen, beyond the range of Russian fire. After a two hour artillery duel he ordered his ships to break off the engagement; hence the last ten ships of Swedish line veered off without firing a shot. The Swedish ship Riksens Ständer hit the reef north of Wolf island. Swedish attempts to dislodge it failed, and they were forced to burn her so that she would not be taken by the Russians. Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... A reef surrounding an islet. ...

Aftermath

The Battle of Reval can be considered a Russian victory. The Swedes lost two ships of the line, and were forced to retreat despite their almost two-fold numerical superiority. Swedish losses were 51 killed, 81 wounded, and 250 captured. Russian losses were 8 killed and 27 injured.

After the battle the Swedish fleet partially repaired at the sea, and then sailed away east of Gogland island.

The rival fleets

Russia

Prints Gustav 74
First line:
Kir Ioann 74
Saratov 100
Sv. Elena 74
Prochor 66
Mstislav 74
Rostislav 100
Izyaslav 66
Pobyedonosets 66
Boleslav 66
Yaroslav 74
Venus 44
Second line:
Premislav 42
Nadezhda Blagopolutchia 38
Podrazhislav 38
Slava 38
Pobyeditel 18
Strashni 14
Third line:
Merkurii 29
Lebed 28
Vyestnik
Volchov 8
Olen
Stchastlivyi 8
Letutchii 28
Neptun 18

Sweden

Wladislaff 74
Dristighet 64
Gotha Lejon 70
Louise Ulrika 70
Uppland 44
Galathea 42
Riksens Stander 60 - Aground and burnt
Euredice 42
Tapperhet 64
Kung Gustaf III 74
Grip 44
Camilla 42
Enighet 70
Froja 42
Rattvisa 62
Omhet 62
Fadernesland 64
Forsightighet 64
Ara 64
Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta 64
Sophia Magdalena 74
Kung Adolf Fredrik 70
Wasa 64
Prins Fredrik Adolf 62
Prins Carl 64 - Captured