Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, early modern

First Battle of Svensksund

First Battle of Svensksund was a naval engagement fought on 24 August 1789 at Ruotsinsalmi, in what is now Finland. It was part of the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790, which ran from 1788 to 1790. The recorded result: Russian victory.

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Bataljen vid Svensksund den 24 Augusti 1789
Bataljen vid Svensksund den 24 Augusti 1789. Johan Tietrich Schoultz, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought24 August 1789
WhereRuotsinsalmi, Finland60.450N, 26.990E
OutcomeRussian victory
BelligerentsSwedenagainstRussian Empire
Part ofRusso-Swedish War of 1788–17901788 to 1790

Where it sits in the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790

Puumala Skirmish, 1788Battle of Hogland, 1788Capture of the frigate Kilduin, 1788Kyyrö Battle, 1789Battle of Porrassalmi, 1789Battle of Uttismalm, 1789Battle of Kaipiais, 1789Battle of Parkumäki, 1789Battle of Öland, 1789First Battle of Svensksund, 1789Battle of Björkösund, 1790Battle of Pardakoski–Kärnakoski, 1790Battle of Valkeala, 1790Battle of Reval, 1790Battle of Fredrikshamn, 1790Battle of Kronstadt, 1790Battle of Savitaipal, 1790Battle of Vyborg Bay, 1790Battle of Svensksund, 179017881790First Battle of Svensksund, 1789
19 placed engagements of the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date24 August 1789
PlaceRuotsinsalmi, Finland
60.450N, 26.990E
KindNaval engagement, early modern
Strength12 archipelago frigates; 5 galleys; 20 gun sloops; 4 cannon longboats; 4 mortar longboats; auxiliaries; 5,000 men24 larger ships; 3 bomb vessels; 47 galleys; 30 gun sloops; 3 cutters; auxiliaries; 12,000 men
Casualties and lossesBattle:5 archipelago frigates; 2 galleys; 10 gun sloops; 1,500 men
Commanders
  • Carl August Ehrensvärd
  • Carl Olof Cronstedt
  • Enrique MacDonnell
  • Charles Henry of Nassau-Siegen
First Battle of SvensksundFirst Battle of SvensksundBattle of SvensksundArtillery Duel at KorkiansaariBattle of FredrikshamnBattle of AhvenkoskiBattle of HoglandBattle of FredrikshamnBattle of AhvenkoskiBattle of HoglandHelsinkiTallinnTampereVyborgLahtiGatchinaNarvaLappeenranta100 km60.450N, 26.990E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1789

First Battle of Svensksund is one of 2,009 engagements of the 18th century in the atlas and one of 108 in present-day Finland.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q2564536, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Svensksund (1789), revision 1370590208, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.