Battle of the island of Ösel

Delivered naval battle the June 4th 1719, off the Estonian island of Ösel or Saaremaa, in the Baltic , during the Great War of North (1700 - 1721).

At the beginning of May 1719, three Swedish buildings leave Pillau with a convoy to escort this last until Stockholm. The Russian marine with wind of this forwarding and the captain Maun Sinyavin see themselves charging intercepting it with. The May 26th 1719, it leaves Reval, (today Tallin), with a seven fleet vessel X, including six linerships and leaves to research the enemy squadron. This one reached its destination without encumbers but it took again the sea the May 19th to protect the Swedish commercial traffic from possible Russian or Danish attacks. June 4th, the two fleets meet in the small hour, between the island of Ösel and Gottska Sandö. In front of the disproportion of the forces, the Swedes seek safety in the escape, but at 6 a.m., they are joined by their prosecutors and the combat engages.

The Russian ships Devonshire and Portsmouth , armed both with 52 guns, attack together the principal unfavourable ship, the Wachtmeister (48 guns), ordered by Wrangel, in addition chief of the Scandinavian squadron. The Swedish artillerists oppose a fire devastator which damages the aerofoil of the Devonshire . The Portsmouth turns then to Karlskrona Vapen , which seems an easier prey with its 34 guns, and inflicts such damages to him that it has of another choice only to bring its house. The last Swedish ship, the Bernhardus (12 guns), succumbs a little later notwithstanding the efforts of the Wachtmeister to carry help to him. Around 1 p.m., the Wachtmeister seems to be able to escape its enemies when the Rafail (52 guns) and the Yagudiil occur (52 guns) which cut the road to him and close again the vice. Wrangel is seriously wounded but its second, Trolle, continue the fight and refuse to go. At 3 p.m. however, with the entry on the lists of the last three Russian ships, the Wachtmeister completely dématé and the bridge strewn with died and casualties his defeat admits and capitulates.

The Russians regain Reval with their catches; they gained the first victory in open sea of their naval history. Being the losses, the Russians admit to have had 18 killed and wounded in the battle, whereas according to the sources, the Swedish losses oscillate between 110 and 63 killed and wounded.

Committed ships

  • Russia:
    • Devonshire
    • Portsmouth
    • Rafail
    • Uriil
    • Varachail
    • Yagudiil
    • Natalia

  • Sweden:

    • Wachtmeister
    • Karlskrona Vapen
    • Bernhardus

Random links:Rozier-Coast-in Aurec | Service of the British border | Roy Halladay | Medal commemorative of the war 1939-1945 | Raphaël Guerreiro | Usine_de_Longbridge