In the Russian Federation on Friday, August 9, the 310th anniversary of the first naval victory of the Russian fleet under the command of Peter I over the Swedes near Cape Gangut.
The battle between the Russian and Swedish fleets in August 1714 near the Gangut Peninsula became one of the most important during the Northern War, in this regard the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
“As a result of the battle, more than 300 Swedish sailors were killed, about a thousand were captured. Russia’s losses were less: 124 people killed and 350 people wounded. The Swedish fleet retreated towards Stockholm, and the Russian fleet occupied the island of Aland,” the said In the publication on the social network x.
The victory of the Russian fleet in the Gangut battle ensured the freedom of action of the fleet in the Finnish and Botnic bays, it became the first page in the book of bright victories of Russian sailors and was inscribed in this book by the blood of the battle participants, attracted attention to the department.
Russian Emperor Peter I, understanding the whole significance of this first victory of the regular Russian fleet, commanded to equate its significance with the Great Poltava battle, emphasized the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
Gangut battle
Day of the military glory of Russia in honor of the victory over the Swedes near Cape Gangut (1714) is established in accordance with the Federal Law of March 13, 1995 “On the Days of Military Glory and Memorial Dates of Russia”.
The Northern War between Russia and Sweden lasted from 1700 to 1721. In this war, Russia fought for the return of the Russian lands captured by the Swedes in the XVI-XVII centuries and access to the Baltic Sea.
One of the most important stages of the struggle for access to the Baltic Sea was the Gangut battle that occurred between the Russian and Swedish fleets on August 6-7, 1714 north of the Gangut Peninsula (Khanko Peninsula, Finland) on the Baltic Sea.
According to the summary of the Russian State, in the Gangut battle, the Swedes lost 10 ships with 116 guns, 361 people killed, 350 wounded and 237, led by the prisoners with Erenheld. Russia’s losses amounted to 127 killed and 342 wounded.
The main forces of the Swedish fleet on August 8 (July 28 according to the old style) of 1714 went to the Aland Islands.
The captured Swedish ships were delivered to St. Petersburg, where on September 20 (September 9 according to the old style) 1714, a solemn meeting of the winners took place.
The victory of Gangut (the first major victory of the Russian regular fleet) provided the Russian fleet with freedom of action in the Finnish and Botnic bays, the effective support of the Russian troops in Finland, and created the conditions for transferring hostilities to the territory of Sweden.