Gangout

July 27, 1714

In those July days of 1714 Russian troops were moving by the South of Finland. A city after city surrended to the victorious army. The Swedes began to distinctively feel the forthcoming threat. Russians tried to reach Botnick bay. For this purpose 15000 soldiers set sail in 99 galleys and half-galleys towards the Abo fort. Swedes had to stop the advancing Russians. The Swedish squadron of counter-admiral Niels Ehrenscheld consisted of 10 vessels: the flagship "Elephant", scherbots "Flundra", "Mortan", "Sympan", a galley "Erne", "Trana", "Grypen", "Lacksen", "Heden" and "Walfisch". Total crew members were 941. The squadron was directed to block and destroy the fleet of Peter I which was considered to have been carried by land. Peter I took advantage of a still weather and attacked the opponent. All of the Swedish ships were boarded and defeated.