Helsinki village landing

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Date26–28 September 1808
Location
Result Russian victory
Helsinki village landing
Part of the Finnish War

Embarkation after the Battle of Helsinki, by Jacob Hägg
Date26–28 September 1808
Location
Result Russian victory
Belligerents
Sweden Russian Empire Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Gustaf Boije
Gustaf Olof Lagerbring [sv]
Russian Empire Pyotr Bagration
Russian Empire Karl Gustav von Baggovut
Strength
Swedish accounts:
3,300[1][2]

Russian accounts:
4,000[3]–5,000[4]
Russian accounts:
4,000[3]–4,500[5]
7 cannons[4]

Swedish accounts:
5,000[2]–6,000[1]
Casualties and losses
Swedish accounts:
657[6]–826[1]

Russian accounts:
c. 1,000 killed and wounded,
350 captured,
15 cannons,
1 standard,
1 wagon train.[4]
Russian accounts:
400[4]–524[6]

The Helsinki village landing, or the Combat of Helsinge[7] (Russian: Бой у Гельсинге), was fought during the Finnish War between Sweden and the Russian Empire on 26–28 September [O.S. 14–16 September] 1808, a part of the battles of the Turku archipelago.

King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden planned a large-scale landing operation with over 8,000 troops. However, due to severe sea conditions, the task force under Colonel Anders Fredrik Skjöldebrad was forced to return to Sweden, damaged and broken. The other task force of 3,300 men under Lieutenant Colonel Gustav Olof Lagerbring landed at Helsinki village (Helsinge) in Taivassalo (Tövsala) and advanced inland.[1][2] The king of Sweden was late to the battle area himself; he arrived on 28 September 1808 aboard his personal yacht.

The Russians, under Prince Pyotr Bagration, organized 4,000[3] to 4,500 troops against the Swedes[5] in six battalions, three squadrons, one Cossack regiment with seven cannons.[4] According to Swedish and Russian estimates, their enemies had 4,000–5,000[3] and 5,000–6,000 men respectively.[2]

Course of battle

Notes, citations and sources

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