Baltic Fleet (United Kingdom) Explained

Unit Name:Baltic Fleet
Dates:1658-1856
Country:United Kingdom
Branch:Royal Navy
Type:Fleet
Command Structure:Royal Navy
Garrison:Spithead, Hampshire, England
Notable Commanders:Vice-Admiral James Saumarez

The Baltic Fleet, also known as the Baltic Squadron, were a series of formations of the British Royal Navy which existed between 1658 to 1856. They consisted of ships assembled at Spithead, a naval anchorage in the English Channel, for various naval operations in the Baltic Sea. The formations were under the ultimate command of the Commander-in-Chief, Baltic Fleet. [1]

Overview

The Baltic Fleet comprised a series of temporary fleets assembled for various naval campaigns of the Royal Navy from 1658 to 1854 under the command of a Commander-in-Chief, Baltic Fleet. The fleet operated from a number of bases including Spithead in Hampshire but also the Nore.[2] During the Crimean War of 1853–1856, the final Baltic Fleet was the largest assembled since the Napoleonic Wars, and in terms of armament the most powerful naval force the Royal Navy possessed in the mid-19th century.[3] Pictured right is the fleet sailing from Spithead on 11 March 1854.

History

In November 1658 Vice-Admiral William Goodsonn was appointed to command the English Baltic Fleet of twenty ships – he was transporting General at sea Sir George Ayscue, who was being loaned to Sweden to assist in their naval operations against Denmark and the Dutch during the Dano-Swedish War (1658–1660).[4]

In 1715 Sir John Norris was sent with a fleet to the Baltic Sea to support a coalition of naval forces from Russia, Denmark and Hanover taking part in the Great Northern War of 1700–1721 against Sweden. Tsar Peter of Russia took personal command of the coalition fleet and appointed Norris as his deputy in 1716: together they protected British and other allied merchant vessels from attack by warships of the Swedish Empire.[5]

In 1717 the Baltic fleet formed again – this time under the command of Sir George Byng. It set out for the Baltic following information received by the Admiralty that Charles XII of Sweden was meditating a new movement in support of the exiled Stuarts.[6] The Danish admiral Peter Raben in his flagship Printz Christian received orders from the Danish admiralty in June 1717 to work fully with the British admiral.[7]

Following the death of Charles XII of Sweden on 30 November 1718 O.S., Admiral Sir John Norris returned to the region as Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic Fleet to protect British merchant shipping from attack by Russian raiders.[8]

In 1726 Sir Charles Wager was appointed to take command of a large battle fleet sent to the Baltic to protect Sweden and Denmark from the threat of a recently mobilized Russian fleet. Stopping first at Copenhagen, he met with the court and completed arrangements for co-operation with the Danish navy.[9] Wager took his twenty ships of the line to Reval (in present-day Estonia). He had orders to engage and destroy the Russian fleet if it came out. To reassure Sweden, the combined fleet stayed at Reval all summer. The British fleet arrived back in Britain on 1 November 1726.[10] but actually lifted the blockade on 1 October[11] [12] [13]

In 1801 Sir Hyde Parker was appointed to command the Baltic Fleet destined to break up the northern armed neutrality (Denmark–Norway, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia), with Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson as his second-in-command. Copenhagen, the first objective of the expedition, fell in the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.[14] [15]

In 1808 Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez was given command of the British Baltic fleet with his flag in HMS Victory. His mission involved protecting the British trade interests that were of vital importance for Royal Navy supplies (naval stores and timber), in addition to blockading enemy ports such as those under French control in northern Germany. The Russian fleet was also kept under blockade until Alexander I reopened Russian ports. In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia – the Baltic fleet succeeded in obstructing French operations.[16] In February 1854 Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Napier was appointed to command the Baltic Fleet. It sailed on 11 March for an expedition to the Baltic to attack the fortresses at Kronstadt and Sveaborg. Napier reported back to the Admiralty that despite his attempts the fortresses were impregnable – he was relieved of his command in December 1854.[17] [18]

On 20 March 1854, Vice-Admiral James Dundas taking command of the fleet stationed at Spithead, Hampshire, it proceeded to the Baltic Sea where it was employed on blockading duties to prevent Russia from receiving supplies at its Baltic ports until 13 August 1854.[19] [20]

On 27 June 1855 the fleet was stationed at Spithead under the command of Rear-Admiral Richard Dundas. The very large force consisted of some 93 naval units in total, as reported in the Melbourne Argus newspaper at the time.

In command

Post holders included:

Commander-in-Chief, Baltic Fleet
width=100rank !width=250name !width=200date/s!width=400notes!width=30 ref
Vice-Admiral 1658-1659[21]
Admiral 1659 [22]
Admiral1715–1716
Admiral Sir George Byng1717
AdmiralSir John Norris 1718-1725 second appointment
Vice-Admiral1726[23]
Admiral Sir John Norris1727 third appointment
Admiral 1801
Vice-Admiral 1808-1812 [24]
Vice-Admiral February – March, 1854 [25]
Vice-Admiral March, – August, 1854
Rear-Admiral February, 1855 – April 1856 [26] [27]

Composition of the fleet 1855

As of 27 June 1855:[28]

Composition of the Baltic Fleet June 1855
width=20
  1. !
width=100rate !width=250ships !width=250notes!width=30 ref
1. Flag Ship, 131 guns
2. 120 guns newspaper report gives 102 guns
3. 91 guns
4. Second-rate steam- and sail-powered, 91 guns
5. Second-rate 91 guns
6. Second-rate launched 1853, 91 guns
7. Second-rate 90 guns
8. Second-rate 81 guns
9. Second-rate 80 guns
10. Second-rate 70 guns
11. launched 1853, screw propelled, 80 guns
12. Third-rate 74 guns
13. Third-rate 74 guns source gives 60 guns
14. Third-rateditto
15. Third-rate ditto
16. Third-rate60 guns
17. Third-rate 60 guns
18. Third-rate 60 guns
19. Third-rate 74 guns, source gives 60 guns
20. Third-rate 74 guns, source gives 58 guns
21. screw frigate, 51 guns
22. 51 guns
23. 46 guns
24. Frigate 36 guns, source gives 34 guns
25. Frigate steam frigate, 24 guns
26. 17 guns
27. wooden screw, 20 guns
28. Corvette20 guns
29. Corvette wooden screw, 20 guns
30. Corvette 21 guns source gives 20 guns
31. 15 guns
32. Paddle frigate steam powered, 16 guns
33. Paddle frigate ditto
34. Paddle frigate 6 guns
35. Paddle frigate 6 guns
36. Paddle frigate 6 guns
37. Paddle sloop 6 guns
38. Paddle steamer 3 guns
39. Screw sloop 8 guns
40. Screw sloop8 guns
41. Screw sloop 17 guns, source gives 15 guns as HMS Cruiser
42. Screw sloop 17 guns, source gives 15 guns
43. Screw sloop ditto
44. Screw sloop9 guns
45. Paddle sloop 6 guns
46. Steam sloop 6 guns
47. Paddle sloop 6 guns
48. Paddle sloop 6 guns
49 Paddle sloop6 guns
Ironclad floating batteries total 5
1. Aetna-class16 guns
2. Aetna-class16 guns
3. Aetna-class16 guns
4. Aetna-class16 guns
5. Aetna-class16 guns
Mortar vessels total 28
8 Blazer, Firm, Manly, Mastiff, Hardy, Havock, Porcupine, Porpoise. All built between 1854 and 1855, 1 gun each
10 Gleaner, Pelter, Ruby, Pincher, Teazer, Badger, Snaper, Biter, Boxer, Clinker Between 2 and 3 guns each
10 Cracker, Dapper, Fancy, Grinder, Snap, Jackdaw, Jasper, Jack, Magpie, Redwing Between 2 and 3 guns each
Gunboats total 8
8 Skylark, Hind, Starling, Stork, Twinger, Thistle, Weasel, Pigmy Between 2 and 3 guns each
Other vessels/units total 3
1.
1. Shell magazine Aeolus
1. Powder magazine Volage
The fleet consisted of 93 naval units of all types

Bibliography

  1. Callo, Joseph F.; Wilson, Alastair (2004). Who's Who in Naval History: From 1550 to the present. Cambridge, London: Routledge. .
  2. Campbell, John; Kent, John (1785). Biographia Nautica: Or, Memoirs of Those Illustrious Seamen, to Whose Intrepidity and Conduct the English are Indebted, for the Victories of Their Fleets, the Increase of Their Dominions, the Extension of Their Commerce, and Their Preeminence on the Ocean. Interspersed with the Most Material Circumstances of Naval History, from the Norman Invasion to the Year 1779. Embellished with Copper-plates. Dublin, Ireland: J. Williams.
  3. Campbell, John (1814). Lives of the British Admirals: Containing Also a New and Accurate Naval History, from the Earliest Periods. London, England: C. J. Barrinton.
  4. Grehan, John; Mace, Martin (2014). "VIII British Battles of the Crimean Wars 1854 to 1855". British Battles of the Crimean Wars 1854–1856: Despatches from the Front. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. .
  5. Harrison, Simon (2010–2018). "Three Decks – Warships in the Age of Sail: Fleet lists 1553 to 1821". threedecks.org. S. Harrison.
  6. Hore, Captain Peter (2015). "James Saumarez". Nelson's Band of Brothers. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. .
  7. Grainger, John D. (2014). The British Navy in the Baltic. Woodbridge, England: Boydell & Brewer Ltd. .
  8. Heathcoate, Tony (2002). British admirals of the fleet 1734–1995 : a biographical dictionary. Barnsley: Pen and Sword. .
  9. Heathcoate, Tony (2005). Nelson's Trafalgar captains and their battles. Barnsley, England: Pen & Sword Maritime. .
  10. Laughton, John Knox. "Byng George". Dictionary of National Biography, 1885–1900. London, England: Smith, Elder and Co.
  11. Laughton, John Knox. (1885–1900). "Parker Hyde (1739–1807)". Dictionary of National Biography, London, England: Smith, Elder & Co.
  12. Lavery, Brian (2015). Nelson's Victory: 250 Years of War and Peace. Barnsley, England: Seaforth Publishing. .
  13. Richards, Donald (2006). Conflict in the Crimea: British Redcoats on Russian Soil. Barnsley, England: Pen and Sword. .
  14. Williams, Chris (2006). A Companion to Nineteenth-Century Britain. Hoboken, New Jersey, United States: John Wiley & Sons. .

Danish source

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1855 . 2013 . Cambridge University Press . Cambridge . 978-1-108-05446-1 . 325 . en.
  2. Book: Lavery . Brian . Nelson's Victory: 250 Years of War and Peace . 2015 . Seaforth Publishing . Barnsley, England . 9781848322325 . 165 . en.
  3. Book: Grehan . John . Mace . Martin . British Battles of the Crimean Wars 1854–1856: Despatches from the Front . 2014 . Pen and Sword . Barnsley, England . 9781473831858 . https://books.google.com/books?id=2OE7BAAAQBAJ&q=British+Baltic+Fleet+1854&pg=PR7 . VIII British Battles of the Crimean Wars 1854 to 1855.
  4. Book: Grainger . John D. . The British Navy in the Baltic . 2014 . Boydell & Brewer Ltd . Woodbridge, England . 9781843839477 . 43 . en . The intention was to loan Ayscue to the Swedes to assist their naval operations; in addition the fleet carried several hundred English seamen and a dozen officers who had been recruited for the Swedish Marine, and English privateers were operating under Swedish licences..
  5. Book: Heathcoate . Tony . British admirals of the fleet 1734–1995 : a biographical dictionary . 2002 . Pen and Sword . Barnsley . 0850528356 . 196.
  6. Byng, George . 08 . Laughton . John Knox . John Knox Laughton . 115-118 . 1.
  7. Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 344
  8. Book: Heathcoate . Tony . British admirals of the fleet 1734–1995 : a biographical dictionary . 2002 . Pen and Sword . Barnsley . 0850528356 . 196 . After the death of Charles XII of Sweden in December 1718 Norris was went back to the Baltic to protect Sweden against Peter the Great, whose new navy was regarded as a threat to British control of the Baltic. He served there between 1719 and 1722 [...]..
  9. London Gazette Issue 6475 page 1 dated 7 May 1726
  10. Book: Campbell . John . Lives of the British Admirals: Containing Also a New and Accurate Naval History, from the Earliest Periods . 1814 . C. J. Barrinton . London, England . 221–222 . en.
  11. London Gazette Issue 6522 page 1 dated 18 October 1726
  12. Topsøe-Jensen Vol 1 pp 126 - 127
  13. [Michael Bille (1680-1756)|The Danish Admiral]
  14. Parker, Hyde (1739-1807) . 43 . Laughton . John Knox . John Knox Laughton . 244-245 . 1.
  15. Book: Williams . Chris . A Companion to Nineteenth-Century Britain . 2006 . John Wiley & Sons . Hoboken, New Jersey, United States . 9781405156790 . 79 . en.
  16. Book: Heathcoate . Tony . Nelson's Trafalgar captains and their battles . 2005 . Pen & Sword Maritime . Barnsley, England . 1844151824 . 106.
  17. Book: Callo . Joseph F. . Wilson . Alastair . Who's Who in Naval History: From 1550 to the present . 2004 . Routledge . Cambridge, London . 9781134395408 . 296 . en.
  18. Book: Lambert, Andrew . The Crimean War: British Grand Strategy against Russia, 1853–56 . 2016-03-16 . Routledge . 978-1-317-03700-2 . en.
  19. Lavery p. 165.
  20. Book: Richards . Donald . Conflict in the Crimea: British Redcoats on Russian Soil . 2006 . Pen and Sword . Barnsley, England . 9781844153435 . 143–145 . en . The first British ships sailed from Spithead on 20 March bound for Kiel, with the remainder following two weeks later, intent on enforcing a blockade to prevent essential supplies from getting through to Russia from the Baltic ports..
  21. Web site: Harrison . Simon . Three Decks – Warships in the Age of Sail: Fleet lists 1553 to 1821 . threedecks.org . S. Harrison . 28 February 2019 . 2010–2018.
  22. Harrison Fleet Lists
  23. Book: Campbell . John . Kent . John . Biographia Nautica: Or, Memoirs of Those Illustrious Seamen, to Whose Intrepidity and Conduct the English are Indebted, for the Victories of Their Fleets, the Increase of Their Dominions, the Extension of Their Commerce, and Their Preeminence on the Ocean. Interspersed with the Most Material Circumstances of Naval History, from the Norman Invasion to the Year 1779. Embellished with Copper-plates . 1785 . J. Williams . Dublin, Ireland . 188 . en.
  24. Book: Hore . Captain Peter . Nelson's Band of Brothers . 20 May 2015 . Seaforth Publishing . Barnsley, England . 9781848323568 . https://books.google.com/books?id=WyoeCgAAQBAJ&q=James+Saumarez+was+given+command+of+the+Baltic+fleet&pg=PT131 . James Saumarez.
  25. Callo and Wilson p. 296.
  26. Web site: Harrison . Simon . Richard Saunders Dundas (1802–1861) . threedecks.org . S, Harrison . 1 March 2019 . 2010–2018.
  27. Melbourne Argus 20 June 1855
  28. News: THE BALTIC FLEET. . 1 March 2019 . Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) . 27 June 1855 . 5.

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