Compared to other European navies, Russia’s fleet is very young, only dating back to the early 18th century. However, it quickly earned a reputation as one of the most fearsome and capable.
1. Battle of Gangut (1714)
In the first quarter of the 18th century, Russia and Sweden fought a bloody war that defined Northern Europe for centuries. Historians often point out that the pivotal moment in the Great Northern War (1700-1721) was the Battle of Poltava (1709) when the Russian army crushed the Swedes. But that’s only half the story. Sweden was also a naval superpower, and Russia had to destroy it in order to claim complete victory.
Tsar Peter I spent many years building the Russian Navy almost from scratch, and in 1714 he reaped the benefits at the Battle of Gangut (Hanko Peninsula). Nearly two dozen Russian galleys attacked the Swedish fleet of more than a dozen vessels, including 1 pram, which is a heavy warship known for its powerful artillery.
