The Baltic Fleet, also known as the Baltic Squadron, were a series of formations of the British Royal Navy which existed between 1658 and 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.

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. 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. 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).

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.

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. 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.Topsøe-Jensen Vol 2 p 344

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.

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.London Gazette Issue 6475 page 1 dated 7 May 1726 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. but actually lifted the blockade on 1 OctoberLondon Gazette Issue 6522 page 1 dated 18 October 1726Topsøe-Jensen Vol 1 pp 126 - 127 The Danish Admiral reported on 22 October 1726 from Danzig that the combined fleet had lifted the blockade of Reval on 1 October. Battered by October storms, short of water and provisions, the Danish squadron was in poor condition and there was scurvy and chest infections on board the ships. 215 Danes had died on the Reval expedition, even without enemy action.

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.

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.

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.

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.Lavery p. 165.

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 Fleetrank name date/snotesrefVice-Admiral Sir William Goodsonn 1658-1659Admiral Edward Montagu, 1st Earl of Sandwich 1659 in command as General at Sea Harrison Fleet ListsAdmiralSir John Norris 1715–1716 Admiral Sir George Byng1717 Admiral Sir John Norris 1718-1725 second appointment Vice-AdmiralSir Charles Wager 1726Admiral Sir John Norris1727 third appointment Admiral Sir Hyde Parker 1801Vice-Admiral James Saumarez 1808-1812 Vice-Admiral Charles Napier February – March, 1854 Callo and Wilson p. 296.Vice-Admiral James Dundas March, – August, 1854 Rear-Admiral Richard Dundas February, 1855 – April 1856 Melbourne Argus 20 June 1855

Composition of the fleet 1855 As of 27 June 1855: Composition of the Baltic Fleet June 1855# rate ships notesref1. First-rate Flag Ship, 131 guns 2. First-rate 120 guns newspaper report gives 102 guns3. Second-rate 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. Third-rate launched 1853, screw propelled, 80 guns 12. Third-rate 74 guns 13. Third-rate 74 guns source gives 60 guns14. Third-rate ditto 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. Fourth-rate screw frigate, 51 guns 22. Steam frigate 51 guns 23. Frigate 46 guns 24. Frigate 36 guns, source gives 34 guns 25. Frigate steam frigate, 24 guns 26. Sloop-of-war 17 guns 27. Corvette wooden screw, 20 guns 28. Corvette 20 guns 29. Corvette wooden screw, 20 guns 30. Corvette 21 guns source gives 20 guns 31. Screw sloop 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 sloop 8 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 sloop 9 guns 45. Paddle sloop 6 guns 46. Steam sloop 6 guns 47. Paddle sloop 6 guns 48. Paddle sloop 6 guns 49 Paddle sloop 6 guns Ironclad floating batteries total 51. Aetna-class 16 guns 2. Aetna-class 16 guns 3. Aetna-class16 guns 4. Aetna-class 16 guns 5. Aetna-class 16 guns Mortar vessels total 28 8 Bomb vessels Blazer, Firm, Manly, Mastiff, Hardy, Havock, Porcupine, Porpoise. All built between 1854 and 1855, 1 gun each 10 Gunboats Gleaner, Pelter, Ruby, Pincher, Teazer, Badger, Snaper, Biter, Boxer, Clinker Between 2 and 3 guns each 10 Gunboats Cracker, Dapper, Fancy, Grinder, Snap, Jackdaw, Jasper, Jack, Magpie, Redwing Between 2 and 3 guns each Gunboats total 8 8 Gunboats Skylark, Hind, Starling, Stork, Twinger, Thistle, Weasel, Pigmy Between 2 and 3 guns each Other vessels/units total 31. Hospital ship 1. Shell magazine Aeolus 1. Powder magazine Volage The fleet consisted of 93 naval units of all types

Footnotes

Notes

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Danish source T. A. Topsøe-Jensen og Emil Marquard (1935) “Officerer i den dansk-norske Søetat 1660–1814 og den danske Søetat 1814–1932" (Danish Naval Officers). Two volumes (downloadable here ).