ABOUT WRECKS

Wrecks of the naval battle of Ruotsinsalmi in the 16th century

The Battle of Ruotsinsalmi was fought during the 1788–1790 war between Russia and Sweden. Swedish king Gustav III started the war. He and the Russian tsaress Catherine the Great were cousins. The culmination of this war was the second battle of Ruotsinsalmi (Svensksund in Swedish, approximately "Swedish Strait" in English) during 9–10 July 1790. The battle of Ruotsinsalmi was the biggest naval battle ever at the time: 500 ships, 30,000 men and 3,000 cannons. Even today, only the Battle of Leyte Gulf has been larger. In Ruotsinsalmi. The war ended in August 14 1790 and neither party gained any territory.

Protsjerpina, Type: Chebeque, Sank: July 1790, Location: Lehmänsaari, Kotka

The wreck of Russian chebeque Protsjerpina is located in front of Kotka, on the West side of island Lehmäsaari. The frigate tackled ship, equipped with 26 artillery pieces, was built in Kronstad and first launched on 16th March, 1789. The Russian chebeque was similar to its Mediterranean models and resembled a galley, yet having a greater firepower. Protsjerpina was involved in the battle of Ruotsinsalmi in front of Kotka between the Russian and Swedish troops in July 1789. During the battle it lost its tackles and, probably due to the confusion that arose on the deck, was set adrift between the battle lines, thus getting sunk. The ship was supposedly commanded by captain and engineer Oppermann.

Sankt Maria, Type: Frigate, Sank: 7.1790, Location: Kukouri-Lehmänsaari, Kotka

In front of Kotka, between Kukouri and Lehmänsaari, was found a wreck originating back to the battle of Ruotsinsalmi in July 1790, being most probably Russian frigate Svjatoi Maria (Sankt Maria). During the battle, Svjatoi Maria ran aground, turned on its side and sank near the shore. In this battle against the Swedish, the ship was commanded by lieutenant-commander Fondes. The fregate was 40 meters long and 9,5-10 meters wide, having two hold decks and a battery deck. The only part remaining is the prow which is relatively well preserved.

Jolla Wreck, Type: Artillery Ship, Sank: 7.1790, Location: Kukouri-Lehmänsaari, Kotka

Jolla wreck is approximately 30 meters long and lies in the depth of 9-10 meters. The wreck seems to be in an untouched condition, containing plenty of movables. Under the wreck lies a shipboat or jollyboat according to which the otherwise unknown wreck is called. The wreck originates back to the battle of Ruotsinsalmi between the Russian and Swedish troops in July 1790.

Wrecks located before island Kaunissaari of Pyhtää

Toras, Type: Steamer, Sank: January 19, 1947

Location: Kaunissaari, Pyhtää. Toras, being of a size of 965 brt, was built in Sunderland, England and was owned by the company Helsingin Kalastus Oy. On January 19th, 1947 the ship left the harbor of Kotka in a convoy of 13 ships, accompanied by ice-breaker Tarmo, with the purpose of sailing to Copenhagen. The ship had a crew of 19 and its captain was K. Laine. As usual, the ship was loaded with sawn timber. Because of the strong wind, the convoy stopped near the north end of Kaunissaari. The crew noticed that ice was pressing Toras very heavily, and shortly after this the ship got a leak in its prow. Tarmo came to assist it, trying to pump out the water rushing into the ship, but the attempt seemed hopeless. Tarmo started towing the ship towards the shore of Kaunissaari, succeeding in this task until 400 meters from the shore the ship began to sink. However, Tarmo managed to evacuate the crew before Toras sank under ice to the depth of 30 meters.

Wrecks located in front of Hamina

Location: Hamina, Hallikari, Red Beards Cargo Bark, Type: Bark,

Sank: In the beginning of 17th century, In the Eastern Gulf of Finland, near Red Beards, was in the late 1970s found a wreck of a three-masted bark which has been since to some extent investigated by the Regional Museum of Kymenlaakso. The actual measurements have been carried out by voluntaries from the Finnish diving clubs Vehkahait and Vesikot. The wreck’s prow and stern are well preserved; the long afterdeck above the main deck and the forecastle in the prow can be clearly seen. On the main deck, under the forecastle, are a massive winch and above it the bars used to assist lifting the anchor. The deck of the midship has collapsed and it does actually seem that the ship, lying in the depth of 30 meters, has been hit several times by a trawl’s kite or a heavy anchor. Future investigations may prove the ship to have sunk after another ship crashing into its side. It is also possible that the wreck’s cargo - hemp rope - has been violently evacuated shortly after its sinking. So far some decorative metal items have been brought from the wreck for restoration. The wreck’s most noticeable fixed points have been also depicted in a sketch. The wreck is relatively undamaged and thus very rewarding to its investigators. According to its type, it can be equalled to Nordenstiernan situated in the Finnish Archipelago, the latter being, though, in a noticeably worse condition. The measurements of the Red Beards wreck are 40 x 8 meters, so it is also more massive than Nordenstiernan.

Wrecks located in front of Loviisa

Fortuna, Type: Frigate, Sank: November 3, 1822, Location: Hudofjärden, Loviisa

The wreck was found in 1965 in front of the fortress island Svartholma in the depth of 13-20 meters. The first two meters of its prow have collapsed, but the winch, for example, is still in its place. The galleon of Fortuna’s prow has most evidently been equal to the ones seen in 16th century warships - bending first forwards, then upwards - and may have been decorated with a figurehead. Should the wreck’s prow be complete it would probably present the shipbuilders’ uncertain endeavor to shape it a bit sharper than before. It was slowly becoming understood that the round or even blunt prow was a factor significantly demeaning a ship’s properties. The cross-section measures of Fortuna’s vertical central prow bar are 40 x 100 cm. Its height is approximately 6 meters. The stern has collapsed and some of its parts seem to be missing.

Fifetown London, Type: Steamer, Sank: October 21, 1929, Location: Purumatala, Orrengrund, Loviisa

English freighter Fifetown London left the harbor of Valko 29th September with a cargo of wood and headed South. The strong wind, blowing from the very beginning, increased into a storm and compelled the ship to sail away from its route. 3 sea miles South-East from Orrengrund Fifetown London stuck to the bottom in Purumatala. The ship got a leak to its stern and prow, but the crew was relatively optimistic and estimated the damages to be insignificant. The next day the rescue boat Konvoi evacuated the crew to Kotka, and another rescue boat of Neptun - Assistans - started towing the steamship with the purpose to loose it. This, anyway, came to nothing, and the crew decided to give up a part of the cargo. The wood fastened on the deck was loosed and it fell to the sea, but the storm had strengthened again and it was impossible to continue the operation. Assistans had to withdraw to the shore near Boistö, where it was compelled to stay even until 11th October. After that, the crew continued its persistent efforts to loose the ship and empty it of water, but on 19th October Fifetown London stayed still fast aground. The work was frequently interrupted by the storm and got practically hopeless, until the nature stepped in and concluded the matter. On 21st October, sea waves loosed the ship from the shallows and it sunk to the slope to the depth of 14-30 meters. Mast tops remained upon water surface. The wood cargo was now, of course, discharged from the cargo holds, and as soon as the storm was over, the crew started gathering it from the surface. Fifetown London was a relatively small vessel - only 967 brt - and had a somehow exceptional structure: its bridge was located in the midship whereas the machine room and the funnel were located in the stern.

Haapasaaristo National Park