Sweden's destruction of Prussia's entire lagoon fleet at Szczecin Lagoon eliminated Prussian naval power in the region during the Seven Years' War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 10 September 1759
- Swedish vessels
- 28 ships
- Swedish personnel
- 2,250 men
- Prussian vessels
- 13 ships
- Prussian personnel
- 700 men
- Location
- Szczecin Lagoon, between Neuwarp and Usedom
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Seven Years' War, Sweden and Prussia were in conflict in the Baltic region. Prussia maintained a small naval force in the Szczecin Lagoon (Stettiner Haff) to support its positions on the islands of Usedom and Wollin, prompting Swedish forces to challenge Prussian naval presence in those waters.
On 10 September 1759, a Swedish flotilla of 28 vessels and 2,250 men under Captain Lieutenant Carl Rutensparre and Wilhelm von Carpelan engaged and destroyed a Prussian force of 13 vessels and 700 men under captain von Köller in the Szczecin Lagoon, between Neuwarp and Usedom.
The battle annihilated the entirety of Prussia's available lagoon fleet, ending Prussian naval power in the area. Without naval support, Prussian land positions at Usedom and Wollin became indefensible, and Swedish troops subsequently occupied both locations.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Carl Rutensparre, Wilhelm von Carpelan.
Side B
1 belligerent
Von Köller.