Fever and slow fitting-out left the Swedish fleet late and poorly prepared. Separating sick crews from the population and cleaning their vessels is proposed as a response that Sweden should have taken. Although each side fielded roughly the same number of ships, Russia possessed more 74-gun ships and three 100-gun first rates while Sweden relied mainly on 64s and 76s. The fleets maneuvered for three days after a limited artillery exchange, so the outcome turned on endurance rather than a decisive tactical defeat. A Swedish victory would have required aggressive concentration of smaller ships against the Russian first rates and acceptance of substantial losses. Dwindling supplies instead forced Sweden back to Karlskrona and produced a Russian operational victory.
Chapter · 2:53:18-2:59:16
At Öland, supply and heavy guns favor Russia
Nominally equal fleets at Öland were not equal in readiness, supplies, or weight of broadside, forcing Sweden to withdraw after days of maneuver.