Kronstadt rewards Russia without a decisive battle

The Swedish fleet had more ships of the line and frigates than the Russian force immediately before it, although individual Russian ships were generally heavier. Prince Charles withdrew after learning that another Russian squadron was approaching. Preserving the fleet did not solve the central problem because withdrawal itself surrendered Baltic control. The suggested alternatives used Swedish numbers to divide Russian attention, double portions of the line, rake from another angle, or bring frigates and archipelago troops into boarding range. Those methods carried risk, but they offered a way to turn smaller hulls into a local advantage. If the operational objective is lost whether one retreats or fights, fleet preservation alone cannot count as strategic success.