Rostislav belonged to a larger Russian effort to stop fighting Sweden on Swedish terms. Peter the Great pursued enough ships for operational mass, dockyards and other infrastructure to sustain them, and individual units more powerful than Sweden's mostly 64-gun third rates. Fleet numbers, support capacity, and ship strength were treated as related requirements. Russian officers and foreign recruits helped build this force.
Chapter · 0:58-4:23
Why Russia needed a heavier Baltic battle fleet
Russia responds to Swedish naval strength with a larger fleet, supporting infrastructure, and first rates able to overpower Sweden's mostly 64-gun third rates.