Russian leadership avoids major mistakes but fails to seal every escape route. Gustav III refuses to fight through the main battle fleet and instead forces a passage past a fort and a weaker Russian squadron. Russia gains the bay, territory, and a useful base, yet the Swedish fleet survives to fight again. That prevents Vyborg from matching Trafalgar's unambiguous tactical and strategic finality. Vyborg illustrates the difference between winning a position and destroying the enemy's operational force.
Notable Point · 46:45-49:09
Why Vyborg was not the Baltic Trafalgar
Gustav III bypasses the main Russian battle line, so Russia gains a bay and a base without destroying the Swedish fleet or producing Trafalgar-like finality.