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The British Baltic Fleet and also known as the Baltic Squadron was a series of temporary or semi permanent fleets assembled for various naval operations of the Royal Navy in the Baltic Sea from 1658 to 1854 commanded by the Commander of the British Baltic Fleet.

History
The British Baltic Fleet was a series of temporary fleets assembled for various naval campaigns of the Royal Navy from 1658 to 1854 it was commanded by the Commander-in-Chief, British Baltic Fleet. The fleet operated from a number of bases including Spithead in Hampshire, England but also the Nore. The final British Baltic Fleet was the largest assembled since the Napoleonic Wars and in terms of aramament was the most powerful naval force the Royal Navy possessed in the mid 19th century.

In November 1658 Vice-Admiral William Goodsonn was appointed to command the British Baltic Fleet of twenty ships he was transporting General at Sea Sir George Ayscue who was being loaned to Sweden to assist in there naval operations against Denmark and the Dutch.

In 1715 Sir John Norris was sent with the fleet to the Baltic Sea to support a coalition of naval forces from Russia, Denmark and Hanover taking in the Great Northern War. Tsar Peter took personal command of the coalition fleet and appointed Norris as his deputy in 1716: together they protected British and other allied merchant vessels from attack by warships of the Swedish Empire.

In 1717 the fleet was formed again this time under the command of Sir George Byng he was sent to the Baltic following information received by the Admiralty that a new movement in support of exiled Stuarts was being mediated by Charles XII of Sweden.

In November 1718, following the death of Charles XII of Sweden Admiral Sir John Norris returned to the region as Commander-in-Chief of the Baltic Fleet to protect British merchant shipping from attack by Russian raiders.

In 1726 Sir Charles Wager was appointed to take command of a large battle fleet sent to the Baltic to protect Sweden and Denmark from the threat of a recently mobilized Russian fleet. Stopping first at Copenhagen, he met with the court and completed arrangements for co-operation with the Danish navy. Wager took his twenty ships of the line of the fleet to Reval. He had orders to engage and destroy the Russian fleet if it came out. To reassure Sweden the British fleet stayed at Reval all summer until 1 November 1726.

In 1801 Sir Hyde Parker was appointed to command the British Baltic fleet destined to break up the northern armed neutrality, with Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson as his second-in-command. Copenhagen, the first objective of the expedition, fell in the Battle of Copenhagen on 2 April 1801.

In 1808 James Saumarez was given command of the British Baltic fleet with his flag in HMS Victory. His mission was to protect the British trade interests that were of vital importance for Royal Navy supplies. In addition he was to blockade enemy ports such as those under French control in northern Germany. The Russian fleet was also kept under blockade until Alexander I reopened Russian ports. In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia the Baltic fleet succeeded in obstructing French operations.

In February 1854 Rear-Admiral Charles Napier was appointed to command the Baltic Fleet for an expedition to the Baltic to attack the fortresses at Kronstadt and Helsingfors he reported back to the Admiralty they despite his attempts they were impregnable subsequently he was relived of his command.

On 20 March 1854 Vice-Admiral James Dundas taking command of the fleet stationed at Spithead, Hampshire it proceeded to the Baltic Sea where it was employed on blockading duties to prevent Russia from receiving supplies at its Baltic Ports until 13 August 1854.

In command

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