"Gangut", named after the Battle of Gangut, was laid down on 8 August 1822 at the New Admiralty Shipyard in St. Petersburg. The ship was launched on 19 September 1825 and entered service in 1827. She was assigned to Rear Admiral Login Geiden's squadron of the Baltic Fleet bound for the Mediterranean after completion. They departed Kronstadt on 10 June and fought at the Battle of Navarino off the coast of Greece on 8 October. "Gangut" was credited with sinking two Ottoman frigates, a fire ship, and destroying a shore battery. She was hit 52 times during the battle and lost 14 killed and 37 wounded crewmen. Before returning to the Baltic for repairs, the ship transferred all but two rounds per gun to the other ships of the squadron. "Gangut" arrived back in Kronstadt in August 1828 and was repaired in time to cruise the Baltic in 1829–30 and 1832–33. The ship was overhauled during 1834–37 and cruised the Baltic again in 1838–42 and 1845–46. She was refitted in 1848 and sailed to Denmark, along with most of the Baltic Fleet, to show the flag during the First Schleswig War between Denmark, Sweden and Prussia. Tsar Nicholas I was determined to support the integrity of Denmark so he deployed a large force in Danish waters for the duration of the war, although it did not actively participate in the war.