Russian ship Vsevolod ( 1796 ) The Russian ship " Vsevolod " ( 1796 ) ( also " Sewolod " ; ) was a 74 - gun ship of the line launched in 1796 . She served in the North Sea and the Baltic until the British 74 - gun third rate s " Implacable " and " Centaur " destroyed her in 1808 during the Anglo - Russian War ( 1807 - 1812 ) . Service . On 3 July 1798 " Vsevolod " was at Arkhangel ’ sk , serving as flaghip for Vice - Adm . Thate , who commanded the 2nd Division of the Imperial Russian Navy . She then arrived at the Nore on 8 August and operated in the North Sea and off the Texel for almost three years . She returned to Kronstadt on 21 July 1800 . She then carried supplies to Revel ’ . She then served in the Baltic before undergoing repairs in 1804 . In September 1805 she transported troops to Pomerania . Anglo - Russian War and loss . In early 1808 Russia initiated the Finnish War in response to Sweden ' s refusal to bow to Russian pressure to join the anti - British alliance . Russia captured Finland and made it a Grand Duchy under the Russian Empire . The British decided to take counter - measures and in May sent a fleet under Vice - Admiral Sir James Saumarez to the Baltic . On 9 July , the Russian fleet , under Admiral Peter Khanykov , came out from Kronstadt . The Swedes massed a fleet under Swedish Admiral Cederstrom , consisting of 11 line - of - battle ships and 5 frigates at Örö and Jungfrusund to oppose them . On 16 August , Saumarez then sent " Centaur " , Captain William Henry Webley , and " Implacable " , Captain Thomas Byam Martin , to join the Swedish fleet . They chased two Russian frigates on 19 July and joined the Swedes the following day . On 22 August , the Russian fleet , consisting of nine ships of the line , five large frigates and six smaller ones , moved from Hanko to threaten the Swedes . The Swedes , with the two British ships , grouped at Örö , and three days later sailed to meet the Russians . The Russians and the Anglo - Swedish force were fairly evenly matched , but the Russians retreated and the Allied ships followed them . " Centaur " and " Implacable " were better vessels than the Swedish ships and slowly pulled ahead , with " Implacable " catching up with " Vsevolod " , which was straggling . On " Vsevolod " , under Captain Rudno ( or Rudnew or Roodneff ) exchanged fire with " Implacable " , with the Russian suffering heavy casualties before running aground . During this exchange three nearby Russian ships failed to render assistance . " Vsevolod " hauled down her colors , but Hood recalled " Implacable " because the Russian fleet was approaching . During the fight " Implacable " lost six men killed and twenty - six wounded , including two who did not recover and three who had limbs amputated . ; " Vsevolod " lost some 48 dead and 80 wounded . The Russian frigate " Poluks " then towed " Vsevolod " towards Rager Vik ( Ragerswik or Rogerswick or Russian : Baltiyskiy ) where the Russian fleet was sheltering . However , " Vsevolod " grounded some six miles from the port . On " Centaur " came up and was able to drive off the boats that were attempting to get the disabled ship into harbor . Seamen from " Centaur " were able to lash her mizzen to the Russian bowsprit before " Centaur " opened fire . Both vessels grounded , and both sides attempted to board the other vessel . However , " Implacable " came up and fired into " Vsevolod " for about 10 minutes , forcing the Russian to strike again . " Implacable " hauled " Centaur " off . The battle had cost " Centaur " three killed and 27 wounded . " Vsevolod " , which had received about 100 men as reinforcements after her initial battle with " Implacable " , lost another 124 men killed and wounded in the battle with " Centaur " ; 56 Russians swam ashore and so escaped being taken prisoner . Their prize was so firmly aground that Sir Samuel Hood , in " Centaur " , ordered " Vsevolod " burnt . On the British removed their prisoners , including the wounded , and then set fire to " Vsevolod " , which blew up some hours later . The cutter " Baltic " would later land the prisoners . Aftermath . Vice - Admiral Saumerez with his entire squadron joined the Anglo - Swedish squadron the next day . They then blockaded Khanykov ' s squadron at ( Baltiyskiy ) . for some months . After the British and the Swedes abandoned the blockade , the Russian fleet was able to return to Kronstadt . The Russian government court - martialed Admiral Khanykov for what the British Admiralty would have labeled as “ failure to do his utmost ” . The court martial ordered Khanykov demoted to the rank of Ordinary Seaman for one day and dismissed from the service . What saved Khanykov from a more severe sentence was his earlier distinguished service . His Swedish Majesty Gustaf IV Adolf conferred upon Captain Martin of " Implacable " the Cross of the Order of the Sword . In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the Naval General Service Medal with clasps " Implacable 26 Augt . 1808 " and " Centaur 26 Augt . 1808 " to all surviving claimants from the action . Hood took " Vsevolod " s flag as a trophy and it ended up hanging in the main hall of the Hood family home " St . Audries " .