Radio Tapok - Battle of Gangut.

The galley had 52 oars and could accommodate up to 400 people; the scampaway had 36 oars, and with a water draft of less than 0.9 m it could accommodate up to 150 people. Each galley was armed with a 24-pounder cannon at the bow and several small cannons along the sides. Since the firing distance was 300-500 m, the main form of combat was boarding. Apraksin taught the sailors “not to waste gunpowder in vain, but, having come together side by side, fire a salvo with all the lag, close the lower sides and fall on board without ceremony”.

Given the presence of many skerries in the theater, Peter I paid great attention to the construction of a galley fleet, which was the only effective means of conducting combat operations in skerries. The actions of the naval fleet in the skerries were extremely difficult. The Swedes, having a large naval fleet, underestimated the importance of the galley fleet and paid dearly for it.