Ariel view of Helsinki and the Fortress of Sveaborg during the Crimean War

A map-view (not to scale) looking down on the heavily-fortified Russian fortress, built to defend the approaches to Helsinki. It was issued to illustrate the actions of the Baltic Fleet in 1854, during the Crimean War. Under Sir Charles Napier, an Anglo-French force blockaded the Gulf of Finland, preventing Russia's North Fleet leaving St Petersburg, Russia's only northern port open all year around. However Napier refused to Sveaborg, considering it too well defended. The British press pilloried Napier for his lack of action, causing the Admiralty to terminate his command at the end of the year. In 1855 a better-equipped fleet bombarded Sveaborg for nearly two days, but failed to knock out the Russian batteries before withdrawing.