Battle of the Sound
Battle of the Sound | |||||||
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Part of the Second Northern War | |||||||
First Phase of the Battle of the Sound, Jan Abrahamsz Beerstraaten | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
45 warships[1] | 43 warships[2][1] | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
1,400 killed, wounded and captured 1 warship sunk[2][1] |
1,200 killed, wounded and captured 4 warships captured 1 warship destroyed[2][1] |
The naval Battle of the Sound took place on 8 November 1658 (29 October O.S.) during the Second Northern War, near the Sound or Øresund, just north of the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Sweden had invaded Denmark and an army under Charles X of Sweden had Copenhagen itself under siege. The Dutch fleet was sent to prevent Sweden from gaining control of both sides of the Sound and thereby controlling access to the Baltic Sea as well as of its trade.
The Dutch, under the command of Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam with Egbert Bartholomeusz Kortenaer as his flag captain, who had sailed to the Baltic in support of Denmark, had 41 ships with 1413 guns while the Swedes, under Lord High Admiral Carl Gustaf Wrangel, had 45 ships with 1838 guns. The Dutch were grouped into three squadrons, while the Swedes separated their ships into four. The seven Danish ships with about 280 guns were unable to assist their Dutch allies because of adverse northern winds and could only watch. Obdam, who initially received written instructions from the Grand Pensionary, Johan de Witt that were very complicated and confusing to Obdam. He requested the orders to be given to him again "in three words", with de Witt replying with a single sentence: "Save Copenhagen and punch in the face anyone who tries to prevent it". The "anyone" was referring to the English, whose powerful fleet had recently defeated the Dutch in the First Anglo-Dutch War; leading to the Dutch suspecting an English fleet present might come to the aid of the Swedish, although the English simply observed the fighting from a distance, being allied to neither side. The Swedes attacked aggressively, but failed to gain the upper hand, primarily because the approaching Dutch had the weather gage. The Dutch forced the Swedish fleet to end the blockade of the Danish capital, enabling its resupply by Dutch armed transport ships, which eventually forced Charles to abandon the siege entirely.
The Swedes lost five ships in the action compared to one Dutch ship, however, remaining allied ships were more damaged. Also, considering the slightly fewer losses of men in the Swedish navy; 1,200 compared to 1,400 (439 killed, 269 captured and slightly more than 650 wounded allies), the battle is considered a tactical draw. Strategically, however, it was a major allied victory.[1]
Background
The peace in Roskilde 27 February 1658 lasted only a short time. On August 7 of the same year, Karl X Gustav's troops landed again on Zealand. The stronghold of Kronborg near Elsinore fell, as did most of Denmark. Charles X had started this second Danish war with the aim of wiping out Denmark both in name and kingdom. Copenhagen began to be besieged. The Dutch ambassador in Copenhagen was worried about the future. During the 17th century, the Dutch Republic was a sailing nation with great trade interests; not least in the Baltic Sea. If Denmark fell, the only sea connection with this sea would be completely controlled by Sweden.
The Dutch acted quickly. On October 7, 1658, the large Dutch fleet set sail and nineteen days later, anchors were lowered north of the Sound, at a base called "Lappen". From Kullaberg in northwestern Scania, the Swedes reported the number of enemy ships; 39 warships and 8 transport ships with soldiers and provisions to the trapped Copenhagen. A fleet of 1,278 guns, 4,501 sailors and 1,000 soldiers were waiting for the right weather. Down in the Sound, by the island of Ven, the Swedish fleet consisted of 31 warships, 14 armored merchant ships, 1,838 guns and 6,649 men.
Battle
At dawn on October 29, the Dutch eased anchor. A favorable and strong northwesterly wind was blowing. The Dutch Admiral Jacob Obdam's order was to reach the closed Copenhagen. Jacob Obdam, however, had personal problems. Paralyzed by gout, sitting on an armchair on deck, he was allowed to lead the battle from his admiral ship Eendracht.
Charles X stood with his staff on the ramparts of Kronborg Castle. In the end, the king hoped that the Dutch would side with the Swedes and greet Kronborg with a salute. That did not happen. The Dutch ships sailed along the Scanian coast. Helsingborg's lake bastions opened fire and in response received heavy fire. At eight o'clock in the morning closed the two admiral ships on each other. On board the Swedish Victoria was the Swedish Admiral Wrangel. Before the battle, Admiral Obdam had ordered the Swedes' masts, tackles and trains to be aimed at. Victoria soon became unmanageable in this way:
Ship lists
Dutch Republic
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Ship name | Guns | Notes |
Van (Vice Admiral Witte de With) | ||
Brederode (de With) | 59 | Ran aground, captured by Wismar and sank; de With killed |
Landman | 40 | |
Zeeridder | 22 | |
Princesse Louise | 32 | |
Cogge | 40 | |
Windhont | 23 | |
Prins Willem | 28 | |
Wapen van Medemblick | 36 | |
Groningen | 36 | |
Center (Lt. Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam) | ||
Eendracht (Obdam) | 72 | |
Rotterdam | 52 | |
Zon | 40 | |
Wapen van Rotterdam | 40 | |
Wapen van Dordrecht | 40 | |
Halve Maen | 40 | |
Duyvenvoorde | 40 | |
Stavoren | 40 | |
Deutecom | 24 | |
Waegh | 40 | |
Gouden Leeuw | 38 | |
Hoorn | 28 | |
Princes Albertina | 36 | |
Rear (Vice Admiral Pieter Floriszoon) | ||
Jozua (Floriszoon) | 50 | Pieter Floriszoon killed |
Breda | 28 | Captured but abandoned and recaptured |
Jupiter | 32 | |
Alkmaar | 36 | |
Westfriesland | 28 | |
Wapen van Holland | 38 | |
Eendracht | 38 | |
Caleb | 40 | |
Jonge Prins | 30 | |
Wapen van Monnickendam | 26 | |
Transports | ||
Judith | 24 | |
Vergulden Haen | 16 | |
Liefde | 24 | |
Medea | 24 | |
Perel | 23 | |
Fruytboom | 23 | |
Denmark | ||
Ship name | Guns | Notes |
Danish Squadron (Bjelke) | ||
Trefoldighed (Bjelke) | 66 | |
Tre Løver | 60 | |
Norske Løve | 48 | |
Hannibal | 44 | |
Graa Ulv | 36 | |
Johannes | 20 | |
Hojenhald | 8 | |
Sweden | ||
Ship name | Guns | Notes |
1st squadron (Sjohjelm) | ||
Cesar (Sjohjelm) | 54 | |
Amarant | 46 | |
Apollo | 46 | |
Wismar | 44 | |
Vestervik | 40 | |
Fides | 36 | |
Hjort | 36 | |
Södermanland | 38 | |
Svan | 38 | |
Östergötland | 36 | |
Halfmåne | 28 | |
2nd squadron (Carl Gustaf Wrangel and Strussflycht) | ||
Victoria (C.G. Wrangel) | 74 | |
Måne | 46 | |
Merkurius | 46 | |
Mars | 44 | |
Svärd | 44 | |
Pelican | 40 | Captured by Wapen van Rotterdam |
Örn | 38 | |
Samson | 32 | |
Morgonstjerna (merchantman) | 48 | Captured by Eendracht |
Goteborgsfalk (merchantman) | 24 | |
Krona | 68 | |
3rd squadron (Bjelkenstjerna) | ||
Drake (Bjelkenstjerna) | 66 | |
Carolus | 54 | |
Falk | 40 | |
Nordstjerna | 40 | |
Delmenhorst | 36 | Captured by Hollandia and Wapen van Medemblik |
Leopard | 36 | Damaged by Brederode; burnt after action |
Rafael | 36 | |
Samson | 36 | |
Jägare | 26 | |
Konung David (merchantman) | 42 | |
St Johannes (merchantman) | 36 | |
Kalmarkastell (merchantman) | 32 | |
4th squadron (G. Wrangel) | ||
Hercules (G. Wrangel) | 58 | |
Maria | 46 | |
Småland | 46 | |
Svenska Lejon | 40 | |
Svan | 36 | |
Fenix | 30 | |
Fortuna | 30 | |
Salvator | 30 | |
Hök | 28 | |
Rose (merchantman) | 40 | Captured by Landman |
Ångermanland (merchantman) | 20 |
References
- Naval Wars in the Baltic 1522-1850 (1910) - R. C. Anderson
- Svenska slagfält (2003) - Lars Ericson, Martin Hårdstedt, Per Iko, Ingvar Sjöblom, Gunnar Åselius