Battle of Colberger Heide

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The naval Battle of Colberger Heide (or Colberg Heath) took place on 1 July 1644 during the Danish-Swedish War (part of the Thirty Years War), off northern Germany. It was a slight victory for a Danish fleet commanded by Vind, assisted by Grabow and King Christian IV, over a Swedish fleet commanded by Fleming, assisted by Ulfsparre and Bjelkenstjerna.

The Danish fleet consisted of 40 ships with about 927 guns, and the Swedish fleet consisted of 34 ships with 1018 guns and 7 fireships. Danish casualties were 37 killed and 170 wounded, and Swedish casualties were 32 killed and 69 wounded.

The Danish fleet, coming from the east, and the Swedish fleet, coming from the west, met just north of the German island of Fehmarn (Femern). The Swedes turned and sailed south along the west side of Fehmarn, inshore of a shoal, while the Danes followed a little further offshore. The Swedes turned north and swung around before resuming their westward course alongside the Danes. As the battle progressed the fleets turned before the wind, north and then back east south of the island of Langeland. As they approached the island of Lolland the Swedes turned south and eventually ended up in Kiel Bay while the Danes continued south-east, anchoring to the east of Fehmarn. Neither side had lost a ship.

Ships involved:

[edit] Denmark

First Squadron:
Patientia 48 (1st Sq. flag)
Oldenborg 42
Stormar 32
Fides 28
Svan 26
Prinds Christian (merchantman)
Lam 16
Havhest 14
Jomfrusvend 6
Ørn 4
Second Squadron:
Tre Løver 46
Lindorm 38
Kronet Fisk 20
Emanuel (merchantman)
Forgyldte Stokfisk (merchantman)
S. Jacob (merchantman)
S. Peter (merchantman)
Hvide Björn 14
Sorte Björn 14
Postillion 14
Third Squadron:
Trefoldighed 48 (3rd Sq. flag)
Pelican 36
Graa Ulv 30
Norske Løve 30
Neptunus 28
Sorte Rytter 24
Tvende Løver 22
Josua (merchantman)
Hollandske Fregat 12
Højenhald 8
Fourth Squadron:
St Sophia 40 (4th Sq. flag)
Tre Kroner 30
Delmenhorst 28
Nelleblad 24
Røte Gans (merchantman)
Unge Ulv (merchantman)
Markat 16
Gak Med 12
Samsons Gallej 9
Flyvende Hjort 8
The Danish merchant ships averaged around 20 guns each

[edit] Sweden

Van:
Scepter 58 (Van flag)
Drake 40
Göteborg 36
Leopard 36
Rafael 36
Jupiter 34
Regina 34 (Abraham Duquesne)
Smålands Lejon 32
Katta 22
Tiger 18
Måne 16
2 fireships
Center:
Krona 68 (Center flag)
Nyckel 34
Stockholm 34
Samson 32
Apollo 26
Merkurius 26
Salvator 26
Vestervik 26
Vestgöta Lejon 26
Rekompens 22
Svan 22
St Jakob 12
2 fireships
Rear:
Göta Ark 72 (Rear flag)
Svärd 32
Mars 30
Andromeda 26
Jägare 26
Vesterviks Fortuna 24
Akilles 22
Enhorn 18
Falk 18
Gamla Fortuna 18
Papegoja 12
3 fireships
The fireships were named Meerman, Caritas, Meerweib, Bona, Jungru, St Mikael and 1 other. 4 had previously been used as horse transports and were barely ready.