Action of 30 May 1564

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Date	30 May 1564
Location	Proximity of Gotland
Result	Danish-Lübeck victory

Belligerents

Sweden

Denmark

Lübeck

Commanders

Jakob Bagge

Herluf Trolle
de:Friedrich Knebel

Strength

4 ships

6 ships

Casualties and losses

1 ship, c. 101 sailors

1 ship, c. 300 sailors

This battle took place on 30 and 31 May 1564 between the islands of Gotland and Öland, between a fleet of Allied ships, the Danes under Herluf Trolle and the Lübeckers under Friedrich Knebel, and a Swedish fleet of 23 or more ships under Jakob Bagge. It was an Allied victory.

Only some of the ships on each side were involved, the rest being unable to help due to the wind. On 30 May Fortuna was damaged and Lange Bark sunk, but on 31 May Mars was boarded by Byens Løffue, Engel and Fuchs before catching alight and exploding, killing most of its crew and 300 boarders. Jakob Bagge and his Second, Arved Trolle, were taken prisoner. Swedish casualties apart from in this ship were 101. Fleming took over the fleet and sailed it back to Elfsnabben, while the Danes sailed to Copenhagen.

Ships involved:

[edit] Denmark/Lübeck

Fortuna (flag)
Byens Løffue 56
Engel (Lübeck flag)
Lange Bark (Lübeck) - Sunk 30 May
Arck
Fuchs (Lübeck)
other ships

[edit] Sweden (Jakob Bagge)

Mars 173 (flag) - Blew up 31 May
Elefant 65 (Fleming)
Finska Svan 82
Svenska Hektor 87
19 or more other ships

[edit] References

Kloth, Herbert: "Lübecks Seekriegswesen in der Zeit des nordischen 7-jährigen Krieges 1563-1570", Zeitschrift des Vereines für lübeckische Geschichte und Altertumskunde, Vol. 21 (1923), pp. 1-51 & 185-256 plus Vol. 22 (1923-25), pp. 121-152 & 325-379