Action of 30 May 1563

Part of Northern Seven Years' War

Date	30 May 1563
Location	Proximity of Bornholm
Result	Swedish victory

Belligerents

Sweden

Denmark

Commanders and leaders

Jakob Bagge

Jacob Brockenhuus

Strength

19 ships

10 ships

Casualties and losses

Negligible

3 ships captured
2 ships heavily damaged
800 men captured

Northern Seven Years' War

Pomerania Bornholm Öland Mared Öland I Öland II Rügen Bukow Bornholm I Axtorna Brobacka Öland III Varberg

The Action of 30 May 1563 was the first naval battle of the Northern Seven Years' War (1563–70), taking place on 30 May 1563 near Bornholm. A Danish squadron of 10 ships under Jacob Brockenhuus, at anchor near Bornholm, saw a Swedish squadron of 19 ships, under Jakob Bagge, approaching, and sent only the 3 ships Hercules 81 (flag), Hector 38 and Hjort 46 toward it to show that they didn't want to fight. Unfortunately, when firing 3 shots as a challenge, they managed to hit one of the Swedish ships. The Swedes promptly surrounded and attacked the Danes, capturing all 3 after a 4 hour fight. The remaining Danish ships remained at anchor.

Sources

Sten Carlsson, Jerker Rosén, Bonniers: Den svenska historien 1520-1611
Ulf Sundberg, Hjalmarson and Högberg (1998): Svenska krig 1521-1814