Action off Lindesnaes, 26-27 June 1714

The action off Lindesnaes of 26-27 June 1714 was a frigate duel between the Swedish Olbing Galley (carrying 28 guns) and the Danish Løvendals Gallej (20) during the Great Northern War. The Danish ship was commanded by Peter Wessel, better known as Tordenskjold, the Swedish ship by an Englishman, Captain Bactman. She had recently been purchased in England and was still crewed by an English crew.

The fighting began at 6.00 p.m. on 26 June, and continued until 9.30, when the Swedish ship was able to pull away. Combat was renewed between 10.30 p.m. and midnight, when the Swedish ship lost her main topmast. Wessel broke off the combat to carry out repairs, confident that he could now catch the Swedish ship at will.

The fighting began again at 6 a.m. on 27 June, and continued for three hours. After another break another two hours of fighting followed (from 12.30). By now both ships were running short of ammunition. The Danish ship was in the stronger position, but the sea was too rough to allow Wessel to board the Swedish ships. After a brief exchange of messages the two ships came close together, the two captains drank each others health and then the two ships separated. Both ships safely returned to harbour. 

The Northern Wars, 1558-1721 (Modern Wars In Perspective), Robert I. Frost. One of the very few works in English to look at the long period of warfare that shaped north eastern Europe, Frost provides an excellent overview of nearly two centuries of conflict that shaped Scandinavia, Russia and Poland, ending with the Great Northern War.
cover cover cover
How to cite this article: Rickard, J (8 August 2007), Action off Lindesnaes, 26-27 June 1714 , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/action_lindesnaes.html

Help - F.A.Q. - Contact Us - Search - Recent - About Us - Privacy