Battle of Køge Bay

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Køge Bay


caption=Battle in Køge Bay. Painted by Claus Møinichen.
partof=the Scanian War
date=1 July 1677 – 2 July 1677
place=Køge Bay, south of Copenhagen
result=Decisive Danish victory
combatant1=
combatant2=
commander1=Niels Juel
commander2=Henrik Horn
strength1=27 ships, 6,700 men
strength2=34 ships, 8,260 men
casualties1=Ca. 100 dead
casualties2=8 ships, ca. 3,000 dead

The Battle of Køge Bay was a naval battle between Denmark-Norway and Sweden that took place in the bay of Køge July 1 - July 2, 1677, during the Scanian War. It resulted in Denmark's perhaps greatest naval victory.

Prelude

After losing control of the Baltic Sea in the Battle of Öland the year before, the Swedish navy wanted it back. The Danish fleet, commanded by Niels Juel, had 1,354 cannons and 6,700 men, while the Swedish fleet, commanded by Henrik Horn, had 1,792 cannons and 8,260 men.

The Swedish fleet had left Dalarö, near Stockholm, on June 9, 1677. On June 13 it was joined by "Kalmar", off Öland, and by "Andromeda" and "Gustavus", survivors of Sjöblad's squadron. The Danish fleet had left Copenhagen on 24 June 1677. Lack of wind forced it to anchor of Stevn's Point. At daybreak on June 19 the two fleets sighted each other.

The Battle

At about 8am on 30 June, Horn weighed anchor with a SSW wind and sailed toward the Danish fleet, sending two ships to try to draw Juel out; he in turn sent two ships to attack them. Both sides kept their distance, the Swedes forming a line, followed by the Danes. Juel tried in vain all night to get the weather gage.

On 1 July at daybreak, despite some of his ships having fallen behind, Juel closed, as did the Swedes, and fighting began at about 5am. Horn sent in fireships but the Danes towed them aside. As the fleets approached the coast near Stevn's Point, Juel bore away a little in the hope that the Swedes would try to stay to windward and run aground.

The Swedes lost eight war ships, several smaller ships and over 3,000 men. The Danish fleet did not lose any ships, but approximately 100 men were killed and 275 wounded.

Aftermath

This is recognized as Denmark-Norway's greatest naval victory.