Notes on Action

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 Jørgen 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.