Battle of the Sound
(Redirected from Action of 29 October 1658)
Categories: History of Denmark | History of Sweden | History of the Netherlands
The naval Battle of The Sound took place on 29 October 1658 just south of København, being at that time under siege by Charles X of Sweden. The Dutch, under the command of Lieutenant-Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam with Egbert Bartholomeusz Kortenaer as his flag captain, who had sailed to the Baltic in support of Denmark, had 41 ships with 1413 guns while the Swedes had 45 ships with 1838 guns. The seven Danish ships with about 280 guns were unable to assist their Dutch allies because of adverse northern winds and could only watch. Obdam, who first received very complicated written instructions from Johan de Witt and asked his boss to explain them again "in three words", summed up his mission in a single sentence: "Save Copenhagen and punch anyone in the face who tries to prevent it". That "anyone" was the British fleet; the British didn't intervene however. The Swedes aggressively attacked, but failed as the approaching Dutch had the weather gage. The Dutch forced the Swedish fleet to end the blockade of the Danish capital, which again forced Charles to abandon the siege entirely.
Ship Lists
| United Provinces | ||
| Name | Armament | Notes |
| Van (Vice Admiral Witte de With) | ||
| Brederode (de With) | 59 | Ran aground, captured by Wismar and sank; de With killed |
| Landman | 40 | |
| Zeeridder | 22 | |
| Princesse Louise | 32 | |
| Cogge | 40 | |
| Windhont | 23 | |
| Prins Willem | 28 | |
| Wapen van Medenblik | 36 | |
| Groningen | 36 | |
| Center (Lt. Admiral Jacob van Wassenaer Obdam) | ||
| Eendracht (Obdam) | 72 | |
| Rotterdam | 52 | |
| Zon | 40 | |
| Wapen van Rotterdam | 40 | |
| Wapen van Dordrecht | 40 | |
| Halve Maen | 40 | |
| Duyvenvoorde | 40 | |
| Stavoren | 40 | |
| Deutecom | 24 | |
| Waegh | 40 | |
| Gouden Leeuw | 38 | |
| Hoorn | 28 | |
| Princes Albertina | 36 | |
| Rear (Vice Admiral Pieter Floriszoon) | ||
| Jozua (Floriszoon) | 50 | Pieter Floriszoon killed |
| Breda | 28 | Captured but abandoned and recaptured |
| Jupiter | 32 | |
| Alkmaar | 36 | |
| Westfriesland | 28 | |
| Wapen van Holland | 38 | |
| Eendracht | 38 | |
| Caleb | 40 | |
| Jonge Prins | 30 | |
| Monnikendam | 26 | |
| Auxilliary ships | ||
| Judith | 24 | |
| Vergulden Haen | 16 | |
| Liefde | 24 | |
| Medea | 24 | |
| Perel | 23 | |
| Fruytboom | 23 | |
| Sweden | ||
| Ship Name | Armament | Notes |
| 1st squadron (Sjoheljm) | ||
| Cesar (Sjoheljm) | 54 | |
| Amarant | 46 | |
| Apollo | 46 | |
| Wismar | 44 | |
| Vestervik | 40 | |
| Fides | 36 | |
| Hjort | 36 | |
| Sodermanland | 38 | |
| Svan | 38 | |
| Ostergotland | 36 | |
| Halfmane | 28 | |
| 2nd squadron (K. G. Wrangel and Strussflycht) | ||
| Victoria (Wrangel) | 74 | |
| Mane | 46 | |
| Merkurius | 46 | |
| Mars | 44 | |
| Svard | 44 | |
| Pelican | 40 | Captured by Wapen van Rotterdam |
| Orn | 38 | |
| Samson | 32 | |
| Morgonstjerna | 48 | Captured by Eendracht |
| Goteborgsfalk | 24 | |
| Krona | 68 | |
| 3rd squadron (Bjelkenstjerna) | ||
| Drake (Bjelkenstjerna) | 66 | |
| Carolus | 54 | |
| Falk | 40 | |
| Nordstjerna | 40 | |
| Delmenhorst | 36 | Captured by Hollandia and Wapen van Medenblik |
| Leopard | 36 | Damaged by Brederode; burnt after action |
| Rafael | 36 | |
| Samson | 36 | |
| Jagare | 26 | |
| Konung David | 42 | |
| St Johannes | 36 | |
| Kalmarkastell | 32 | |
| 4th squadron (G. Wrangel) | ||
| Hercules (G. Wrangel) | 58 | |
| Maria | 46 | |
| Smaland | 46 | |
| Svenska Lejon | 40 | |
| Svan | 36 | |
| Fenix | 30 | |
| Fortuna | 30 | |
| Salvator | 30 | |
| Hok | 28 | |
| Rose | 40 | Captured by Landman |
| Angermanland | 20 | |
| Denmark | ||
| Ship Name | Armament | Notes |
| Danish Squadron (Bjelke) | ||
| Trefoldighed (Bjelke) | 66 | |
| Tre Løver | 60 | |
| Norske Løve | 48 | |
| Hannibal | 44 | |
| Graa Ulv | 36 | |
| Johannes | 20 | |
| Hojenhald | 8 | |
External links