Read on Twitter
Very Brief Background: Britain was still imposing a blockade of France as well as a stop & search of ships from other countries with materials that may be headed to France.
Russia began organising a coalition as they weren't happy (Denmark, Sweden and Prussia)
Russia began organising a coalition as they weren't happy (Denmark, Sweden and Prussia)
In December 1800 the coalition agreement was signed and The Second League of Armed Neutrality was formed.
Ofc Britain saw it as an alliance with France...
March 1801: British fleet heads to the Baltic to break it up.
Ofc Britain saw it as an alliance with France...
March 1801: British fleet heads to the Baltic to break it up.
Leading up to the battle, the British fleet spent time surveying and replacing buoyage that had been removed by the Danes.
This was crucial for the planned attack to go ahead... Anyone who sails will understand thr implications!
This was crucial for the planned attack to go ahead... Anyone who sails will understand thr implications!
Our boy Nelson was feeling pretty confident, saying that there was a 'total want of tactique among the Northern Fleets'
The plan?
Edgar, Ardent, Glatton, Isis and Agamemnon were to anchor, firing on the enemy as they worked down the line. They would be followed by the Bellona, Elephant, Ganges, Monarch, Defiance, Russell and Polyphemus
Each Danish ship was matched by a British counterpart.
Edgar, Ardent, Glatton, Isis and Agamemnon were to anchor, firing on the enemy as they worked down the line. They would be followed by the Bellona, Elephant, Ganges, Monarch, Defiance, Russell and Polyphemus
Each Danish ship was matched by a British counterpart.
The Danish had one 74 gunner and one 64. The remainder were smaller ships, some no more than a floating battery and a lot of them without masts... problematic for targeting at range.
Commodore Fischer, in command of the main line of Danish ships, was very much aware who he was up against and knew that his ships would be easy targets for Nelson, who could just use the tactics he employed at the Nile and double his line.
https://adventuresofkate.co.uk/tag/battle-of-the-nile/
https://adventuresofkate.co.uk/tag/battle-of-the-nile/
Nelson's plan was simple, but relied on the buoyage having been placed correctly as there were shoals.
Nelson wouldn't risk his ships doubling as he did at the Nile, for this reason. The aim was to use gunnery & force submission.
Bomb vessels would then bombard the city.
Nelson wouldn't risk his ships doubling as he did at the Nile, for this reason. The aim was to use gunnery & force submission.
Bomb vessels would then bombard the city.
At 1015 on 2nd April the signal to weigh waa raised and the British didn't take long to reach the Danish line, thanks to the wind and tide.
At 1030 the Prøvestenen fired on the Edgar and the British formed a line.
Ten minutes later? It all went a bit wrong...
At 1030 the Prøvestenen fired on the Edgar and the British formed a line.
Ten minutes later? It all went a bit wrong...
The Agamemnon weighed anchor but couldn't weather the Middle Ground shoals and stuck fast.
At 1050, Sir Hyde Parker signalled for the first 3 ships of his division to sail. The Bellona and Russell were also grounded amd within range of Danish guns...
At 1050, Sir Hyde Parker signalled for the first 3 ships of his division to sail. The Bellona and Russell were also grounded amd within range of Danish guns...
Works both ways though and, despite being grounded, they fired on the Danish with incredible accuracy as they weren't moving.
Nelson meanwhile told the Master of the Elephant he was wrong about where the deep water was, overruled him & stopped half his squadron going aground
Nelson meanwhile told the Master of the Elephant he was wrong about where the deep water was, overruled him & stopped half his squadron going aground
By 1145 all British ships of the line were engaged.
The Danish fought hard and the batteries on shore fired regularly on the British with power.
The British maintained their fire & by 1245 the two largest Danish ships were no longer a concern.
The Danish fought hard and the batteries on shore fired regularly on the British with power.
The British maintained their fire & by 1245 the two largest Danish ships were no longer a concern.
Hyde Parker, 5 miles away on the London, raised the signal to 'Discontinue the action. Engagement still continues'
Rear Admiral Graves onboard the Defiance raised the signal behind a sail, so Nelson couldn't see it, whilst also still flying the signal for close action.
Rear Admiral Graves onboard the Defiance raised the signal behind a sail, so Nelson couldn't see it, whilst also still flying the signal for close action.
Time for the the famous story of Nelson 'turning a blind eye'
Supposedly he placed the telescope to his right eye saying he had a right to be blind sometimes and didn't see the signal...
Supposedly he placed the telescope to his right eye saying he had a right to be blind sometimes and didn't see the signal...
Mini rant
1. Nelson never wore an eyepatch, though he had a shade to almost filter the light attached to his cap at one point.
2. He wasn't entirely blind. He couldn't do much more than distinguish between light and dark.
1. Nelson never wore an eyepatch, though he had a shade to almost filter the light attached to his cap at one point.
2. He wasn't entirely blind. He couldn't do much more than distinguish between light and dark.
Anyway, it's a great story/myth.
By 2pm most of the Danish fleet were out of action or heavily damaged and Nelson decided to write a letter to the Crown Prince of Denmark
By 2pm most of the Danish fleet were out of action or heavily damaged and Nelson decided to write a letter to the Crown Prince of Denmark
Nelson claimed his motive to offer a 'truce' at the height of battle was humanity and not a ruse de guerre.
Nelson had offered to 'spare Denmark when no longer resisting', but if fighting continued he would set the captured batteries on fire.
Nelson had offered to 'spare Denmark when no longer resisting', but if fighting continued he would set the captured batteries on fire.
The British ships were struggling, many could not be steered, the wind wasn't of an advantage and this 'truce' would give the fleet a chance to get free of the shoals.
Clever politics by Nelson...
The Prince accepted the 'truce' & c. 3pm the Danish struck their colours
Clever politics by Nelson...
The Prince accepted the 'truce' & c. 3pm the Danish struck their colours
Nelson signalled for the fleet to leave the King's Deep. A number, still aground, had to wait for tide and be towed off...
Gunner time.
On the Bellona, still aground, her Captain was injured and lost a leg early on.
His gunners had loaded double charges for range but two guns exploded
The guns were in the charge of Lt Wilkes, who was knocked down 3 times but only suffered a black eye & bruises
On the Bellona, still aground, her Captain was injured and lost a leg early on.
His gunners had loaded double charges for range but two guns exploded
The guns were in the charge of Lt Wilkes, who was knocked down 3 times but only suffered a black eye & bruises
The Danish had suffered huge losses and Copenhagen, a far from perfect actiom, wasn't immediately seen to be a victory as so many British ships were damaged.
Nelson underestimated the Danish. Pilots misread the Kings Deep and Hardy's work surveying and laying buoys was a waste
Nelson underestimated the Danish. Pilots misread the Kings Deep and Hardy's work surveying and laying buoys was a waste
Anyway, another incredibly brief thread or it would go on all day...
So much writing on Copenhagen in basically every Nelson bio ever, but also a great book written by Ole Feldbæk using a good mix of sources, if you want to read more!
So much writing on Copenhagen in basically every Nelson bio ever, but also a great book written by Ole Feldbæk using a good mix of sources, if you want to read more!
And if you want some more naval history with your morning coffee...
Trafalgar https://twitter.com/kateejamieson/status/1053932522239856640?s=19
Cape St Vincent
https://twitter.com/kateejamieson/status/1095847417646325760?s=19
Trafalgar https://twitter.com/kateejamieson/status/1053932522239856640?s=19
Cape St Vincent
https://twitter.com/kateejamieson/status/1095847417646325760?s=19
