The Gunboat War (1807–1814) was a naval conflict that took place between Denmark–Norway and Great Britain, supported by Sweden, during the Napoleonic Wars. This war derived its name from the Danish tactic of using small, maneuverable gunboats to challenge the superior firepower of the British Royal Navy. In Scandinavian historiography, this conflict is often viewed as the later phase of the "English Wars," which had commenced with the First Battle of Copenhagen in 1801.
Background
Tensions between Denmark-Norway and Great Britain first escalated during the First Battle of Copenhagen in 1801, where Denmark-Norway's policy of armed neutrality led to an attack by a British fleet under Admiral Horatio Nelson. This policy had involved protecting Danish-Norwegian trade from interference during the latter stages of the French Revolutionary Wars. Hostilities resumed in 1807 when the British, fearing that the Danish-Norwegian fleet might be seized by Napoleon, launched the Second Battle of Copenhagen, bombarding the Danish capital and capturing or scuttling much of the Danish-Norwegian fleet.
Danish Gunboat Strategy
In response to the loss of its fleet, Denmark-Norway turned to constructing small gunboats to compensate. The gunboats were initially designed by Swedish naval architect Fredrik Henrik af Chapman and could be produced quickly and cheaply. These vessels were highly maneuverable in shallow waters and presented small targets, making them ideal for defending against the superior Royal Navy. However, they were also vulnerable and ineffective in rough seas or against larger warships. Over 200 gunboats were built, with the two main types being the larger kanonchaluppen, equipped with two 24-pounder cannons and four 4-pounder howitzers with a crew of up to 79 men, and the smaller kanonjollen, armed with a single 24-pounder cannon and two 4-pounder howitzers, manned by 41 men.
The Course of the War
The conflict officially began following the British attack on Copenhagen in 1807, and the gunboats quickly became the cornerstone of Denmark-Norway's naval defense. Despite their limitations, the gunboats were effective in disrupting British merchant convoys and even capturing smaller British warships, although they struggled against larger frigates and ships of the line. The British, who maintained overall control of Danish waters throughout the war, regularly escorted merchant convoys through the Sound and the Great Belt, and carried out amphibious landings on various Danish islands to seize supplies.
One of the earliest engagements was on August 12, 1807, when the British sixth-rate HMS Comus captured the Danish frigate Friderichsværn, inflicting heavy losses on the Danish crew. The British bombardment of Copenhagen in September further weakened Danish defenses, and the British captured the strategically important island of Heligoland, which they later used as a base for smuggling and espionage against Napoleon.
Danish gunboats seizing HMS Turbulent, 9 June 1808.
In response, Denmark-Norway launched numerous gunboat raids and attacks. Notably, Danish gunboats proved capable of defeating British warships in several engagements, such as the capture of HMS Tickler on June 4, 1808, after a four-hour battle. Despite these successes, the British blockade continued to restrict Danish trade and resupply efforts.
Key Battles and Engagements
- Battle of Zealand Point (March 22, 1808): One of the most significant battles of the Gunboat War, where the Danish ship of the line Prinds Christian Frederik was destroyed by the British ships HMS Nassau and HMS Stately. Despite the defeat, this encounter demonstrated Denmark-Norway's willingness to fight back with its remaining naval forces.
- Battle of Alvøen (May 15, 1808): The Danish gunboat flotilla engaged and drove off the British frigate HMS Tartar, demonstrating the effectiveness of gunboats in shallow coastal waters.
- Battle of Anholt (February 27, 1811): Danish forces attempted to recapture Anholt, which had been seized by the British earlier in the war. However, the Danish attack was repelled with heavy losses, and the British maintained control of the island.
- Battle of Lyngør (July 6, 1812): The last major naval engagement of the war, where a British squadron attacked and destroyed the Norwegian frigate Najaden off the coast of Lyngør. This battle marked the end of significant naval resistance by Denmark-Norway.
Peace and Aftermath
As the Napoleonic Wars reached their final stages, Denmark-Norway found itself increasingly isolated. The Swedish invasion of Holstein in December 1813 forced Denmark-Norway to seek peace. The Treaty of Kiel, signed on January 14, 1814, ended the Gunboat War but had severe consequences for Denmark-Norway. Under the terms of the treaty, Denmark was forced to cede the Kingdom of Norway (excluding Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands) to Sweden. In compensation, Denmark regained the island of Anholt and acquired the Duchy of Saxe-Lauenburg.
However, the Norwegian people rejected the terms of the Treaty of Kiel, and a brief war of independence against Sweden broke out in July 1814. Although Norway was ultimately forced into a personal union with Sweden, it maintained a degree of sovereignty and eventually gained full independence in 1905.
The Gunboat War demonstrated the resilience and adaptability of Denmark-Norway in defending its waters, even with limited resources. Although the conflict ended in territorial losses, Denmark-Norway's use of gunboats against the British Royal Navy left a notable legacy in naval warfare, showcasing the potential effectiveness of smaller, more maneuverable vessels in coastal defense against a larger, superior force.