First battle of Öland (1564)


The first battle of Öland took place on 30–31 May 1564 between the islands of Gotland and Öland, between a fleet of Allied ships, the Danes under Herluf Trolle and the Lübeckers under Friedrich Knebel, and a Swedish fleet of 23 or more ships under Jakob Bagge. It was an Allied victory.
Only some of the ships on each side were involved, the rest being unable to join or continue their part in the battle due to the wind. On 30 May, Danish flagship Fortuna was damaged and Lange Bark sunk, but on 31 May the Swedish ship Mars was boarded by Byens Løffue, Engel, and Fuchs before catching alight and exploding, killing most of its crew and 300 boarders. Jakob Bagge and his Second,, were taken prisoner. Swedish casualties apart from in this ship were 101. Fleming took over the fleet and sailed it back to Älvsnabben, while the Danes sailed to Copenhagen.

Ships involved

Denmark/Lübeck

Fortuna Byens Løffue 56Engel Lange Bark — sunk 30 MayArckFuchs
  • other ships

Sweden

Mars 173 — blew up 31 MayElefant 65 Finska Svan 82Svenska Hektor 87
  • 19 or more other ships