Battle of Grimstad Bay

1811 amphibious battle of the Napoleonic Wars

58°21′00.2″N 8°36′26.9″E / 58.350056°N 8.607472°E / 58.350056; 8.607472Result

Dano-Norwegian Victory

British navy fled, leaving the Norwegian ship behind.

Belligerents

Denmark–Norway

United KingdomStrength Unknown amount of Norwegian volunteers 1 BattleshipCasualties and losses Unknown Several killed or wounded

Gunboat War

Copenhagen
Køge
Zealand Point
2 March 1808
Alvøen
Saltholm
Silda
Anholt
Grimstad
Lyngør

The Battle of Grimstad Bay was an amphibious assault by the United Kingdom against Denmark–Norway that took place in the town of Grimstad, situated on the southern coast of present-day Norway. The battle was a part of the blockade that the Royal Navy maintained on the country from 1807 to 1814 during the Napoleonic Wars.^[1]

Course

HMS Venus was in pursuit of four merchant vessels that had sought refuge in the fjord leading to Grimstad. Among these vessels was the sloop Frau Maria, which was en-route from Bergen to Flensburg in Denmark (now Germany) carrying fish, salt, and cod liver oil.^[1]

The frigate anchored outside the outer islands of Grimstad and deployed three ship's boats manned by armed marines. These boats made their way into Grimstad bay and boarded the Frau Maria. The local defense force in Grimstad mobilized and engaged against the British marines using rifles and a few small cannons. Despite their efforts, the marines managed to set sail on the sloop but inadvertently sailed into a narrow bay with no passage leading to the ocean. They were trapped and were forced to abandon the ship and retreated back to HMS Venus. It was reported that several marines were killed or wounded in the engagement.^[2]