Battle of Anholt

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Anholt


caption=
partof=Napoleonic Wars
date=27 March 1811
place=Anholt
result=British victory
combatant1=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
combatant2=flagicon|Denmark Denmark–Norway
commander1=
commander2=Jørgen C. de Falsen
strength1=Frigate HMS Tartar, Brig HMS Sheldrake, British garrison
strength2=12 gunboats,
1,000 infantry
casualties1=|2 dead and 30 injured casualties2=2 gunboats and two smaller boats.

The Battle of Anholt (March 27 1811) proved a decisive British victory and led to many Danish casualties. A monument for the battle is located in Anholt village.

trategic background to the battle

From 1808 to 1814, Anholt, a small Danish island off the coast of Jutland, was occupied by the British who sought to restore the function of the lighthouse to aid their navigation. During the Gunboat War, Denmark attempted to retake the island by force.

Naval tactical background

Falsen's Battle Plan

British Battle Plan

Battle

The battle of Anholt took place on the 25th of March 1811. The Danish army had a larger fighting force than the British, but a lack of planning and supply failures led to a devastating defeat.

On the 24th of March, a Danish fleet of 10 gunboats with 1000 Danish marines on board left Gjerild beach in Jutland. The Danish fleet were unaware that the British base on Anholt, known as Fort York, was protected by frigates and had been reinforced with artillery. The Danes landed on the northern beach of Anholt early in the morning and marched towards Fort York, a bastion built in extension of the lighthouse and now manned by 380 British marines. There was a failure to co-ordinate any Danish plan of battle and the fighting ended in sporadic encounters. The Danish soldiers, without supplies, became thirsty and tired. A final attack was launched at 10 in the evening on Fort York by a Major Melsted. With raised sword he led a charge by a small party of men towards the Fort, but a British bullet ended his life and settled the battle. The Danish attempts to take Fort York failed due to a combination of poor planning, a lack of provisions and a failure to bring field artillery - much of this due to the current limitations on Danish shipping following British naval successes. Ultimately, this proved fatal.----

Consequences

ee also

*British naval supremacy

External links

* [http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/D1.HTM Sailing ships of the Royal Navy]