Battle of Colberger Heide The naval Battle of Colberger Heide ( also Kolberger Heide or Colberg Heath ) took place on 1 July 1644 during the Torstenson War , off the coast of Schleswig - Holstein . The battle was indecisive , but a minor success for the Danish fleet commanded by Jørgen Vind , assisted by Grabow and King Christian IV , over a Swedish fleet commanded by Klas Fleming , assisted by Ulfsparre and Bjelkenstjerna . Course of the battle . The Danish fleet consisted of 40 ships with about 927 guns , and the Swedish fleet consisted of 34 ships with 1018 guns and 7 fireships . The Danish fleet , coming from the east , and the Swedish fleet , coming from the west , met just north of the island of Fehmarn ( Femern ) . The Swedes turned and sailed south along the west side of Fehmarn , inshore of a shoal , while the Danes followed a little further offshore . The Swedes turned north and swung around before resuming their westward course alongside the Danes . As the battle progressed the fleets turned before the wind , north and then back east south of the island of Langeland . As they approached the island of Lolland the Swedes turned south and eventually ended up in Kiel Bay while the Danes continued south - east , anchoring to the east of Fehmarn . Casualties . Neither side had lost a ship . Danish casualties were 37 killed and 170 wounded , and Swedish casualties were 32 killed and 69 wounded . Among the Danish casualties were commander Jørgen Vind , who died of his wounds soon after the battle , and the king , whose wounds included the loss of an eye . Impact . While the Danish fleet gained a small success , when they in the subsequent maneuvers incarcerate the Swedish fleet at Kiel bay , the battle was not decisive : in a subsequent encounter , the Danish navy was utterly defeated off the Fehmarn coast . The significance of the battle rather lies in its retrospect perception as the last Danish victory over her long - time adversary Sweden in their struggle for control of the dominium maris baltici , and the heroization of the Danish king ' s personal commitment during the battle , memorized in the famous Marstrand painting and the first lines of the Danish royal anthym " Kong Christian stod ved højen mast " . List of ships involved . Denmark . First Squadron : < br > " Patientia " 48 ( 1st Sq . flag ) < br > " Oldenborg " 42 < br > " Stormar " 32 ( Henrik Mund ) < br > " Fides " 28 < br > " Svan " 26 ( Lucas Henriksen ) < br > " Prinds Christian " ( merchantman ) < br > " Lam " 16 < br > " Havhest " 14 < br > " Jomfrusvend " 6 < br > " Ørn " 4 < br > Second Squadron : < br > " Tre Løver " 46 < br > " Lindorm " 38 < br > " Kronet Fisk " 20 < br > " Emanuel " ( merchantman ) < br > " Forgyldte Stokfisk " ( merchantman ) < br > " S . Jacob " ( merchantman ) < br > " S . Peter " ( merchantman ) < br > " Hvide Björn " 14 < br > " Sorte Björn " 14 < br > " Postillion " 14 < br > Third Squadron : < br > " Trefoldighed " 48 ( 3rd Sq . flag ) < br > " Pelican " 36 < br > " Graa Ulv " 30 < br > " Norske Løve " 30 < br > " Neptunus " 28 < br > " Sorte Rytter " 24 < br > " Tvende Løver " 22 < br > " Josua " ( merchantman ) < br > " Hollandske Fregat " 12 < br > " Højenhald " 8 < br > Fourth Squadron : < br > " St Sophia " 40 ( 4th Sq . flag ) < br > " Tre Kroner " 30 ( Corfits Ulfeldt ) < br > " Delmenhorst " 28 ( Hans Knudsen ) < br > " Nelleblad " 24 < br > " Røte Gans " ( merchantman ) < br > " Unge Ulv " ( merchantman ) < br > " Markat " 16 < br > " Gak Med " 12 < br > " Samsons Gallej " 9 < br > " Flyvende Hjort " 8 < br > The Danish merchant ships averaged around 20 guns each Sweden . Van : < br > " Scepter " 58 ( Van flag ) < br > " Drake " 40 < br > " Göteborg " 36 < br > " Leopard " 36 < br > " Rafael " 36 < br > " Jupiter " 34 < br > " Regina " 34 ( Abraham Duquesne ) < br > " Smålands Lejon " 32 < br > " Katta " 22 < br > " Tiger " 18 < br > " Måne " 16 < br > 2 fireships < br > Center : < br > " Krona " 68 ( Center flag ) < br > " Nyckel " 34 < br > " Stockholm " 34 < br > " Samson " 32 < br > " Apollo " 26 < br > " Merkurius " 26 < br > " Salvator " 26 < br > " Vestervik " 26 < br > " Vestgöta Lejon " 26 < br > " Rekompens " 22 < br > " Svan " 22 < br > " St Jakob " 12 < br > 2 fireships < br > Rear : < br > " Göta Ark " 72 ( Rear flag ) < br > " Svärd " 32 < br > " Mars " 30 < br > " Andromeda " 26 < br > " Jägare " 26 < br > " Vesterviks Fortuna " 24 < br > " Akilles " 22 < br > " Enhorn " 18 < br > " Falk " 18 < br > " Gamla Fortuna " 18 < br > " Papegoja " 12 < br > 3 fireships < br > The fireships were named " Meerman " , " Caritas " , " Meerweib " , " Bona " , " Jungru " , " St Mikael " and 1 other . 4 had previously been used as horse transports and were barely ready .