1808 naval battle of the Gunboat War between Denmark-Norway and the United Kingdom
A rare Danish-Norwegian gunboat victory off Bergen that demonstrated the tactical potential of small craft against a becalmed frigate during the Gunboat War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 16 May 1808
- British forces
- 1 frigate (HMS Tartar)
- Norwegian forces
- 5 gunboats
- British casualties
- 2 killed, including frigate commander
- Norwegian casualties
- 4 killed
- Battle duration
- Approximately 1 hour
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the British seizure of the Danish fleet at Copenhagen in 1807, the Royal Navy blockaded the Norwegian coast, cutting off vital food imports from Denmark. Unable to rebuild a conventional navy, Denmark-Norway constructed coastal gunboats for defence. HMS Tartar was heading toward Bergen harbour to locate the Dutch privateer Gelderland when Norwegian lookouts at Bergenhus Fortress detected the approaching frigate.
On 16 May 1808, five Norwegian gunboats sortied from Bergen and engaged HMS Tartar, which lay becalmed in thick fog off Alvøen. The gunboats positioned themselves between Bergen and the British frigate and opened fire. The engagement lasted roughly one hour, with the Norwegian vessels exploiting the frigate's inability to manoeuvre under sail due to the calm and fog.
The battle resulted in the death of HMS Tartar's commander, Captain George Edmund Byron Bettesworth, alongside one other British sailor, while the Norwegians suffered four killed. The action became a notable episode of the Gunboat War, illustrating that small, oar-propelled vessels could inflict significant damage on larger warships when weather conditions negated the frigate's speed and firepower advantages.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
George Edmund Byron Bettesworth.
Side B
1 belligerent