Battle of Eckernförde

5 April 1849, Eckernförde Bay, Schleswig

Decisive Schleswig-Holstein victory over the Danish squadron

A Danish squadron under Captain Frederik Paludan went into Eckernförde Bay to destroy two shore batteries manned by Schleswig-Holstein and German Confederation gunners. The wind died and then turned onshore, trapping the sailing ships within range. Red-hot shot set Christian VIII on fire; the steamers Hekla and Geiser could not tow her or Gefion clear, and Hekla was hit herself. Gefion struck her colours, and the burning Christian VIII ran aground, surrendered, and blew up that evening. Denmark lost more than a hundred killed and about a thousand captured; the batteries lost a handful of men. It was a stark lesson in what shore guns could do to wooden ships.