View source for Battle of Orford Ness (1704)

{{Short description|1704 naval battle}}
{{moresources|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| partof      =
| conflict    = Battle of Orford Ness
| image       = Sjöstrid-ÖLAND. 1874 - Sjöhistoriska museet - O 04935.tif
| image_size  = 300
| caption     = ''ÖLANDS strid vid Orfordness 28 juli 1704'', Albert Berg
| date        = 27 July 1704 (Julian Calendar) <br> 28 July 1704 ([[Swedish calendar|Swedish style]]) <br> 7 August 1704 (Gregorian Calendar)
| place       = [[English Channel]], [[North Sea]]
| coordinates = {{coord|52.046|1.744|type:event|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| result      = English victory
| combatant2  = {{flagdeco|Sweden|naval}} [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]]
| combatant1  = {{flagcountry|Kingdom of England}}
| commander2  = {{flagdeco|Sweden|naval}} [[Gustaf von Psilander]] {{POW}}
| commander1  = {{flagdeco|Kingdom of England|naval}} [[William Whetstone]]
| strength2   = 1 ship of the line
| strength1   = 8 ships of the line <br> 1 frigate
| casualties2 = 53 killed and wounded <br> 1 ship of the line captured
| casualties1 = 100 killed and wounded
}}
'''The Battle of Orford Ness''' was a naval battle fought between a southbound [[Swedish Empire|Swedish]] convoy escorted by the Swedish warship ''Öland'' and an [[Kingdom of England|English]] squadron of eight [[ship of the line|ships of the line]] and a [[frigate]] off the coast of [[Orford Ness]] on 27 July 1704 ([[Julian calendar]]). The English squadron started to follow the Swedish convoy upon sighting it and when they caught up with the Swedes,  demanded a salute due to Psilander being in English waters. The Swedish commander [[Gustaf von Psilander]], under strict orders from his king not to, refused (in order to avoid damaging his nation's honor). A four-hour battle ensued, with the heavily damaged ''Öland'' being captured alongside the convoyed merchant ships. The Swedish Board of Admiralty and Board of Trade refused to demand for his release or support Psilander while he was in captivity, but [[Charles XII]] was of a different opinion and successfully demanded the release of the warship and crew. Psilander, his crew, and the convoyed ships were later released and returned to Sweden. However, ''Öland'' later sank north of [[Denmark-Norway|Denmark]] while homebound.<ref>Liljegren, Bengt (2002). "Kaptenen som vägrade stryka flagg." ''Populärhistorisk Tidskrift'' 3: pp. 38-44.</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Orford Ness, Battle of}}
[[Category:Naval battles of the War of the Spanish Succession involving England|Orford Ness (1704)]]
[[Category:Naval battles involving Sweden|Orford Ness (1704)]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1704]]