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The ironclad monitor ROLF KRAKE in Vemmingbund, 1864.
(Photo: Archives of the Royal Danish Naval Museum)

306 60-pound Shells
not enough to stop the Prussian Invasion

It was a strange twist of fate that the only Danish Naval officer to fall in the War of 1864, Lieutenant W. B. Jespersen on ROLF KRAKE, should fall during the storming of Dybbøl on April 18, 1864.

By Johnny E. Balsved/translated by Robert Rayce

The newest ship in the Danish navy, the ironclad monitor ROLF KRAKE, had just completed the year before, it's test voyages when the war against Prussia and Austria broke out on February 1, 1864.

At the start of the conflict, the ship was not completely equipped and was first ready on February 11 with 51-year-old Commander Hans Peter Rothe in command.

The ship, with its 141-man crew, was immediately ordered to join the squadron placed in the western area of the Baltic at Sønderborg.

However, even though firing from only 1,400 to 2,000 meters, the Prussian artillery had failed to penetrate the ships armor.

Prussian Dismay

After ROLF KRAKE's return to Sønderborg, a commission from the Naval Dock Yard in Copenhagen assessed its damages. Their first impression was that the ship should return to Copenhagen for repairs.

The Supreme Command was, however, of the opinion the ship could not be spared, and the damages were therefore repaired with local assistance while lying at anchor in Sønderborg.

The Prussians were somewhat dismayed at the effect of the ironclad monitor's efforts. They had never before been on the receiving end of the guns of an ironclad monitor's ironclad's cannon.

Unfortunately, since cooperation between the Navy and the Army had not been developed enough to take advantage of ROLF KRAKE's guns, the coordinated effort did not have the effect that it might have. To this end, the communication possibilities between ship and shore were inadequate.

Continued Reconnaissance

At 3:00 am on March 28, 1864, the Prussian troops stormed the Dybbøl defenses for the first time.

At the break of day the broadside ironclad, ROLF KRAKE, weighed anchor and sailed from Sønderborg to the northern part of Vemmingbund. Immediately it was attacked from the elevated Prussian artillery batteries at Broager.

The ship took several direct hits, but chose not to return fire. It continued to the gorge by the Danish front redoubts in the Dybbøl position, redoubts II and I. Here it opened an exceedingly effective flanking fire against the advancing Prussian troops.

The Prussian storm had been averted, and after having fires 38 shells, the ironclad monitor returned to Sønderborg.

ROLF KRAKE had suffered no losses of personnel, but had once again sustained some material damage. The supreme command declared that ROLF KRAKE's barrage had had an excellent effect.

Fishnet versus Ironclad

Once again, the Prussians had seen which effect an ironclad monitor could have!

They now decided to use untraditional methods to put an end to ROLF KRAKE's interference. The following nights, they lay a large number of fishnets in the waters of Vemmingbund.

The intent was to get the nets tangled in the ship's propeller or deter ROLF KRAKE from entering Vemmingbund for fear of being entangled in the nets.

The nets, however, were quickly spotted from ROLF KRAKE. On the morning of April 10, in a thick fog, a smaller vessel was sent in to Vemmingbund to either sink or collect the nets.

The vessel's commander, sub lieutenant W. B. Jespersen, was quickly able to neutralize a number of the nets, but came under enemy fire and was forced to withdraw when the fog lifted.

The Calm before the Storm

Around the middle of April, the Danish forces observed increased enemy activity, in spite of the diplomatic efforts to stop the war.

Denmark and Prussia/Austria had in fact been summoned to a conference in London on April 20, 1864 to establish a truce.

The Danes were, however, not in the least in doubt that the Prussians would attempt to capture Dybbøl before the beginning of the conference.

Therefore, the Danish forces remained on full alert.

The Second Storming of Dybbøl

At 4 am, on the morning of April 18, 1864, the Prussians began a violent bombardment of the Danish lines of defense to weaken the ability to resist.

In spite of taking many hits, ROLF KRAKE was successful in creating disorder in the Prussian ranks, firing 95 volleys against the Prussian right flank. At one point in the struggle, the ship's volleys helped drive the Prussians back.

In the long run, however, the ROLF KRAKE was not able to play a deciding role in the struggle on land. When the Danish troops were forced back towards Sønderborg, the commander chose to withdraw beyond the range of the enemy's guns.

Later in the afternoon, the ship again dropped anchor off Sønderborg.

Temporary ceasefire

After the fall of Dybbøl, the army concentrated on the defense of Sønderborg and Als.

Therefore, ROLF KRAKE was on April 19, ordered to Augustenborg bay, out of the reach of the Prussian artillery on the Jutland side. ROLF KRAKE stayed here until a temporary ceasefire between Prussia/Austria and Denmark was established on May 12.

The defense of Als

ROLF KRAKE had orders to sail to a position north of Als, where Commander Rothe was ordered to assume his previous station in Augustenborg bay. His assignment was to work with the army in preventing the enemy crossing Als bay and the northern part of Alssund.

The Prussian forces had taken advantage of the cease-fire to position several batteries of cannon with rifled barrels along the Jutland shore making it near impossible for the Danish ships to navigate the waters of the bay in daylight.

To ensure that ROLF KRAKE would be able to aid the army in time, it was agreed to light signal fires on land if the enemy attempted a crossing of Als Sound.

The ironclad monitor remained at anchor in Augustenborg Bay on full battle alert – which meant a full head of steam in the boilers and manned battle stations. Further, the ship sent patrol boats along the north shore of Als Sound to keep an eye on the Prussian force's movements towards the Sound.

The Prussian forces cross Als Sound.
(Contemporary copper engraving)

Prussian forces cross Als Sound

At 2 AM on 29 June 29, the men aboard ROLF KRAKE could hear a tremendous amount of rifle fire from Als Sound. It was assumed that the Prussians had begun their move to cross the sound.

Commander Rothe sounded the alarm and ordered the ship to sail immediately to a position north of Als Sound.

Aware that the ship would be subjected to heavy fire with the light of dawn and unaware of how much good could be done by staying in place, the commander, after consulting with his second-in-command, Lieutenant Commander E. Duntzfelt, made the decision to return to Augustenborg Bay. Here he could contact the army and receive reliable intelligence on the situation.

Retreat according to plan

After keeping the ship in action in Augustenborg Bay without the necessary information, and after being under heavy enemy fire, Commander Rothe, according to his operational orders, sailed around Als to assist in evacuating troops should it be required.

At approximately 5 AM ROLF KRAKE sailed north up Als Sound under heavy enemy fire from the batteries on the Jutland side.

There was a small Danish force stationed in the sound consisting of the paddle wheeler HERTHA, under the command of Lieutenant H. E. Bluhme, and the screw propellered gunboat WILLEMOES, under the command of Lieutenant A. C. R. Bærentzen. In addition, three cannon barges and one cannon yawl.

Cannon barge number 19, under the command of Lieutenant of the Reserve H. P. Marcher and cannon yawl BAAGØ, under the command of Lieutenant of the Reserve P. C. Petersen had to be left, therefore, the vessels were destroyed and the crew taken on board the other ships.

The loss of Als

After having evacuated the Danish ships, the ROLF KRAKE continued around Als to assist in the evacuation of troops to the island of Fyn.

The ironclad monitor had succeeded in firing a total of 116 shots on June 29, 1864, but the loss of Als was now a fact.

The ironclad had been hit numerous times but its armor was never pierced. However, the mizzenmast had been so heavily damaged that it was necessary to cut it off.

In total, the ROLF KRAKE from March to June 1864 had fired 306 60-pound grenades in the battle for Als. Those grenades alone were not enough to stop the Prussian invasion.

Epilogue

Until the ceasefire between Denmark and Prussia/Austria on July 20 was effectuated, the ROLF KRAKE together with the other ships, including the armored schooner ESBERN SNARE, continued to patrol the waters between Als and Fyn to prohibit and enemy advances towards that island.

On seven august 1864, the ironclad montior ROLF KRAKE returned to Copenhagen.

The loss of Als, however, had caused grief and anger in the entire nation. It was necessary to find a scapegoat. The rage and disappointment were directed at the army, but also at the role played by ROLF KRAKE.

A special commission was formed in 1865, after among others, Commander Rothe's wishes. It examined the circumstances and actions connected with the defense of Als. In December 1866, it dismissed all charges brought against Rothe. He had done what it had been possible for him to do.

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This page was first published: November 12, 2006

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