1801 naval battle between the United Kingdom and Denmark
The Battle of West Kay (Danish and Norwegian: "Slaget ved Fugleklippen"), also known as the Battle of Fugleklippen, was a naval battle between Denmark–Norway and the United Kingdom. It took place at the Skerry of West Kay (Danish: "Fugleklippen"), near Saint Thomas and ended in a Danish victory, which would later on have a significant national importance for Denmark.
Background.
Up until and including the Napoleonic Wars, privateering was a common aspect of naval warfare in the Caribbean. Denmark–Norway which owned the Danish West Indies, was keen to protect its trade and therefore sent two barques to guard and secure the trade on the islands in the late 18th century. Including in 1793 the "HDMS Lougen" sailed for the islands and later the Schooners "Irisine" and "Den Aarvaagne" also patrolled the islands.
Dano-British tensions.
At the end of February 1801, there were rumours of a British mobilization to invade the Danish West Indies. In response to the rumours, Governor-General Casimir Wilhelm von Scholten, sent two ships to gather more information.
"Lougen", under Carl Wilhelm Jessen, with "Den Aarvaagne" under Hans Munch, was ordered to examine the British intentions. Jessen chooses to distance "Lougen" from "Den Aarvaagne", in order for "Den Aarvaagne" to return to Christiansted and inform the governor, in case of hostilities.
Action.
Prelude.
When "Lougen" was near the uninhabited skerry of West Kay, presumably west of St. Thomas, two British ships, namely "HMS Experiment" and "HMS Arab", were approaching. Jessen could without problem have reached Charlotte Amalie, but instead stuck to his mission of investigating the British and came in for firing range of the British vessels "Arab" under captain John Perkins shot three direct shots at "Lougen". In response, Jessen asked the reason behind the shots, and when he did not get any answer from "Arab", he countered by shooting a sharp shot under "Arab"'s Union Jack. "Arab" replied by firing a whole Broadside at "Lougen", which signaled the start of the confrontation.
Battle.
"Experiment" thereafter shot "Lougen", and "Lougen" was therefore attacked by two sides The Danish ship was heavily focused on the maneuver in order for the British not to board "Lougen", and cannons from the afterdeck was installed to fire against the British. Despite the shelling, Jessen managed to order "Den Aarvaagne" to return to Christiansted and inform the general-governor. The attacked "Lougen" sailed to the coast of St. Thomas for the protection of Coastal artillery. When the coastal artillery shot at "Arab", it retreated to Tortola and the now alone, "Experiment" instead pursued "Den Aarvaagne" which were on its way to St. Croix. Jessen quickly followed "Experiment" and surrounded by artillery from both sea and land, "Experiment" retreated from battle.
Aftermath.
The Danish brig lost one member of its crew and three were wounded, and "Lougen" was damaged on several fronts. The British had suffered a bigger loss with eight dead and ten wounded.
Carl Wilhelm Jessen returned to Denmark in the summer 1801 and was awarded The King's Gold Honour Saber, by Crown Prince Regent Frederick with the inscription "For expelled against 3 March 1801" In addition he received a bounty worth 400 Danish rigsdaler. He would later command the Danish Royal Navy in the Battle of Zealand Point.
Despite this Danish victory, on 28 March 1801, a British fleet of 3 ships-on-the-line, 6 Frigates, with an additional 20 armed vessels and 4000 men, under the command of Sir John Duckworth, 1st Baronet invaded St. Thomas.
References.
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