Battle of Oliwa or battle of Danzig / Gdansk roadstead - naval battle between Polish fleet and Swedish squadron, on November 28, 1627. It took place before Gdansk (Danzig) harbour, but it is commonly known as the Battle of Oliwa (Oliwa is now a part of Gdansk). It was the first and the last naval battle of the Polish fleet, but it brought a victory.
The battle took place during the Polish-Swedish war. The Sweds had a strong navy then, and they maintained a blockade of the Polish shore, especially Gdansk harbour. On November 28, 1627, the Polish fleet engaged the Swedish blocking squadron. The Polish ships were more numerous, but only 4 galleons had full combat value. The Sweds had longer tradition of a seamanship, while the Polish nave was new-born.
The Poles were commanded by Admiral Arend Dickmann, on a galleon Sankt Georg. The Polish fleet of 10 ships was anchored at Gdansk roadstead, while the Swedish squadron of 6 ships sailed from a direction of Hel peninsula. The Poles raised anchors and rushed towards the Sweds, who did not expect such reaction. The battle soon split into two encounters.
The Polish flagship Sankt Georg, supported by a smaller ship Meerweib, attacked the Swedish flagship Tigern. The ships stuck together and the Polish naval infantry, fighting hand-to-hand, captured Tigern. Meanwhile, the Polish Vice-admiral ship - small galleon Meerman attacked bigger galleon Solen. As a result, the Swedish captain blew up Solen. The remaining Swedish ships escaped and a pursuit failed. In the battle, both Admirals were killed: Polish Arend Dickmann and Swedish Nils Stiernsköld.
The battle was propagated widely by the Polish court. There also appeared a saying, that: "the sun set at noon that day" (for "Solen" means the sun).
Polish ships:
(it seems, that they carried German names, though now they are known for their Polish translated names - in brackets)
- 1st Squadron
- (Ritter) Sankt Georg ( (Rycerz) Święty Jerzy) - galleon, 31 guns, 400t
- Fliegender Hirsch (Latający Jeleń) - Flying Deer - galleon, 20 guns, 300t
- Meerweib (Panna Wodna) - Sea Virgo - 12 guns, 160t
- ? (Czarny Kruk) - Black Raven - 16 guns, 260t
- ? (Żółty Lew) - Yellow Lion - 10 guns, 120t
- 2nd Squadron
- Meerman (Wodnik) - Aquarius - galleon, 17 guns, 200t
- König David (''Król Dawid'\') - galleon, 31 guns, 400t
- ? (Arka Noego) - Noe's Ark - 16 guns, 180t
- ? (Biały Lew) - White Lion - 8 guns, 200t
- Feuerblase (Płomień) - Fireblaze - 18 guns, 240
- Tigern - galleon, 22 guns, 320t (captured)
- Solen - galleon, 38 guns, 300t (sunk)
- Pelikanen - galleon, 20 guns, 200t
- Manem - galleon, 26 guns, 300t
- Enhörningen - galleon, 18 guns, 240t
- Papegojan - 16 guns, 180t
