HDMS Najaden (1811)

HDMS Najaden was a Danish naval frigate launched in 1811. She was a ship of the line, specifically a frigate armed with 40 guns. Najaden is most notable for her dramatic destruction during the Battle of Lyngør on 6 July 1812, during the Gunboat War between Denmark-Norway and Great Britain. Cornered in Lyngør fjord by a squadron of British warships led by HMS Dictator, Najaden initially put up fierce resistance. However, after suffering severe damage and facing overwhelming odds, her commander, Captain Hans Peter Holm, ordered her scuttled to prevent her capture by the British. The sinking of Najaden was a significant event in Danish naval history and is often remembered as a symbol of Danish resistance against British naval power during the Napoleonic Wars. The battle and the loss of Najaden effectively ended Denmark-Norway's ability to mount a serious naval challenge to British control of the seas.