Henrik Ernst Peymann was ordered to hold Copenhagen and, if the defence failed, burn the fleet before Britain could seize it. He did neither. He may have kept the ships intact as a bargaining chip, since surrendering them offered a way to end the bombardment. Faced with overwhelming British firepower, preserving that option was understandable even though it meant giving up Denmark's principal naval asset to save the city.
Notable Point · 5:02-6:18
Peymann's city-or-fleet dilemma
Peymann was ordered to hold Copenhagen or burn the fleet, but preserving the ships gave him a bargaining chip against continued bombardment.