British and Danish ships exchanged fire at close range, with the Danish defenders showing determined resistance. The Danish ships still able to move did not intervene despite a wind and local knowledge that might have allowed them to concentrate on the British line. British fire then gained an advantage through rate and accuracy, while moving men from shore batteries to reinforce ships reduced the defences' overall firepower. Those reinforcements also spent time crossing exposed water in boats, leaving the same manpower temporarily unavailable to either the batteries or the ships.
Chapter · 1:55:41-2:03:38
Danish reserves and gunnery under pressure
The anchored Danish line fought hard, but mobile northern reserves stayed out of the battle and strained manpower weakened both ships and shore batteries.