The warship named “Äpplet” was found at Vaxholm outside Stockholm. It was built by the same shipbuilder who was responsible for “Vasa”. “Äpplet” was launched in 1629, one year after “Vasa” sank on its maiden voyage. “Vasa” was raised in 1961 and, after restoration, placed in a museum in Stockholm. It is one of the Swedish capital’s biggest tourist attractions. See video from the marine archaeologists’ exploration of the wreck. – The pulse rose The discovery was made in December 2021. Then marine archaeologists from Vrak, a museum for maritime archaeology, together with the navy discovered a large shipwreck in a strait outside the Swedish capital. The ship’s sides lay partially collapsed on the seabed, but the hull was otherwise preserved up to a lower gun deck. Photo: Jim Hansson, Vrak/SMTM In the sides that had fallen down, there were cannon ports on two different levels. Here it was a battleship, or warship, with two gun decks. Excitement rose among the explorers. – The pulse rose considerably when we saw how similar the wreck was to “Vasa”. Both the constructions and the powerful dimensions felt very familiar. The hope of finding one of “Vasa’s” sister ships is kindled with us, says marine archaeologist Jim Hansson. In the spring of 2022, further investigations were carried out, which could confirm what they were all hoping for. – Measurements, construction details, wood samples and archive material pointed in the same direction – we had found “Vasa’s” sister ship “Äpplet”! says Patrik Höglund. Marine archaeologists Jim Hansson and Patrik Höglund were involved in the discovery of the “Apple”. Photo: Mikael Dunker, Vrak/SMTM Sent in the war It was the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf who in 1625 ordered the two warships “Vasa” and “Äpplet”. “Vasa” already sank during her maiden voyage on 10 August 1628. The following year, “Äpplet” was completed. Shipbuilder Hein Jakobsson must have realized that Vasa had the wrong proportions even before it was launched. “Äpplet” was therefore built wider than its sister ship. However, it did not have a long future. The ship was part of the Swedish war fleet that sailed against Germany in 1630, during the Thirty Years’ War. It was condemned in 1658, and the following year it was sunk at Vaxholm. Part of the “Apple” is salvaged. Photo: Anders P Näsberg, Vrak/SMTM New knowledge The marine archaeologists believe the find provides new and important knowledge. – With Äpplet, we can add another important piece in the development of Swedish shipbuilding. And it is only now that we can really examine the differences in “Vasa’s” and “Äpplet’s” construction, says Jim Hansson. – This will help us understand how the large warships developed from the unstable “Vasa” to seaworthy vessels that could control the Baltic Sea – a decisive factor for Sweden’s emergence as a great power in the 17th century, says Patrik Höglund. Comparison between “Vasa” (1962) and “Äpplet” (2022). Illustration: Alexander Rauscher
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