The Swedish Warship That Sank in 1628

The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

In 1628, the Swedish warship Vasa sank less than a mile into its maiden voyage, and around 30 people died.

Then, 333 years later, the ship was recovered from the sea floor, almost completely intact.

The Vasa was commissioned by Sweden's King Gustavus Adolphus, and built in Stockholm's navy yard between 1626 and 1627.

The sculptures carved out of oak, pine or linden on the ship were aimed at projecting authority, wisdom and power.

Several factors contributed to the Vasa sinking, including asymmetrical design measurements and an undisclosed failed seaworthiness test.

As the Vasa sailed away in 1628, a wind caused the 226-foot-long ship to keel over and water poured into the open gunports, The ship sunk to the bottom of Stockholm harbor to a depth of 32 m (105 ft), in full view of a large crowd of onlookers.

Most of the dead were trapped inside the ship.

In 1956, Swedish marine technician and amateur naval archaeologist Anders Franzen, discovered the sunken Vasa, it was salvaged between 1959 and 1961. 

The Vasa was painstakingly raised, in 18 steps - a metre each time- from 32 metres, so that the wood could be treated as it became exposed to the atmosphere, and not disintegrate.

The Vasa was so well preserved that after the gunportals were sealed, and water and mud were pumped out, it could float.

The Vasa is housed in a museum that was specially built.

The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden.

The hulk of the Vasa after recovery operations, 14 May 1961

The Vasa at a museum on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

As the Vasa sailed away in 1628, a wind caused the 226-foot-long ship to keel over and water poured into the open gunports, The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

The Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden

Scale model view of daily life inside the ship. Vasa Museum is located on Djurgården Island in Stockholm, Sweden