Applet: Wreck of sister ship to Sweden’s most famous 17th-century warship Vasa discovered by archaeologists
Swedish maritime archaeologists have discovered the shipwreck of the ‘Applet’ – the long-lost sister of the iconic 17th century warship the ‘Vasa’.
Archaeologists working with the “Forgotten Fleet” research program have described their pulse racing when they discovered the wreck and found it similar to the Vasa.
– Our pulses raced when we saw how similar the wreck was to the Vasa, says Jim Hansson, maritime archaeologist at the Wreck Museum.
“Both the construction and the powerful dimensions seemed very familiar. The hope of finding one of Vasa’s sister ships was awakened within us.”
The massive shipwreck was discovered in December 2021 in a strait off the island of Vaxholm, near the capital Stockholm. Parts of the ship’s side had sunk to the bottom of the sea, but the hull was preserved to a lower cane deck. Its fallen sides had portholes showing that the warship had two gun decks.
The Applet (Apple) was launched in 1629 and was built by the same shipbuilder as her ill-fated sister.
Hansson said the design and dimensions of the wreck looked “very familiar” and added that they were hopeful it could be the Vasa’s sister ship.
A more detailed examination of the pieces was carried out in the spring of 2022, revealing details that further strengthened their belief as they matched Vasa. The museum said technical details such as dimensions and wood confirmed the ship was the Applet.
“With ‘Applet’ we can add another important piece of the puzzle in the development of the Swedish shipbuilding industry,” said Hansson.
He added that the discovery has allowed scientists to study the differences between Applet and Vasa.
– The find is also valuable for those who want to discover a new piece of exciting history through the old ship, says Hansson. “The apple is part of our cultural heritage…”
Patrik Hoglund, another archaeologist, said its discovery will help understand how “large warships evolved, from the unstable Vasa to seaworthy behemoths that could control the Baltic Sea – a decisive factor in Sweden’s emergence as a great power in the 17th century”.
Vasa, which was 69m (226ft) long, sank on its maiden voyage after sailing just over 1,000 yards. It was named after Sweden’s King Gustav Vasa and was built to become a symbol of the country’s military might.
The vase was salvaged in 1961 and is on display at Stockholm’s Vasa Museum.
The apple was commissioned by the army when the Swedish navy joined the Thirty Years’ War, with 1,000 men on board, the museum said.
“The apple was sunk off Vaxholm in 1659 to become part of an underwater barrier that would prevent the enemy from reaching Stockholm by sea,” the museum said.