Applet’s celebrated sister ship, Vasa, sank on her maiden voyage after traveling more than 1,000 meters.
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Swedish maritime archaeologists have discovered the remains of the “Applet”, the long-lost brother of the iconic seventeenth-century warship “Vasa”.
Archaeologists participating in the “Forgotten Fleet” study program described feeling as if their pulse quickened when they discovered the remains and discovered that it resembled Vasa.
“Our pulse quickened when we saw how similar the shipwreck was to the Vasa,” said Jim Hansson, a maritime archaeologist at the Swedish Shipwreck Museum.
“The structure and hard dimensions looked very familiar. The hope of locating one of Vasa’s sister ships sprang up in us.
The large shipwreck was found 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 remained on a lower gun deck. Its fallen sides had portholes showing that the warship had two gun decks.
Applet (The Apple) introduced in 1629 and built through the same shipbuilder as its unfortunate sister.
Hansson said the structure and dimensions of the wreck looked “very familiar” and added that they expected it to be only Vasa’s sister ship.
A more detailed investigation of the coins conducted in the spring of 2022, revealed the main points that further reinforced his ideas by coinciding with Vasa. The museum said major technical points, such as measurements and wood, showed the shipping of the applet.
“With ‘Applet’ we can load the key piece of the puzzle in the progression of Swedish shipbuilding,” said M. Hansson.
He added that their discovery allowed researchers the differences between Applet and Vasa.
“The notice is also valuable for those who need to notice a new and exciting part of history through the old ship,” said M. Hansson. “The applet is a component of our cultural heritage. “
Patrik Hoglund, another archaeologist, said his discovery will help understand how “large warships evolved from the volatile Vasa to navigable giants that could be just the Baltic Sea, something decisive in Sweden’s emergence as a great force in the seventeenth century. “
Vasa, which was 69 m (226 ft) long, sank on its maiden voyage after traveling just over 1,000 meters. It was named after Sweden’s King Gustav Vasa and was built as a symbol of the country’s military might.
The Vasa was recovered in 1961 and is on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
Applet commissioned through the army when the Swedish army joined the Thirty Years’ War, with 1,000 men on board, the museum said.
“Applet sank off Vaxholm in 1659 to be part of an underwater barrier that would save the enemy from reaching Stockholm by sea,” the museum said.
Swedish archaeologists publish with a shipping piece of the wreck of the seventeenth century “Applet”
Epa
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