Svärdet
 A painting by Claus Møinichen ca. 1686 of the Battle of Öland. Svärdet is the rightmost Swedish ship, with two Danish ships on either side of her. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Sweden | |
| Name: | Svärdet |
| Ordered: | c. 1660 |
| Laid down: | 1662 |
| In service: | 1663 – 1676 |
| Fate: | Sunk in Battle of Öland, 1676 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Regalskepp |
| Tons burthen: | 1700 tonnes |
| Length: | 47.5 m (155 ft 10 in) |
| Beam: | 12.5 m (41 ft) |
| Draught: | 5.94 m (19 ft 6 in) |
| Troops: | 220 |
| Complement: | 400 |
| Armament: |
|
Svärdet (Swedish: "the sword") was a Swedish warship that sank on 1 June 1676 at the Battle of Öland during the Scanian War, with most of its crew.[1][2]
History
Svärdet was, during the Scanian War, under the command of Claes Uggla, and fought in the Battle of Öland.[1] She was surrounded early in the battle, and fought for two hours until her main mast was destroyed and the ship surrendered. Before the surrounding enemies could board Svärdet, a Dutch fireship accidentally set her ablaze. The fire eventually reached the gunpowder store, which set off an explosion that sank the ship. Only about 50 of a crew of nearly 650 men survived.[2]
On 15 November 2011, it was announced that a wreck believed to be Svärdet had been found by divers off the island coast of Öland.[3][4]
General characteristics
- Displacement: 1700 tonnes[2]
- Length: 47.5 meters[2]
- Width: 12.5 meters[2]
- Armament: 86 cannons[2]
- 12 36-pounders (lower gun deck)
- 4 30-pounders (lower gun deck)
- 14 24-pounders (lower gun deck)
- 26 12-pounders (upper gun deck)
- 4 8-pounders (upper gun deck)
- 20 8-pounders (weather deck)
- 6 3-pounders (weather deck)
- Crew: 650 (both sailors and soldiers)[2]
See also
References
- 1 2 Munck, Anders (16 November 2011). "Mångmiljonvärden kan finnas ombord på Svärdet". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Svärdet" (in Swedish). Maritime Museum. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ↑ Munck, Anders (15 November 2011). "Regalskeppet Svärdet hittat utanför Öland". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
- ↑ "Skeppet Svärdet funnet utanför Öland". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 November 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.