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During the Thirty Years War, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, ordered the building
of a considerable number of large warships. They included the Wasa which was
already under construction. By 31st of July 1628 all the canons were on board and on
the 10th of August 1628 between 3 pm and 4 pm the Vasa set sail on her maiden
voyage. Once she was some way out to sea she caught the wind in her sails. A few
minutes latter a sudden squall forced the ship onto her side and huge quantities of
water entered through the open gun ports. At the island of Beckholmen, Vasa sank in
32 m of water. The ship was found intact and salvaged in 1961. Now she is berthed at
the Vasa ship yard in Stockholm, beeing the oldest preserved and fully identified
vessel curently known. |